Posted on 05/07/2008 6:09:50 AM PDT by PittsburghAfterDark
A Knoxville man shot and killed a Pittsburgh police dog Tuesday before the canine's handler returned fire, killing the man in what city police Chief Nate Harper called "an unfortunate" but justifiable action. The shooting outraged and angered the family of the 19-year-old man, Justin Jackson. He was pronounced dead by a passing paramedic almost immediately after the shooting that occurred at 6:53 p.m. in front of the UPMC facility on Arlington Avenue on the border of Knoxville and Mt. Oliver.
Harper said the dog's handler ordered the canine -- a 6-year-old German shepherd named Aulf -- to attack after Jackson pulled a gun from under his shirt. Both the officer, an eight-year-veteran Harper did not identify, and Jackson fired several shots, the chief said.
"They shot my son in the head. The officer told me, 'Our dog got shot so we shot him.' They killed my son over a dog," said Donald James Jackson of the West End.
"My 19-year-old son is lying there dead, shot in the head, execution-style. My son's brains are laying on the street. This is crazy. I'm going to do whatever I have to do, file charges against the officers, for my son. It's terrible, the mentality they have," Jackson said as he tried to comfort his wife.
"We are not going to let them get away with this!" Anna Jackson screamed. "They will pay for killing my son. They are going to pay for shooting my son over a dog!"
(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...
The suspect is confronted, pulls a gun out from under his shirt? Yeah, sorry buddy, wrong move. You didn't get shot over a dog. You fired shots at police officers and were hit by returned fire.
I'm so sick of these families. Okay, they were innocent, their little angel most certainly was not. You do not brandish a weapon in a threatening manner against police officers or K-9 units and expect to live.
One less scumbag available to pollute the gene pool. Thank you Pittsburgh PD for doing your jobs!
No, they killed your son because he was threatening people with a gun.
Bumo for an interesting thread to be.....I hope.
BumP for an interesting thread to be.....I hope.
another “aspiring rapper” gone too soon
This scumbag didnt shoot just any dog, he shot a member of the police force. When will these idiots realize that if you pull a gun it is very highly probable that the cops will pull their guns also?
If the Pittsburgh Tribune Review had even the slightest amount of journalistic integrity, the headline would read:
Man Shot After Pulling a Gun on Police Officer
It appears that the dead apple didn’t fall far from the family tree in the stupidity department.
Your son needed killing!
Exactly right. Bad call to fire the handgun, no matter at who or what, even if in the air. It ended as expected after that.
Next, they’ll place a call to Al (rent-a-riot) Sharkton. He’ll make everythong better. I feel sorry for the police dog and his partner.
The officer saved society millions in court costs and lost lives. I’m sorry that the K9 officer was killed.
This article is missing the words, “honor student.” Perhaps the mother forgot them in her grief.
What was the dirtbag doing with a gun? Great job Burgh PD.
In most states, as I understand it, police dogs are treated as police officers in terms of criminal prosecution against people that do them harm. The “suspect” pulled out a gun, shot a police dog and would likely have continued shooting the human officers. Would the family have been happier if he had killed a human officer before he was shot down?
I vote they sue the family for the damages (both physical and emotional) that their son inflicted on the poor officer and the department.
Typical leftist mentality.
Their son was killed during a commission of a crime and it's the PD's fault.
"Teach your children well".
Even if the Police can see the kid shooting at their dog, they have no way of knowing if he’ll next aim at them, or if the bullets will hit someone behind them etc. Sorry sir, you raised a punk, and a stupid impetuous one at that. And he died for his quick-thinking stupidity.
The family could also call Obama who can proclaim that the dog deserved to die because it was a “typical canine.”
Mr. Jackson, your idiot son is dead because he shot at a police officer. Your pathetic lies will not bring him back.
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.