Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Santa Rosa police release more information about shooting death of 13-year-old boy by deputies
Mercury News ^ | October 31, 2013 | Bay City News

Posted on 10/31/2013 11:20:32 AM PDT by Uncle Chip

Edited on 10/31/2013 11:22:17 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]

SANTA ROSA - Santa Rosa police released more details today in response to persistent questions about the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Andy Lopez by a Sonoma County sheriff's deputy in southwest Santa Rosa last week....

Henry said Gelhaus said he knows he yelled at least once to Lopez to drop the rifle, but Gelhaus said he is unsure whether he identified himself as a sheriff's deputy.


(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: donutwatch; lopez; moronwithbadge; nohesitation; santarosa; stupidcoptricks; warriorcops
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-99 next last
To: MeganC

bump

Looks like a murder to me too


41 posted on 10/31/2013 11:49:32 AM PDT by GeronL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: GeronL

Miracles never cease. You and I agree on this one.

“Man with gun” warrants caution, not a “shoot on sight” attitude.


42 posted on 10/31/2013 11:50:36 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (I will not comply.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: El Cid
[I]t is a shame that we have yielded our right to keep and bear arms. In a Second Amendment world, the boy should have been able to carry an authentic AK47 without fear of being taken down by assailants who were offended that he was exercising his Second Amendment rights.

yep -- now a boy can't even carry a pellet gun.

43 posted on 10/31/2013 11:53:29 AM PDT by Uncle Chip
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Cen-Tejas

You do make a good point. We pay cops to take a hit or two, not for them to make sure their hair stays nice or don’t break a nail. Good point. They should default to assume someone is lawful until they prove otherwise, not the other way around. Innocent until PROVEN guilty.


44 posted on 10/31/2013 11:54:10 AM PDT by CivilWarBrewing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Chip
Yep you can't retire from the force knowing that you are the only person that you ever shot on duty.

You gotta to admit that he topped shooting himself in the foot.

45 posted on 10/31/2013 11:55:01 AM PDT by Zhang Fei (Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Chip
The patrol car was not equipped with audio or video recording ...

The next logic question, is "why not?"

Then, "what percentage of your patrol cars have cameras?"

46 posted on 10/31/2013 11:59:50 AM PDT by zeugma (Is it evil of me to teach my bird to say "here kitty, kitty"?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GeronL; CivilWarBrewing

I think you meant to direct that at CivilWarBrewing.

“and who doesn’t turn around if someone with a bullhorn behind them orders them to do something?”

I agree with you...

Plus, I think a cop should ASSUME that is a kid is carrying a gun, that it’s a toy gun. Funny how they made no mention of the orange tip on the barrel. It was obviously there, or they would have used it’s removal as part of their excuse.


47 posted on 10/31/2013 12:04:54 PM PDT by babygene ( .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Rebelbase

“Cop erred.”

No, the cop committed murder...


48 posted on 10/31/2013 12:08:51 PM PDT by babygene ( .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: deks

Yours, IMHO, is the best post on this thread. Why indeed are not LEO vehicles better shielded against penetration of projectiles? Had there been greater protection against being fired upon, these officer’s might have given more time to determining the actual level of threat before opening fire.


49 posted on 10/31/2013 12:10:17 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud dad of an Army Soldier who has survived 24 months of Combat deployment.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: babygene

You are correct, they would have definitely mentioned that if they could.


50 posted on 10/31/2013 12:10:55 PM PDT by GeronL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: lee martell

How can you not think that there are a lot of LEO’s that are trigger happy? How long have you been on FR? This happens a lot. Cops kicked in the door on the wrong house, shot the poor dog. My brother in law was a cop, and he told me how they handled search warrants that required a knock - whisper “police”, lightly tap, then kick down the door. Sorry, my 60 years of experience knowing cops doesn’t lead me to be trusting. Yeah, most may be decent, but my BIL started out as a nice guy, and quit when he realized he was as crooked as the crooks. Carried a “throw down gun” just like every other cop (in the 70’s). Nothing new.


51 posted on 10/31/2013 12:14:37 PM PDT by TStro (Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: GeronL
Instantly shooting someone because they look suspicious is not what we need or want in this country.

