After listening to the audio, 911 tapes, reading transcripts and the autopsy report, and speaking with friends and Cameron Redus’ family, I feel we need to talk about Cameron’s character.
The real Cameron is very different from the inebriated Cameron that former UIW police officer Christopher Carter describes in his account and that we heard on the recording. The general public never got to meet the real Cameron. Let us introduce you.
My husband was Cam’s soccer coach and mentor in high school. After high school, he continued to often meet him and his friends. They would gather at Starbucks to talk about life and how life looks within genuine, authentic Christianity. Cam would come over and give our kids candy because he felt badly that we wouldn’t let them have much. He would be in our living room late into the night, talking with my husband while he used our computer to make movie projects. He talked about his special mornings drinking coffee with his dad and his travels with his brothers. In our interactions with him, he was always very sweet, honest, mild-mannered, loved life, and cared about people. He called the Saturday before he died to give advice about a good camera we should buy.
(Read More: Recording of Cameron Redus’ Fatal Shooting Released)
He made a mistake – we are all devastated about this mistake – and I have no doubt that had Cameron lived through this incident, he would be the first to admit it. We wish the dash cam had been working, we wish his friends would not have let him drive home or not have been drinking to that extent in the first place. We wish Carter had actually known where he was so someone else could get to him. We wish he had pepper spray and not been allowed to carry a gun. A lot of things went wrong that night. In my opinion, it didn’t sound like Carter was full of rage and out to get Cam. Until he shot 6 times. It sounded like he was incredibly inept, as we can also infer from his work history.
There were no “scuffling” noises as he was saying “stop,” so who knows what Cameron was doing? No mention of a baton being taken. Just a sleepy-voiced Cameron which then got louder as you could hear the fear mount with his confusion about what was going on, and Cameron asking Carter about why he was choking him. The autopsy report shows contusions around his neck. If Cameron was coming at him, why was there a shot to his back and his eye at a downward angle? How is Carter asking Cameron what street they were on, while he felt his life was being threatened? But we are not experts – these are just our questions. But I feel they are justified questions. Questions that should be answered.
(Read More: Autopsy Report Raises Troubling Questions in Fatal Shooting of UIW Student)
As my kids ask about this situation and we have to explain that there appear to be no consequences for this unskilled man in the law enforcement community, we also have to try and balance that with, “If you ever need help, call or look for a police officer.” I doubt we will ever be able to get that balance after this. We all make mistakes, but Cameron paid the ultimate price for his drinking mistake and it appears that Carter will pay nothing in this earthly life.
Vengeance is ultimately the Lord’s and we pray for our friends, the Redus’, and for all Cameron’s friends – that we may be strong and outspoken, yes, but also abide in a manner that a sober Cameron would. The Redus family is an excellent example of this and we ache for them as they continue to seek some sort of justice for their son and our friend.
— Rachel Ortego
Editor’s Note: The following is a letter that was written by Rachel’s husband, Wade, to friends and family shortly after Cameron was killed in December 2013.
Wade’s Letter
I have avoided posting anything about Cam, hoping it would not be true if I didn’t say anything, but after speaking with some of his friends, I knew I would have to say something. He and I had lots of late night conversations, scanning obscure documentaries, reviewing endless slide shows, asking deep questions; hard questions about life, love, dreams, fears, failures, and success. I cherish the day I will be able to continue those conversations with him. Until then I’d just like to say:
We all loved Cam, probably because he loved all of us and he was more than willing to show it. He was fun to be with: his love of life, his sense of adventure, his compassion, his sense of responsibility, his dedication to his friends (and who wasn’t this guy’s friend?), his love for his family, his “thriftyness,” and his willingness to ask hard questions (questions that can’t be answered with a simple yes or no). These are things I remember about him. He was infectious in every way. Spend two hours with him and he would have you ready to jump on a flight to Argentina.
He wasn’t perfect: all that kinky hair, that puffy orange coat he got for really cheap, and he slept in a hammock whenever he could. He ate Tabasco on pancakes! Who does that? But he was ours and we were his. He loved to know people and he wanted to know everyone; it was his way.
Letting him go will be hard, but nothing compared to what his parents and siblings have to do. But if we hang on to him, we won’t be able to move on, and the last thing he would want would be for us to not push forward; forward to new places, new experiences, new relationships. That is what he would want for us. He would want us to continue exploring, sharing the adventures of this life, not sitting and waiting for what used to be.
