Posted on 06/07/2012 4:50:09 AM PDT by marktwain
Residential burglary is a slightly safer activity than Russian roulette, but sooner or later, burglars are bound to run into someone with a gun who does not take kindly to scumbags in his house.
One of those types would be cops, who all have guns, and aren't too sympathetic toward crime.
A 17-year-old kid found that out the hard way Tuesday afternoon, as he broke into the home of a Tolleson police officer.
The officer -- whose name hasn't been released -- was taking a nap at home around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday when he heard breaking glass coming from downstairs, according to Phoenix police.
The cop went down there with his firearm, and found this uninvited teenager in his home "armed with a large rock," police say.
After giving the teenager commands to drop the rock, police say the kid instead cocked his arm back as if he were going to throw it at the officer, and the Tolleson cop put a bullet in the intruder's head.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com ...
Forward dive? If I were in his shoes and preparing to throw a rock when confronted with someone aiming a gun at me, I'm upright winding up. If I were not intent on throwing the rock, I'd be dropping the rock, turning to evade the shot.
I think it most likely that the cop was looking at the target, unaware of the precise alignment of his weapon's sights and fired. "Instinctive shooting" is anything but, unless you've developed point shooting skills (using non-sighted aiming; actually one should always "sight" the weapon, but it may not use the weapons sights; it could be the rail as the weapon is brought up into the shooters view.). It can be off if the weapon is shot from a low/tactical ready (don't recall what we used to call it) with upward cant of the weapon. This can produce a high point of impact--it's easy to over estimate the need upward cant. He also may have rushed the shot when the perp appeared intent on throwing the rock.
I don't recall seeing the range of engagement mentioned.
Head shots are good, even if not intended. CNS shots stop the threat.
“Why isnt that the wise choice???”
It isn’t. The firing of a weapon is the application of deadly force. If the situtation does not warrant the application of deadly force, DON’T SHOOT.
(There is no such thing as “Shoot to wound.” Most people, including LEOs, are lousy shots anyway, making the outcome problematic at best. The phrase is, in itself, a fantasy for liberal bleeding hearts.
Shooting someone in the leg may, and probably will result, in hitting a major artery like the femoral artery. You’ll bleed to death post haste. As I said firing a weapon is the application of deadly force and should be used only if killing the target is the intent.
You are assuming that the cop was aiming for the head . . .
Yeah, I didn’t see the distance between them mentioned either.
As for if the kid leaned forward, I’ve seen some stupidity here in NY that would be amusing if not for the seriousness of it.
No I am not. I've given a few possible reasons for a shot going high.
I think this "If" is the gray area of uncertainty in between those two choices for someone facing this situation. When does the situation warrant it??? If I'm not sure, isn't wounding preferable to killing???
“If I’m not sure, isn’t wounding preferable to killing???”
NO.
The point is that trying to wound using deadly force isn’t a viable solution. If you’re gonna use deadly force your intent must be to kill the target. If it isn’t... DON”T SHOOT!
WTF???
Don’t know why I am bothering to clarify for someone with a 3 rd grade reading level.
I meant he probably didn’t face the same level of scrutiny as a “George Zimmerman”, or others might. As a trained professional, a policeman has a great deal of instruction on when to fire a weapon and when to use other means to resolve a situation.
Do you understand that better?
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.