Posted on 07/19/2019 7:29:58 PM PDT by BenLurkin
[T]he officer tried to pull over Williams' gray rental SUV for speeding when she apparently intentionally collided with the officer's patrol vehicle... Then Williams made an abrupt U-turn into oncoming traffic and came to a skidding stop facing the wrong way...
... the teenager had exited the SUV and took what police described as a "shooting stance" while holding a replica handgun on the eastbound 91 Freewa
"It is our belief that the officer who shot Hannah violated Fullerton Police Dept. policies and procedures given the way he handled what certainly would have been determined to be a felony stop after she made purposeful contact with his vehicle," the family's attorney, S. Lee Merritt, said in a written statement.
Williams' family said the teenager was on antidepressants and their attorney told the media that the shooting highlights the need for the nation to do a better job in dealing with people affected by mental illness.
"If this officer had indeed followed proper department protocols, he wouldn't have engaged without first assessing the situation and in turn may have saved her life and spared himself the anguish of knowing he shot and killed a teenager who had no intent to harm him but was simply suffering a mental health crisis,"
(Excerpt) Read more at ktla.com ...
No longer suffering from mental health crisis.........
As I recall this was, sadly, a clear case of suicide by cop.
Suicide by cop the real victim here is the police officer
Should someone on antidepressants even be allowed to drive?
Sad, but then in her condition she should not have been driving. Why didn’t a friend or relative take her where she wanted to go.
Given her actions, the police officer was justified.
We must stop putting our youth on these monstrous pills.
Uhm...nope...
Dismissed with prejudice...
Don’t point a gun, much less have one in fighting position around a cop.
Ends badly every time...
The lesson here is to not have a “mental health crisis” with a gun in your hand.
At a minimum, she refused to pull over, endangered other drivers, and was “assuming a shooting stance holding [what was only later determined to be] a replica gun.” What the hell was he supposed to do, stand there and ask her, “Excuse me, but could you please tell me if you are on anti-depressants or suffering some kind of mental anguish at this moment?”
Good Shoot........
Why was a 17 year old girl on antidepressants? Worthless parents now trying to hit the jackpot with the death of their daughter.
Umm, huh, every rental contract in California forbids someone who is under 25 who isn’t a named driver in the contract from driving the vehicle, even with the renter in the vehicle. No rental company in California will rent any vehicle to anyone under 18.
Why a 17 year old would be driving what really is an unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in the first place is a great question which I’m sure a jury will have to consider. Also would be interesting to see how she got the replica firearm (no sales to anyone under 18...)
And WOW, is this FAST for a claim for damages. I can’t think of a single reason why they’d go this quick as it’ll still be weeks before the multi-agency shooting review team issues their report, other than to hopefully capture headlines and encourage the city to do a quick pay off before the report comes out.
A pretty desperate move.
“Should someone on antidepressants even be allowed to drive?”
Half of DC would need a driver.
“...highlights the need for the nation to do a better job in dealing with people affected by mental illness”
If she was not wearing a yellow vest with the words “I am mentally ill, not in my right mind, so don’t shoot” then the officer was justified.
Antidepressants are used for more than depression, and for various levels of depression. This sounds like the officer was justified in firing and the parents want to blame anyone but their daughter.
Praying for that poor officer!! How was he supposed to know the gun was fake? Was he supposed to let her shoot him first? Come on!!!! Officers are sons and fathers, too, and have the right to self defense!!!
Federally sanctioned DUI.
Sadly, very true. That girl clearly had changed her mind about taking her life, and the cop was doing the best he could. That cop is very likely struggling with this. And now he faces a frivolous lawsuit.
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