Her husband was killed even after months of frantic police calls. Could it have been prevented? ‘We were being traumatized in our own home.’

San Jose Mercury News ^ | December 12, 2021 | MARISA KENDALL

[artichokegrower]

The rocks smashing through Melina Armstead’s front window sounded like gunshots. She crouched on the floor, glass raining around her, and screamed at her children to hide in the basement. One large rock landed beside her; another knocked over the Christmas tree. Armstead reached for the panic button on her alarm system and realized she was covered in blood from where glass had cut her hand. Armstead immediately told law enforcement who she suspected was behind the attack — her troubled former neighbor, Jamal Thomas — trusting the officers would keep her and her family safe, and get Thomas the help he needed. But the violence only escalated. “We were being traumatized in our own home,” Armstead said. “Traumatized in a property that we paid property taxes for, housing taxes, a mortgage, everything.” Within five months, Melina Armstead’s husband — 44-year-old Miles Armstead — was dead and Thomas was behind bars, charged with his murder.

[artichokegrower]

The rocks smashing through Melina Armstead’s front window sounded like gunshots. She crouched on the floor, glass raining around her, and screamed at her children to hide in the basement. One large rock landed beside her; another knocked over the Christmas tree. Armstead reached for the panic button on her alarm system and realized she was covered in blood from where glass had cut her hand. Armstead immediately told law enforcement who she suspected was behind the attack — her troubled former neighbor, Jamal Thomas — trusting the officers would keep her and her family safe, and get Thomas the help he needed. But the violence only escalated. “We were being traumatized in our own home,” Armstead said. “Traumatized in a property that we paid property taxes for, housing taxes, a mortgage, everything.” Within five months, Melina Armstead’s husband — 44-year-old Miles Armstead — was dead and Thomas was behind bars, charged with his murder.

So the murder was caused by the tight housing market?

If it was my house, my family and my safety the issue would have been resolved in a completely different manner.

[monkeyshine]

trusting the officers would keep her and her family safe

How, exactly? Are they supposed to stay posted on her porch 24/7?
They have no duty to protect.

[Fai Mao]

Statistically a Xiden voter. If so, I do not care.

[Veggie Todd]

...police were called 18 times to the Armsteads’ house...

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me another 17 times, shame on me.

[coloradan]

Good thing California has extremely strict gun control! Otherwise someone might have gotten hurt.

[Lurker]

“trusting the officers would keep her and her family safe.”

I see the problem.

L

[Roccus]

...trusting the officers would keep her and her family safe...

....and therein lies the problem.

[Roccus]

I type waaaaaay too slow. lol

[Obadiah]

Exactly. Fearing for my life, Mr. Remington 870 or Mr. Scar 17 would have answered the bell and brought peace to my family. Waiting on the police, pfffft....

[Wonder Warthog]

“trusting the officers would keep her and her family safe.”"

I trust Taurus stainless 357 to keep me and my family safe.

[OldWarBaby]

Those are dependable friends. Mr Winchester has a room at my house-——and he has NO sense of humor-—

[Lurkinanloomin]

The police are under no obligation to protect you.

Get a gun if you don’t already have one.

Be prepared.

[Fish Speaker]

My friends Smith & Wesson have my back ...

[wgmalabama]

I agree. There comes a time when you have to be proactive on the defense.

[Chewbarkah]

“...it speaks to the consequences of a brutal housing market that pushed Thomas into homelessness, triggering a downward spiral in his mental health.”

The writer pretends an “investor” forced the poor lamb out because he didn’t want tenants. Conflating cause and effect ought to be a crime. Enough bs excuses — the “tenant” in question was an unemployed drugged up criminal. The Armsteads had more than enough evidence to make self-defense stick, even in Oakland.

[rbg81]

Jamal never should have had a gun in the first place, due to two prior felony convictions — one for drunk driving in 2012 and one for unlawfully driving or taking a vehicle in 1995. It’s unclear how he allegedly obtained one.

---

Imagine that? Despite all the lawz, a mentally-deranged criminal was able to obtain a gun. Meanwhile, I’ll bet Armstead would have had a devil of a time getting one to protect himself.

[atomic_dog]

Forget it, Jake, it’s Oakland.

[NonValueAdded]

“when seconds count ...”

[BiteYourSelf]

Call 911 and die.🙄

[Uncle Lonny]

The usual suspect.