Posted on 07/13/2005 9:22:25 AM PDT by radar101
Under increasing community criticism over a police standoff that resulted in a toddler's death, an angry LAPD Chief William Bratton lashed out Tuesday, describing Jose Raul Pena as a "cold-blooded killer" responsible for his own daughter's death.
We're outraged because this baby had to die," Najee Ali, director for Islam Project Hope. "This community is on edge, and we're at the breaking point."
Even before all reports are in, Bratton acknowledged it is likely that bullets fired by police killed the toddler as well as the gunman, but he said that made Pena no less responsible for the death of his own daughter. In his most detailed account yet of what happened, Bratton said Pena's wife, Lorena Lopez, called from Pena's auto-repair shop in the 10400 block of Avalon Boulevard at 2 p.m. Sunday and said Pena had threatened to kill her.
At 3:47 p.m., Pena's 17-year-old stepdaughter called 911 from a nearby location, saying he had threatened her, too. When officers arrived, Pena was holding toddler Susie and a 9 mm handgun that he fired at police, Bratton said.
Eventually, Pena fired at the stepdaughter when she tried to escape, Bratton said. The teenager was pinned down until officers got her to safety during a dramatic rescue captured by television cameras.
"She indicated that the father had threatened to kill her, kill the baby, kill himself, kill the mother," Bratton said. Hostage negotiators first reached Pena by telephone about 5 p.m. and kept the line open. He briefly engaged in conversation about 5:30 p.m., but abruptly stopped talking.
Then Pena soon fired again, hitting Officer Daniel Sanchez, 39, in the shoulder. Police returned fire. Both Pena and the girl were killed.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailynews.com ...
Was Pena a Muslim, or is Ali looking for a cause?
.
Thanks for posting this. This statement by Bratton was broadcast several times last night, and I was glad to see him emerge from cowed, PC mode and just telling the plain truth.
Apparently, there were some "police abuse" demonstrators outside the 77th precinct last night. Of course, if only the officer had been shot, they would not be protesting. No blame on the perp, either.
I wonder if Najee Ali is just as outraged over the slaughter of young children by the suicide bomber in Baghdad today....
I didn't know that Najee was out of jail.
"Was Pena a Muslim, or is Ali looking for a cause?"
Looks like an excuse to riot to me.
Thanks for posting. Bratton is a cop's cop. As much as a lot of folks like to credit Rudy with the drop in crime in NYC, Bratton had just as much to do with it. L.A. is lucky to have him and probably doesn't deserve him.
"This statement by Bratton was broadcast several times last night, and I was glad to see him emerge from cowed, PC mode and just telling the plain truth."
It's pretty easy to defend the police opening fire when one of them had already been shot. The family's claim that the guy was trying to surrender don't pass the laugh test.
Poor discipline, no surprise.
No doubt LAPD had one or more designated marksmen assigned to cap this guy, and somebody with a pistol and a not much range time felt a need to return fire.
Nice.
There were no winners in this tragedy. Especially not the police who had to make a decision that I hope I never have to.
Jailhouse interview?
Yep - and maybe a fund raising gambit.
the press will keep this going all summer , fomenting unrest [they HOPE!!]
same old california lala land cop sh*t
No they won't. One of the things that Bratton did in NYC when they hd stuff like this is release everything at once. It burns itself out in weeks.
Hey Ali...while the death of this child is truly tragic, wrapping your camel riding butt in the innocent victim status is, at the least, hypocritical in view of world events. Allow the authorities time to do their jobs.
The Islam Project Hope should state its position on Islamic terrorism. Islam has the world on edge, and we're at the breaking point.
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