So grieve, but grieve with hope. Remember him for who he was to you. Remember all the great things he did for you and for others, remember his infectious love for life, that Cheshire Cat grin, and his love for others. Rejoice in those memories. Savor them. Share them with one another. Grieve with his loved ones and friends. Then go and live, live in a way that you would want to share with him, and then share it with others.
Cam loved Jesus and he knew that the Christian life was not and would not be easy. But he tried to live it out in spite of the difficulties. He chose the narrow road, one definitely taken far too seldom. He attempted to live at ground level with everyone he met and he tried to leave them with hope and truth. May you follow that road as well.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 -18
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Much love,
— Wade Ortego
*Featured/top image: Cameron Redus stands with family friend Mark Hall the day before Cameron sold his beloved jeep. Courtesy photo.
Related Stories:
Recording of Cameron Redus’ Fatal Shooting Released
Grand Jury Clears UIW Cop in Student Slaying
An Open Letter to District Attorney Nico LaHood
Redus Family: Recording of Shooting ‘Discredits’ UIW’s Story
This article captures well Cameron Redus and the person he was shared by a man who spent so much time and invested much in his and other young men’s lives. Thanks for sharing.
“Why was there a shot to his back and his eye at a downward angle”. I’m sincerely sorry for the loss of Cameron. However, are you a ballistics expert? As a war veteran and a former cop, a round from a .40 or .45 caliber is going to create some motion. Furthermore, in the heat of the moment do you think that you could actually keep track of how many rounds you fired or when you stopped firing. Check out a book by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman called “On Combat”. Read that, learn about the psychological and physiological anomalies that are associated with shootings and then question yourself again as to whether this officer was incompetent. Because until you have been in combat or a violent encounter, you have no idea. Like it or not, Cameron displayed pre-assaultive indicators throughout the entire encounter. He repeatedly failed to comply to orders to stop as evidenced in the video. And then attempted to assault the officer with his baton. And the size disparity argument holds no weight. Small females have killed police officers, yet they are supposedly not as dangerous? By all accounts, the officer responded in accordance with the constitution and precedents. While this is a sad situation, you are only looking to place your blame on someone and ignoring the facts that have been presented repeatedly.
This is not the article on which to post your ramblings. Go find an “I love folks in uniform” forum and preach to the choir about “pre-assaultive conduct” and ballistics. This letter by his friends is not the place to go after Redus. You can tell people on another forum about how much you admire the Donut Disposal Unit who put himself into conflict over a traffic stop. You write like the cop had every right and benefit of every doubt here, but that isn’t supposed to be how it works. Cops who do what Carter did are nothing more than killers. I do not respect them and when I see them on Broadway, I bristle with anger at them all, knowing they’d shoot me over a seat belt violation as long as UIW or Chief Pruitt thinks it is OK.
Combat experience has nothing to do with the questions being raised in this case. And perhaps some people are ignoring the fact that there is a lack of evidence for much of the officer’s claims and a number of inconsistencies in the story that have not been resolved.
What REAL EVIDENCE is there that Cameron tried to assault the officer with his baton?
Any evidence????? NO….just the officer’s word.
I’m tired of people saying Cameron was trying to assault the officer based ONLY on what Carter said. Where’s the proof????? Quit blaming the deceased victim until we see REAL EVIDENCE he even had the officer’s baton let alone trying to asault him with it.
We will never know
We think about him everyday.
Unfortunately because of media, he only be judged by that particular recorded incident.
It’s not because of the media…he has left that impression. .no one else.
🙁
This addresses so many of the unanswered questions that will most likely remain unanswered; written very compassionately but earnestly. Blessings
No matter what impression you have of him his death was unwarranted abd unnecessary. RIP Cameron and thank you to the Redus family for sharing their memories of their son
Once again. IF A COP TELLS YOU TO DO SOMETHING DO IT DON’T ARGUE.
The parents should blame themselves, if you would of taught your son respect for authority he would still be alive
GB, how about you go join the idiots up in Ferguson wearing shirts that say [sic] “I Rather be Stopped by ISIS Terrorist than Ferguson PD?” It sounds like you would fit right in with those folks. How about having some respect for authority and stop trying to be such a rebel? I used to be a cop and I hate donuts so take that BS somewhere else. It’s disrespectful brainwashed clowns similar to you that are causing so many of these incidents by creating a false impression that law enforcement is to be tested.
