Posted on 11/07/2002 12:22:35 PM PST by SteveH
JUSTICE FOR ANNA GUO
SYNPOSIS
14 year-old Anna Guo was attempting to committ suicide using a steak knife when five Ventura police officers arrived at the home of her foster parents. But instead of calming, disarming or even attempting to physically subdue the distraught girl, officers fired two shots into Anna's stomach, the last shot into her side, after she'd already crumpled to the floor.
In order to cover-up their negligent misconduct, the District Attorney's Office has charged Anna with felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon. The sad irony: Anna had never threatened anyone but herself, and those sworn to "protect and serve" her life nearly ended it.
Join the Asian Pacific American community in demanding Anna's immediate release -- our children shouldn't be forced to pay for an officer's misconduct!
Because Anna is a minor, the case will be tried by only a judge rather than 12 impartial jurors. Please write the District Attorney and demand that the charge be dropped and Anna released!
It is of utmost importance that he knows concerned citizens of every color are watching this case. -- Kasie W. Lee, Yellowworld Legal Counsel.
Articles Ventura County News -- Motion delays trial for girl, 14, shot by poli Ventura County Star -- Defense attorneys, dad question teen girl's prosecution Los Angeles Times
Letters Yellowworld.org Request for Dismissal Asian Pacific American Legal Center
Press Releases Yellowworld and the Chinese American Citizens Alliance Team Up Chinese American Citizens Alliance
Updates Site to be Completed...Soon! Welcome to anna.yellowworld.org!
Anna is taking psychiatric medication for anxiety and depression, and was suicidal the night of the shooting . . . The night of the shooting, Anna allegedly picked up a knife in the kitchen and began walking around the house. The Worthleys locked themselves and their other foster children in an upstairs bedroom and called 911.
When police arrived, officers dispersed through the house. Officer Kristin Rupp, a 23-year-old rookie, was stationed at the bottom of the stairs. A short time later, Anna began walking down the stairs with the knife raised in a threatening manner, according to police reports. Rupp told the girl to stop, but she continued approaching the officer. Rupp backed up into the kitchen. With her back against the wall, the officer finally fired three shots. Two went through Anna's lower abdomen.
How about just Americaworld.org. There may have been an injustice against Anna (I doubt it, but I don't have the full story) but the attempt to make it a racial cause leaves me cold...
Sounds like a justified shooting to me.
When you are faced with a person that is willing to kill herself, and has nothing to lose, and you have already had to back up to the kitchen, with the suspect still advancing with a knife, they I call it a justified shooting.
Do you know that knives will pass through kevlar vests, unless you also have the ones that are rated to stop knives as well? Those are not standard issue police vests.
Not only that, but someone who doesn't seem to have a knife can easily draw one in those three seconds, so the police are justified in shooting even apparently unarmed civilians within fifteen feet. Right?
This could be an interesting thread, with the general dislike of police on FR and the linking of violence to mind altering prescribled drugs.
Shooting to wound is a bad, bad idea. It isn't like the movies where someone shot falls down and waits for an ambulance. Someone can be fatally shot and stay on their feet long enough to kill. In fact, it happens fairly often.
On the other hand, it is easy to kill someone when shooting to wound. Clip the femoral artery in the leg and they won't last until the ambulance gets there. Also, if people commit suicide by slashing their wrists, what do you think will happen if a bullet severs a major artery in the shoulder?
Can this logic be applied to me when I feel threatened by an LEO and decide to protect myself?
May all your policemen be nervous.
To stop an attack, you have to either stop brain signals coming to the muscles, stop the muscles from working by depriving them of oxygen, or take out the skeletal support of the muscles.
Bones are pretty resilient against bullets, so you have to do the CNS shot or the blood-loss shot.
As to the distance covered in 3 seconds, I think 15 feet is a little low. I can cover 15 feet in 1 second, and use the other 2 seconds to slash or grapple the officer. A pistol is a short range weapon. Its not a contact weapon, unless its one of those BWS pistols with bayonets. :D
As to justified in shooting apparently unarmed civilians. I don't think so. If police do that on a regular basis, then I think police officers will have a very short career. Difference between a free state and a police state.
In a one on one situation, or an assailant with a gun, yes. But how the heck is a 14 year old girl armed with a steak knife going to overpower FIVE police officers? A shot to wound would have also been a sound to summon help from other officers if they weren't already within reach. And unless this was awfully large house, how far away could another officer have been? There was only one dangerous individual in the house, so you have to think at least 2-3 of the officers would have been sticking close to that individual -- if they weren't, they've ALL got a lot of explaining to do.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.