Gunman kills two Detroit police officers

The Detroit News ^ | Monday, February 16, 2004 | David G. Grant and Ronald J. Hansen

[quantim]

DETROIT -- Two young police officers were shot to death today, ambushed by a motorist during what appeared to be a routine traffic stop on the city's southwest side.

Officer Matthew Bowens, 21, was shot nine times behind his police car and was dead by the time authorities took him to Henry Ford Hospital about 2 a.m. Officer Jennifer Fettig, 26, died about 12 hours later at the hospital.

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

Prayers to the families and to the fellow officers in the Detroit area.

[cavtrooper21]

"we have to get these guns off of the streets..."
How about getting the criminals off of the streets???
I bet Mr. Eric Lee Marshall and his brother weren't boys scouts headed off to help some elderly woman with her shopping and yard work.


Two more names on the wall...

[Samwise]

I never dreamed it would be me
My name for all eternity
Recorded here at this hallowed place
Alas, my name, no more my face

"In the line of duty" I hear them say
My family now the price will pay
My folded flag stained with their tears
We only had those few short years

The badge no longer on my chest
I sleep now in eternal rest
My sword I pass to those behind
And pray they keep this thought in mind

I never dreamed it would be me
And with heavy heart and bended knee
I ask for all here from the past
Dear God, let my name be the last

[Mears]

As the mother of a police officer I pray for their families.

[Alouette]

Officers Bowens and Fettig

The scumbag cop killer

[cavtrooper21]

Very nice... Thank you.

[oldfart]

This is but a beginning. There will be more of these incidents all over the country. Sad.

[Samwise]

Sorry that I don't have the author's name.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

As I posted elsewhere, here's what in all likelihood happened:

1. Officers stopped vehicle for minor violation.

2. As they pulled to a stop to make the call, the individual who did the shooting noticed when looking back that a female officer was on the passenger side and thought quickly (probably military or police training).

3. Shooter exits vehicle rapidly, runs back toward police cruiser, shoots female officer through windshield and perhaps through passenger side window as he runs by toward back of police cruiser (knowing other officer would exit rapidly and take cover at left rear of vehicle to prevent more fire from stopped vehicle (obvious threat).

4. Suspect is now in darkness BEHIND police cruiser as male officer is checking to see if partner still alive and trying to call incident in.

5. Male officer leaves vehicle and runs to left rear to take cover.

6. Suspect shoots officer nine times (as story says) and probably from the back. Officer didn't have a prayer.

7. If this guy has military/police background and is convicted, hang him in public. The public should demand that the sentence be enacted. Psychopaths. We're beginning to see them in the public schools.

[cavtrooper21]

They're just kids!!

Can I pull the switch?

Bet his defense tries to use the "profiling/I was in fear for my life 'cause they were white cops and I was a poor downtrodden, economically disadvantaged black man", otherwise known as "black rage" defense..

[Bonaparte]

"The scumbag cop killer"

Looks like your typical college commencement speaker to me.

[quantim]

Last Execution Information: In 1846, Michigan was the first English speaking government in the world to ban the death penalty. Since Michigan became a state in 1837, it has had no executions.

There is a bizarre element to this topic.  Just like in Iraq we (Americans) don't understand why the Iraqis don't stand up and fight to get their due, the slaughter on our own streets continues because the criminals are not 86'd.  Amazing parallel.    

"But gun violence sharply escalated last month"

More media idiocy-lunacy.  That is like saying the SUV was at fault for the drunk driver.  These beasts get away with, "Investigators found at least 22 .40-caliber shell casings at the scene of the shooting, and us Michigan taxpayers get to foot the bill to keep this vile DNA crap alive.  Can't respond on this thread as I have to go lie in a snow bank to cool off.

[kim r.]

glad they had a videocamera on board. may God rest their souls and bless their families.

[Monty22]

Why are they taking off? wtf is going on?

[cavtrooper21]

Mine is more on the simple side, but having done a few vehicle stops....
Officers are not ready. It's 8am on a weekday. Minor traffic violation. Perp has already made up his mind that he's going to do something stupid. Disaster on the half-shell
. Cops caught flat footed by ready to rock perp.
Female officer was dead/down and out before she or her partner knew what happened. Partner called for help and bailed to get some maneuver space.
Was hit as he exited the cruiser and made it to the back of the vehicle before collapsing.
Perp plants two in each cop to make sure, does is little victory dance and boogies.
Perp is good at killing essentially defenseless cops.

I want to play with him...

[Alouette]

Last Execution Information: In 1846, Michigan was the first English speaking government in the world to ban the death penalty. Since Michigan became a state in 1837, it has had no executions.

The only execution in Michigan took place during the 1930's, at the Federal penitentiary in Milan, where Anthony Chebotaris (not sure about the spelling of the name) was executed for crimes against the federal government.

[cavtrooper21]

"22 Forty caliber shell casings.."
Perp even reloaded.
Wonder how the families of the fallen would react if someone explained to them that they would be paying for the killer of their loved ones to live out the rest of his life in a cell, with free everything, and all of his frivolous lawsuits, and his "court appointed" defense team, etc, etc, etc.....

[cavtrooper21]

"22 Forty caliber shell casings.."
Perp even reloaded.
Wonder how the families of the fallen would react if someone explained to them that they would be paying for the killer of their loved ones to live out the rest of his life in a cell, with free everything, and all of his frivolous lawsuits, and his "court appointed" defense team, etc, etc, etc.....

[Teacher317]

Detroit Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings said. “We've lost two officers in the line of duty. We have got to get these guns off the streets. We know where you are, we know who you are, and we're going to come and get you.”

To hell with that lousy Constitution!

bang