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 ...
Good, I’m glad they shot the POS. IMHO, cops who wantonly shoot citizens’ dogs should be shot, and the same goes with citizens who shoot police dogs.
Once they get to big to hold in one arm, momma needs another cute baby, and Dekarius over there be fine, he can be the new babys daddy.Justin be put on the floor to fends for himselves on the streets of Knoxville, He still get fed, and gets the $200 dollar runnin shoes, but he start runnin with the the local feral kids.
But he’s a good boy, one of mommas’ angels.Sure he get himself into some trouble, his daddy, what was his name, he’s still in jail.Hes a proud man too, he’s got like 7 kids, by a three(four?) baby mommas, he’s just a good man too.They all just do some time. It be the governments fault you know.
Like Biggie Smalls and Tupac, government conspiracy, sharks following different patterns because of the trade you know,Americans Chickens comin’ home to rooossssttt!
Change!
( am not defending the suspect and saying he was in complete compliance with the officers, he may not have been, but by whats been reported so far, your argument seems inane.)
Whats been reported? A one sided story from the suspects family, who wasn’t even there! I’m sure there will be an audio recording of the whole situation, giving a better idea as to what happen. Wait for the investigation to be completed.
You’re not as far away as you think.
Why not? In one instance, the dog is presumably being set upon an innocent victim. In the next, the dog is being set upon a dangerous criminal. The situations are not equivalent.
All the perp had to do is show his hands as police ordered and the dog would have never attacked. Quite simple really. I bet he did not have a permit for the gun either
No, they killed your son because he shot and killed a police officer. The fact that it was a canine is irrelevant.
Did they give the officer who let his dog bake to death in his squad car the gas chamber? No.
Then it was a “tragic mistake”.
A dog coming from out of the blue, I can agree with you. A police dog ordered to attack because I have, presumably, not complied with police orders...unlikely.
So when a family dog is protecting his human family and is shot and killed for doing so, can we prosecute the shooter for murder of a family member??.... No, I didn’t think so and I can understand why. Now, how is a police dog any different? The family dog is following his instincts, the police dog is trained and put into harms way by cops that they themselves wouldn’t go. As others have said, if the guy already had his gun out why was the dog then ordered to attack?
One died a brave and selfless death under hostile fire....
The other one was rabid...
The authorities rightfully put him down.
And, as it was reported in the excerpt I used in #34, the officers were responding to a "shots fired" report. Now I doubt the officers chose to hassle "poor little" Justin at random. He probably either matched a description, or had previous encounters with the legal system and was known to the officers. In either event, the tragic consequences were those of Justin's actions...
Head shot! Good job.
If you would have controlled your son at 3 he wouldnt be out of control at 19. The police didnt kill your son.... you did.
They also forgot the “he was a good kid that was turning his life around”
The fact that he pulled a gun is enough reason for the officer to shoot him dead. The dog is just a side story.
Dogs should only be used for search and rescue. The officer has a perfectly good gun. No need to put the dog in harm’s way.
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