well, alrighty then !
Posted on 02/19/2014 3:37:02 PM PST by servo1969
A Georgia family is in shock following the death of their 17-year-old son, who was accidentally killed by a police officer who believed the video game controller he was holding was a gun, according to the family’s lawyer.
Christopher Roupe of Euharlee, Georgia heard a knock at the door of the family’s home last Friday night. Upon opening the door, he was immediately shot by a female police officer.
Roupe was pronounced dead upon arrival at a local hospital.
The officer broke down it tears upon realizing her mistake, according to The New York Daily News.
She had been making a probation-related visit to the home. She thought Roupe was holding a gun, according to a statement from the police department.
Cole Law, the family’s attorney, said he believes that the officer did mistake Roupe’s video game controller for a weapon. Roupe was holding a remote controller for the Nintendo Wii when he opened the door, according to Law.
Standard-issue Wii controllers are white cylinders, but specialty controllers shaped like guns do exist. It is not yet known what type of controller Roupe possessed. (RELATED: Update: Texas teen faces 8 years in prison over Facebook comment)
Neighbors confirmed that Roupe had a Wii controller, not a gun, according to Law.
“The eyewitnesses on the scene clearly state that he had a Wii controller in his hand,” said Law, according to WSB-TV. “He heard a knock at the door. He asked who it was, there was no response so he opened the door and upon opening the door he was immediately shot in the chest.”
Roupe had plans to enlist in the Marines after finishing high school. He was involved in the ROTC program at his high school.
The officer has been placed on administrative leave while the police department investigates the matter. The family will likely file suit against the department.
[video]
not all controllers for the Wii look like this one
well, alrighty then !
If I can't see the face out my window and/or they don't identify themselves, I don't answer the door.
At least the cop should get manslaughter and spend serious years behind bars.
I would love to be on that jury.
too bad it wasn’t a real gun he was holding. This fries my ass. God forbid if I was that kid and holding a real gun (hypothetically) I’d have time to drop her after she fired at me.
A guy (Michael Dunn) got convicted of attempted 2nd degree murder just the other day for shooting into a car full of black kids because he thought they pointed a shotgun at him.
Wanna bet this cop walks scott free with maybe a paid vacation at most as discipline?
A cop can basically shoot ANYONE without provocation and walk away scott free by saying “I thought they had a gun” and yet that very same excuse never works for normal citizens? If a normal citizen guns down a cop... saying... I thought they had a gun... wont keep them from a 1st degree murder conviction.
Yes.
Hell after reading all these articles people might just go ahead and shoot the cop holding a gun when they open the door and claim self defense. If you don't you risk getting shot yourself.
Sounds about right.
This “officer” has primary responsibility for killing the kid. The post is a bit thin on “facts”, such as why the cops knocked on this particular door. Was she expecting trouble?
The public had better wise up and force the resignation(s) of whoever was in charge of hiring, “training” and controlling her, and change the doctrine that the public is expendable. Are officers getting the message: “All life forms are a threat to your existence. When in doubt, kill everything — dogs, kids, texting theatergoers, whatever. Brother officers and police union lawyers will clean up later.”?
Being a police officer is difficult, but where does this cop get the idea that she should automatically shoot any citizen that answers the door armed? Home invasion robberies do happen, in some places more than others. It is not unreasonable and definitely not illegal to bear arms when you go to the door.
There is no excuse for this.
None.
It is time for a nationwide stand down of police and retraining.
There have been too many incidents of random uncalled for dog killings, killings of people in wrong homes on no-knock raids, and warrantless raids on peoples homes.
Police are not gods. We somehow existed as a nation for over 235 years without the amount of people being killed by cops under inexcusable circumstances.
““He heard a knock at the door. He asked who it was, there was no response so he opened the door and upon opening the door he was immediately shot in the chest.”
If I can’t see the face out my window and/or they don’t identify themselves, I don’t answer the door.”
The kid should have taken Biden’s advice. At least he would have had a chance.
Maybe Biden was right, after all.
In part:
THIS is the latest in piles and piles and piles and piles and piles and piles of evidence, that soon in America, the rational response to cops coming to your door is going to soon be, tragically for our Republic, to either shoot them all, or to run like hell, or both.
...
My heart bleeds for this family. This woman cop should IMMEDIATELY be fired, and NEVER be allowed to work as cop again. Immediately, a grand jury should be empaneled to charge her with 2nd degree (non-premeditated) murder. She should be convicted, and made to pay restitution to the family for the rest of her natural life in perpetuity.
MURDERING COPS HAVE GOT TO BE STOPPED, OR WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A CIVIL WAR.
If they continue, societal trust in America is going to reach a certain low level, and once we have reached that critical stage, America is going to be in a world of hurt. Loss of societal trust has been the benchmark of every civil war that has ever raged, including the one in our own country 150 years ago. As trust ebbs and distrust flows, the fabric of society unravels, leading to lawlessness, corruption, fear, loss of economic activity, and ultimately, to outright civil war.
She thought her life was in danger. That seems to be the only justification needed in officer shootings.
Monster. She’s a flipping monster and should be locked away forever.
After a couple of weeks on desk duty, he will be snatched by Homeland Security. For the 0-bama regime, this is a resume enhancer.
“cop can basically shoot ANYONE without provocation and walk away scott free by saying “I thought they had a gun”
I have a MAJOR problem with the non-equal protection under the law these days. Same with “special classes” of people, like additional penalties for shooting police, elected officials, gays, and so on. Are these people somehow “worth more” than your children? Your mom? Your spouse? Really?
Duck Hunters ?
“She thought her life was in danger.”
IF this line of defense would work for “ordinary people”, there would be entire neighborhoods decimated post haste. Somehow, that strikes me as unfair.
Me, either. If I haven’t called them, I’m not home.
I was just re-sizing a pic that someone else posted. :)
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