Then why do we have these:


52 posted on 10/31/2013 12:17:09 PM PDT by NY.SS-Bar9 (Those that vote for a living outnumber those that work for one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: lee martell

How can you not think that there are a lot of LEO’s that are trigger happy? How long have you been on FR? This happens a lot. Cops kicked in the door on the wrong house, shot the poor dog. My brother in law was a cop, and he told me how they handled search warrants that required a knock - whisper “police”, lightly tap, then kick down the door. Sorry, my 60 years of experience knowing cops doesn’t lead me to be trusting. Yeah, most may be decent, but my BIL started out as a nice guy, and quit when he realized he was as crooked as the crooks. Carried a “throw down gun” just like every other cop (in the 70’s). Nothing new.


53 posted on 10/31/2013 12:17:31 PM PDT by TStro (Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: CivilWarBrewing
Sorry - you shoot as a last resort then you do not stop until the threat is eliminated.
54 posted on 10/31/2013 12:18:38 PM PDT by NY.SS-Bar9 (Those that vote for a living outnumber those that work for one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: CivilWarBrewing
I agree the cop should be fired for failing to ID himself, but allegedly the kid turned with gun raised. This could have been inadvertent, but a threatening move nonetheless.

In other words, someone yells at the kid, ordering him to drop what might be an AK, then shoots the kid because he turned around. "Gun raised" is not the same as "gun aimed", or attempting to aim.

I'm having a hard time figuring out how the same situation with a non-cop on the shooting side doesn't end with at LEAST a trial for manslaughter. Why should the police, who people claim have so much better training and are better equipped to handle the situation, get the benefit of a doubt that would never extend to a mere citizen?

55 posted on 10/31/2013 12:19:45 PM PDT by MortMan (We've gone from ‘failure is not an option’ to ‘failure is not an obstacle’.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: MeganC
Sorry. I do NOT give the cops the ‘benefit of the doubt’ when they engage American citizens under far looser rules of engagement than do our soldiers in Afghanistan when THEY engage TERRORISTS!!!

.Plus one on that. I make the same argument all the time.

56 posted on 10/31/2013 12:20:13 PM PDT by SpeakerToAnimals (I hope to earn a name in battle)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Chip

This was in the Letters to the Editor for the local Santa Rosa paper, the Press Democrat:

Gelhaus’ service

EDITOR: Deputy Erick Gelhaus saved my life (“Deputy who shot SR boy identified,” Monday). I have known him for almost 13 years, but about eight years ago, Gelhaus put himself in harm’s way to protect me. The specific details are not important. What is important is that he was wearing a sidearm, and he didn’t use it. He had every reason to.

As a responding paramedic, I was being attacked by a mentally unstable patient and was being steadily forced backward into traffic. Gelhaus stepped in and subdued the patient, using only the amount of force necessary. He was able to control the situation without adding any additional injuries to the patient.

Despite being hit, kicked and almost bitten by the person, he used restraint and calm good judgment.

A lot of people say things like “I owe you one” and “you really saved my life,” but I mean it. I nearly died that day. If it hadn’t been for the presence of Gelhaus, and his intervention, I would probably not be here today. Thank you, Erick. You have my unending gratitude and support in this trying time.

ARAM L. BRONSTON

Santa Rosa


57 posted on 10/31/2013 12:21:47 PM PDT by rey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Chip

I live right here.
We used to have bbgun fights not far from that area. Plink with 22’s and the like back in my youth, same area.

In addition, I know it’s a cliche, but he was a ‘good kid’, not a gang banger or little hoodlum, that is a major reason so many people are really p.o.’d, the family is known in the community as a good one.

IMHO the death is the responsibility of whatever idiot took off the orange tip of the airsoft gun.

Lots of demonstrations, lots of genuine grief- this wasn’t some little wannabe gangsta, it was just a normal kid doing what lots of us used to do in the same area. Plus the SRPD has had several instances of shooting people who could have been subdued or otherwise didn’t really pose that much of a danger.


58 posted on 10/31/2013 12:22:58 PM PDT by RedStateRocker (Nuke Mecca, Deport all illegals, abolish the IRS, DEA and ATF.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: zeugma
The next logic question, is "why not?"

And was the fact that this car had no dashcam a contributing factor to this incident as the deputy knew there would be no video of the shooting.

59 posted on 10/31/2013 12:24:54 PM PDT by Uncle Chip
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: babygene

It was removed, per the reports here.


60 posted on 10/31/2013 12:25:18 PM PDT by RedStateRocker (Nuke Mecca, Deport all illegals, abolish the IRS, DEA and ATF.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-99 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson