Andy Lopez Cruz death: California cop's mistaken shooting of boy in seconds

recorder.ca ^ | October 25, 2013 9:55:04 | Ronnie Cohen, Reuters

[Rabin]

SANTA ROSA, CALIF. - 3:14 p.m. Tuesday, less than 10 seconds elapsed from the time sheriff's deputies spotted a 13-year-old California boy carrying what they thought was an assault rifle and the moment they shot him dead, only to learn afterward the gun was a plastic replica. It took 16 seconds more for the two officers to call for medical assistance, according to the time line of events released by police investigating Tuesday's shooting Andy Lopez Cruz, had been on his way to a friend's house (with a toy) gun... He died at the scene... seven bullets struck the boy, and two of the wounds were fatal... eight rounds were fired by one of (the) two deputies.

[John Valentine]

Even if he were a fully grown adult, carrying a rifle is not a killing offense.

I don’t read that there was anything in the kids manner or behavior that could have been thought threatening. They could have just left him alone; they are not mandated to shoot peaceful citizens going about their business - even if they are carrying a weapon - absent something else.

If the kid had turned to the cops and said “Fill your hands, coppers!” - well even that would not rise to justification for a shooting.

This whole thing stinks of anti-gun hysteria.

[Bullish]

This is California where it’s illegal to think about owning a gun.

Are you exaggerating? Because it's still legal to own guns here in california. No matter how much liberals try to disarm us we still have our 2nd ammendment rights.

[roadcat]

The important thing is that these two LEOs went home safe and sound to their families.

That will change. Cops are going to be tracked, and killed. Am I advocating vigilantism? No. Just saying, others are going to start picking off these bad cops because the "system" refuses to punish them for bad behavior. This happens in other countries, coming very soon to America.

[bicyclerepair]

In Sunrise FL, the cops are inviting crooks here for stings and it’s very profitable.

[fella]

The important thing is that these two LEOs went home safe and sound to their families.

After all, they "ARE" the law. And as such there are special laws to give then special status far above that of mere citizens/subjects.

[ZULU]

Somehow we have gotten away from the idea that government officials, regardless of title, are PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. They work FOR US. WE PAY THEM and WE SHOULD BE their masters NOT the other way around.

Protected by a wall of unions, legislation, bureaucratic ukases and idiotic decisions by politically connected lawyers termed “judges”, they have become OUR masters.

This entire sad incident is just one symptom of a government gone WRONG.

We need a “time out”. We need to restructure our government
such that NO ONE can become a career office holder, law enforcement officers cease being a paramilitary army of occupation, and all public servants become totally answerable to the public they serve and which pays them - stripped of any union protection to shield them from the wishes of their employers - US.

I humbly suggest we begin by taking over our Boards of Education and DEMANDING and NOT ACCEPTING ANYTHING LESS THAN
1) NO MORE UNIONS for civil servants INCLUDING COPS
2) STRICT TERM LIMITS
3) APPLICATION OF ALL LEGISLATION TO THE LEGISLATORS WHO ENACT IT
4) CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARDS FOR COPS
5) CIVILIAN PRESENCE AND REVIEW OF ALL POLICE ACADEMY COURSES
6) STRICT RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FORA LL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
7) TERM LIMITS FOR JUDGES
8) ELECTIONS FOR JUDGES
9) REFERENDUM AND RECALL

Government needs to be taught to fear the people, not the other way around.

[John Valentine]

Are you exaggerating?

Yes, its called hyperbole.

[Bullish]

Which is another word for exaggeration. It sounded for a second like you really believed we can’t own guns here in cal.

[Rodney Dangerfield]

Thanks to libs and their anti-gun mania, even kids playing with toy guns are no longer safe.

They have ginned up this issue to the point of being unhinged, and the local LEO’s have bought into the hysteria.

[John Valentine]

No, but apparently it’s not safe to be walking around in Santa Rosa with a rifle in hand.

[LevinFan]

” Friends and family have described the
boy as a well-liked eighth-grader who
played the trumpet and basketball and
had a good sense of humor.”

I’m sure all his young friends now trust and have faith in LE. Good job officers.

[School of Rational Thought]

who is selling that target

[Gene Eric]

>> This whole thing stinks of anti-gun hysteria.

Agreed. Others have stated similarly.

[null and void]

That target, part of a series:

Was offered briefly by Law Enforcement Targets Inc.

They made them at the specific request:

The subjects in NMH targets were chosen in order to give officers the experience of dealing with deadly force shooting scenarios with subjects that are not the norm during training. I found while speaking with officers and trainers in the law enforcement community that there is a hesitation on the part of cops when deadly force is required on subjects with atypical age, frailty or condition (one officer explaining that he enlarged photos of his own kids to use as targets so that he would not be caught off guard with such a drastically new experience while on duty).

They further state:

The goal of NMH is to break that stereotype on the range, regardless of how slim the chances are of encountering a real life scenario that involves a child, pregnant woman, etc. If that initial hesitation time can be cut down due to range experience, the officer and community are better served.

Mission accomplished.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Do they have any white/male/Christian LEO targets?

[null and void]

Those were in addition to the standard white male Christian targets...

[null and void]

Or did you mean something like this?

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Yup.

I figure these targets are all for the new security force constituencies, racist black moslems, jihadis and atheist packers.

Of course they will occasionally have serious dustups between themselves.

[DuncanWaring]

The unstated corollary to those targets is that there are already plenty of people cops wouldn’t hesitate to shoot.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Just imagine all the fat TSA drones in a blue uniform, chewing gum, rolling their eyes and pulling you over for running a yellow light.