Do I get the impression that some FR readers are blaming the police? The police were called. Their job is to resolve a situation, not to arrive on the scene, listen to a family member say “please go away, you’re not needed” and reply “OK, You’ve got it under control. Call us if you need us.”
Not gonna happen. “Distraught” and “gun” are the keywords here. What do you expect the police to do?
On another note, I hate the “reporter” who wrote this article for two reasons:
Making us read to the end to find out that the kid shot himself,
and for the words “pristine suburban neighborhood ... sprawling Colonials and manicured lawns” which actually mean “You Whiteys have your share of problems too.”
Exactly what I mean when I say
“Think twice or maybe three times before you call the police with a family problem.”
I think the SWAT was overkill.
Kid with no history of violence in his room. Two cops in the house two outside watching his room window I think would have been enough.
Wait him out.
Filling his yard with police cars is only going to increase his anxiety.