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A Decorated Marine needs your support more than ever. Torrey Thompson is in danger of serving time in jail for a crime that he did not commit. Thompson is a former police officer of DeKalb County, Georgia and a Marine Corps veteran. This dedicated man does not deserve to be convicted all for doing his job; enforcing the law and protecting the public.
 Torrey Thompson is charged with felony murder, manslaughter and aggravated assault arising out of an incident which occurred on September 12, 2006. Thompson was called for back-up along with two other officers in an apartment complex in Decatur, Georgia. The two officers that called for back-up were Officers Knock and Mondesir. They were investigating a stolen vehicle in the apartment complex, which had been identified in a hit and run incident earlier that day.
When Officer Knock stopped the vehicle, the occupants jumped and fled on foot. Knock and Mondesir contacted the owner of the vehicle who informed them that the vehicle had been stolen. The owner identified one of the occupants to be Lorenzo Mathews. Mathews was already wanted in connection with a shooting earlier in the month.
Knock and Mondesir were given permission to search the second floor of the apartment building where they believed Mathews to be hiding. Thompson was then called for back-up along with Officer Nunn and Sergeant Berg. Officers Knock and Mathews positioned themselves at the rear of the apartment on the ground floor. Officer Thompson positioned himself next to Officer Knock at the base of the stairwell.
As the Officers entered the building, Mathews was standing in the kitchen area. Mathews fled out the back and down the stairs while Officers Thompson and Knock proceeded to yell “STOP, GET TO THE GROUND” and then ordered Mathews to “SHOW YOUR HANDS”. Matthews refused the orders and ran down the stairs pointing what appeared to be a gun at Officer Thompson.
Mathews then pointed the item at Knock. Officer Knock then yelled “SHOW YOUR HANDS”, “STOP”, “DROP YOUR WEAPON”, and “GIVE UP”. Once again, Mathews ignored Knock’s commands and lunged towards him. Officer Knock fired his 9-millimeter Beretta four times hitting Mathews once in the chest.
Officer Knock did not think that he hit Mathews because he then jumped over the railing of the staircase and ran towards Officer Thompson. Officer Knock did not fire again because Thompson was in his line of fire. Knock yelled to Thompson to “shoot him”. Observing something dark in Matthews hand and believing it to be the butt of a pistol, Officer Thompson shot his 9-millimeter Beretta twice.
Mathews jumped the backyard fence and fled the scene towards a wooded area behind the apartment building. Officer Thompson chased Mathews and yelled for Mathews to “STOP” as he chased him through a parking lot towards the wooded area. Mathews turned and Officer Thompson fired his Beretta four times because he feared that Mathews was armed and would take an offensive position against him as he entered the woods.
As Mathews entered the woods he stopped and looked at Officer Thompson. Officer Thompson proceeded to fire four more times. Mathews ran through the woods and jumped over a fence into a shopping center.
When the K-9 unit arrived, they found Lorenzo Mathews located dead in the shopping center. A large knife was found at the shopping center fence where Mathews had climbed over.
Officer Torrey Thompson is now being charged with felony murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, and violation of oath by an officer. These outrageous charges against Thompson are completely unjust.
Officer Thompson was performing his job the way he was trained to do. He knew that Lorenzo Mathews was a dangerous felon who had earlier demonstrated a willingness to place others in harms way to avoid arrest. Thompson took the necessary actions to keep this criminal off the streets of the community he was trying to protect.
Officer Thompson was indicted in July 2008, almost two years after the incident occurred. It is not fair that this dedicated officer could spend time in jail for protecting the public.
LELDF is assisting to help Officer Torrey Thompson with his expensive legal fees and expert witness testimony, but we need your support. But, we cannot do it alone. Thompson needs to know that his fellow Americans support the job he does and that we appreciate his bravery.
LELDF is a non-profit organization founded to support and defend police officers from unfair charges for actions taken in the line of duty.
 This Decorated Marine has four letters of commendation and has never been disciplined. This is not a police officer who deserves to spend any time jail for a crime that he did not commit.
The two Officers, Knock and Thompson, both believed that their lives were in danger. Mathews was a dangerous suspect who was making aggressive moves towards the officers. They believe that they were justified in the actions they took.
Why should Torrey Thompson, a dedicated Police Officer and Decorated Marine, have to endure the consequences of these charges because of this criminal?
You can help Officer Thompson obtain justice by showing your support as a fellow American who respects the sacrifices he makes for his community.
LELDF is asking you to make a contribution of $25, $50, $100, or any other amount that you can afford. Your tax-deductible donation will make a huge impact on Officer Torrey Thompson’s life.
We thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
David H. Martin
Chairman
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