Posted on 11/21/2016 11:34:45 PM PST by nickcarraway
A teenage stabbing suspect, who was fatally shot by a Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputy, had taken LSD.
Investigators showed video of what their body cameras recorded the night of the shooting.
Luke Smith, 15, took LSD with a friend late Friday. He started having adverse effects and turned hostile and violent.
The Watsonville teenager stabbed his father and uncle at their house.
The deputy who fired his weapon has been put on leave and a review board will examine this case.
Body camera footage shows a deputy using a Taser, sponge rounds and a K9 officer on the teenager before finally opening fire. His devastated family says he bought tainted drugs that triggered a violent reaction.
"They started shouting, 'sir drop the knife,'" said witness Alex Santana Jr.
Santana Jr. watched from his window as Santa Cruz County Sheriff's deputies tried to diffuse the situation. Body camera video shows the officers using non lethal force six times with little to no impact.
"It didn't seem like the first two blanks that were shot worked because he was stunned, but he continued to withstand and not drop the knife," said Santana Jr.
Finally a K9 was released and Luke raised his knife and was shot. The sheriff's department arrested the drug dealers who sold Smith the LSD.
Flowers now line the fence along Pioneer Road. Smith attended Aptos High School. Counselors and emotional psychologists were on campus.
"We're going into all the classrooms to help support students and teachers," said superintendent Michelle Rodriguez. "And we will continue to provide the support that is necessary as the students are coming forward.
Friends have set up a GoFundMe site to raise money for the family.
No, I think you are on to something!
And blame the user and the dealers instead of the police when it goes down bad.....
More likely we see a SLM (Stoned Lives Matter) movement where police aren't allowed to interact until the perp has been tested for drugs, with a rider that says it's unconstitutional to test them for drugs....
I can be very critical of cops, but I fail to see how the cops did anything wrong here.
“And isn’t LSD a drug from a bygone era anyhow?”
It is a drug from a bygone era but popular now and easy to obtain and cheap!
Some people are known to become belligerent and even violent on psychoactives. The problem likely lies with the user. The already illegal substance did what it was supposed to do.
15 year olds with knives have killed better men than you more than once.
Looks like they tried to save him.
How big was this kid though that could face all preventative measures like that?
“The police with firearms were obviously threatened and in fear of their lives of the 15 year old boy with a knife.”
Ever been in a situation where you were confronted with a potentially deadly weapon and had to react to make the ultimate decision? it seems several people on this thread have, and I have too.
The officers did a lot of stuff prior to shooting the kid. And if he goes after the dog, they will shoot.
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