Posted on 07/10/2012 8:19:47 AM PDT by smokingfrog
A makeshift memorial marked the spot on Dixie Lou Street where a teen was shot multiple times and killed by Sacramento police Saturday after what officers said was a struggle over an assault weapon stowed in the youth's clothes.
Ascencion Herrera was 17. Sacramento County coroner's officials said he died just before 7 p.m. Saturday, about a half-hour after he was shot.
The two officers involved in the shooting – both in their third year with the force – remained on paid administrative leave Monday, said Sacramento police spokeswoman Michele Gigante.
As friends and the curious made their way to the Meadowview location, on Monday covered with votive candles, family photos and offerings of beer and tequila, neighbors continued to grapple with Saturday's shooting.
** snip **
Williams said she saw one of the officers leave the patrol car and hold Herrera against a plywood fence while the second officer stayed back.
She said the officer "tried to throw him down, but (Herrera) wouldn't go down."
That was when the officer spotted the butt of the weapon protruding from the teen's clothing.
"The cop stepped back and yelled 'Gun,' and fired," Williams said. She and Jones say they heard five shots.
Both said they realize Herrera was carrying a weapon. But "they could've took the gun off that boy," she said. "It shouldn't have happened like that."
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
I say he should have done like the “Waco Kid” and shot the gun out of the kid’s hands.....
“Well don’t just stand there lookin’ stupid, grasping your hands in pain...How about a round of applause for The Waco Kid?”
You don't know how much time elapsed between the perp not going down and the officer firing. He was not under control. He was resisting. You have not seen a picture of the weapon. You don't know if it was three feet long or a foot and a half long. Regardless, it would not have taken 'forever' to get out, as you said.
Use of deadly force by civilians in many states requires an imminent threat of significant bodily harm with no means of retreat. Law enforcement should be held to the same standards as they are professionally trained in this area, armed, usually protected with a vest, and in this case out-numbered the suspect 2-1.
Typical POS article. Why did the police detain the kid in the first place? I find it hard to believe that it was for the weapon because if they though a weapon was involved they would not have tried to force him to the ground. Since when can police just force you against a fence and they try to throw you to the ground. I have not heard a reason for the original stop nor even info about questioning him. Something smells here.
What was the justification for holding him against a wall(fence)in the first place? The other kid was released so what was the stop for?
Indeed, today it’s teenager Ascencion Herrera, tomorrow it’s Tea Partier Joe Smith.
He was going back to school, getting his GED, aspiring rapper, took care of his kids, went to church, made a mistake, got in with the wrong crowd.
Obviously, he found the assault weapon on the playground and was taking it to the police.
I’m not buying the story for the gringos.
Who said they backed up and opened fire? The same people who said they were here legally.
I’m betting the kid decided to fight it out. If a cop is searching him and sees a rifle butt, he’s going to yank on it to see what happens. He’s not going to back up and cut loose.
“Assaultweapon” is actually one word and is a synonym for “gun” or sometimes “cell phone.”
Unless you were there, read my reply #43.
LMAO...
YOU, are spot on.
I’ve got a cop pal in nearby Lincoln, CA. It’ll be interesting to get his take on this.
The perp is up against a fence, obviously facing the fence...The witness did not claim that the cop told the perp to get on the ground...Apparently the cop wanted to show some superior force and throw the perp to the ground...
The natural thing to do is to resist being slammed to the ground...
Cop stands backs, sees what he perceives as the butt of a gun...Pulls out his weapon, apparently while the perp is still faced away, up against the fence...
Says ‘gun’ and shoots...Apparently the other cop had his gun drawn already and fired at the same time since they are both suspended from duty...
Does not appear to be life threatening to the cops, to me...
This is the first thing that came to my mind, and something I can't believe isn't mentioned in the article. They may very well have had a valid reason to stop him, but the fact that no such reason was mentioned makes it look bad for the officers involved.
Should’a told him to drop trou one handed.
Yep, I mentioned that in a previous post. I also wonder why no one else has bothered to question it also.
question it also. = question it here also.
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