KR, so we should take the word of a deceased person over that of all other evidence based on what? Teach your kids respect for authority and stop trying to be so holier than thou that you believe your life is more important than anyone else’s, including cops.
GB, with your attitude I can tell you are obviously the type of individual who would try to resist arrest or fight. So when you see the cops on Broadway, how about you think about how they are trying to protect you rather than out to get you. The type of logic you are espousing is exactly what has lead to this issue.
We could go round and round, Chocolate, and never agree. I would submit that your fealty to cops and your readiness to obey government-sanctioned thugs is the real problem. Too many citizens out there — most but not all being white — would rather be the friend of police than the friend of liberty or the friend of the independence. You keep on kissing butt and taking orders.
Thank you @Jorge for some common sense for once.
I cannot believe the comments from some of you on here. They are PATHETIC. There was no reason from what I heard on the recording for this situation to escalate to the point where this kid got killed PERIOD. The UIW policeman was incompetent at best and the University should be tried in Civil Court for how he handled the situation. They hired him. Resisting arrest should not give policemen authority to kill unless, they are in immenent danger.
I once asked a commenter to place one of their loved ones in Cam’s place. They refused. And it’s not an unreasonable request to make. But he or she made up some inane excuse as to why their friend or family member would never place themselves in such a position. It forces that person to face their humanity…..or lack of….when asked to sympathize and view a situation from a different perspective. And the naysayers will say…”well you need to take the officer’s account into perspective”. And so here goes. The first words out of Carter’s mouth were, “Stay right there. Stay right there. Put your hands on the hood”. In what training manual does it tell you to omit 1. Identifying yourself. 2. Asking for license and registration. 3. Ask if the driver has been drinking. 4. Conduct a field sobriety test. 5. Correctly identify location and ask for backup if warranted. Does this not seem like a normal sequence of events to any rational person…regardless of experience in law enforcement? I wasn’t there that night. And one of two witnesses are unable to account for the events. So all we have to go on is the recording and dispatch recordings and Carter’s account. Cameron will never be able to explain what was going on in that parking lot that night. And as for the commenter who spoke of Cam’s parents and how they should have taught him better than that. You know not what you speak of sir. And you should be ashamed of yourself. For defaming Cameron and judging his parents’ upbringing of him. Have you ever looked in the eyes of a grieving mother or father and had to look away because the pain you felt was visceral? Would you speak those words to their face? No. Because you are nothing but a keyboard warrior hell bent on defending a poorly-trained, inept gypsy cop who was unable to contain his latent rage. And “small females have killed full grown men”? Oh my. Please do send me the news story of the 5′ 110 LB unarmed female who took an LEO down with her bare hands. I would love to read that one. Don’t hide behind blatant lies. Be honest with yourself about who you are. Having a badge doesn’t entitle you to abuse your station. Resisting arrest should NEVER be a death sentence. I watched Eric Garner be choked to death in the middle of a sidewalk. He certainly never attacked the officers. I watched a homeless man be beaten to death by two thugs in uniform while he cried for his father to save him. I’ve read countless stories of abuse of power. With most of these officers never being so much as verbally reprimanded. One of you states that it’s the citizens who create this culture for themselves by not kowtowing to every officers demands. I say it’s the law enforcement community’s fault for not holding overly aggressive and sometimes deadly psychopaths accountable for their actions.
Amen Stephanie. To the “comply or die” crowd: Please go back to whatever 3rd world hell hole you came from and don’t come back until you understand that our fellow citizens have paid with blood and their lives to preserve our precious constitutional rights, especially the right not to be murdered by the government without due process.
Amen, Stephanie. #RIPCAM
CHOCOLATE, you “sir” are the brainwashed & even more so ignorant to the morals of a respectable, humane human being & to humanity itself. This isn’t Iraq where my 23 year old Cousin was killed while defending our rights as a free-thinking country.
I’m so sad that my 3 & 8 year old Niece and Nephew have to live in such a world. This is deeply disturbing, not only because it happened to Cameron, but because it’s happening all over our country. May God look after us all & instil his love into our hearts and souls – especially in those who have been deemed appropriate to “protect” our communities. It’s time to up the ante in phycological testing for those carrying around weapons that are used to “protect us”. #BeAHumanBeingFirst