OUTRAGE AT U.S. SHOOTING

Sky News ^ | 06/16/03 | Sky News

[tomball]

There has been controversy in the United States after two police officers shot and killed a suspected drunk driver in Louisiana.

The incident happened in a supermarket car park in the town of Shreveport and was captured on CCTV.

The 25-year-old man jumped out of his car and pointed what the officers say they thought was a gun.  They responded by shooting him eight times in the back as he ran away.  They then discovered his supposed weapon was only a mobile phone.

Police had chased him to the car park after he jumped a red light.  A spokesman for the local police said they had studied the video tapes of the shooting.  They decided it was justified because the officers felt threatened.

Shreveport police chief Jim Roberts said: "They felt their lives were in danger."

He said he believed the victim had engineered the incident to get himself killed in a "suicide-by-cop".

[freeeee]

When I was growing up in the 50's and 60's it was consider chicken shit and cowardly to shoot a man in the back.

It still is.

[Rad_J]

you may want to get more facts than what you read in Sky news. See my post #17 and read the real story. Then decide for youself. I am not trying to criticize you, I am criticizing Sky News.

[BushCountry]

The 25-year-old man jumped out of his car and pointed what the officers say they thought was a gun. They responded by shooting him eight times in the back as he ran away.

He ran a red light and the cops had to chase him down. He jumps out of his car and points an object that appears to be a gun (I can see how a small black cell phone pointed at someone could appear to be a gun barrel). The cops already yelled several warnings at him! Turns to flee and they shoot him while he is carrying what they think is a gun. What if he was running for cover to find a place to shoot at the officers? Also, you can not let an armed and dangerous suspect loose to treaten the general population. What if he left the scene and kill several innocent people? You would be screaming the cops were idiots for not stopping him!

[Grando Calrissian]

Maybe the police officer's finger slipped... eight times.

[rightofrush]

6) If a cop is acting like a total jerk, see recommendation #4.

and add: Get his badge number.

[waterstraat]

If ""I"" shot somebody who had a cell phone 8 times in the back, could I get 2 months off work with pay while they think up how it could have been justified, and then get reinstated with complete seniority?

A cop shooting someone, is no different than anybody else shooting someone. There are not 2 sets of standards. Either we all can shoot people in the back 8 times, or none of us can.

[freeeee]

What if he was running for cover to find a place to shoot at the officers? Also, you can not let an armed and dangerous suspect loose to treaten the general population. What if he left the scene and kill several innocent people?

Fact: You absolutely cannot legally use defensive force unless your life or that of others is in immediate danger. And a single gunshot to the back, nevermind multiple ones, is prima facia evidence to every DA in America that you were in no such danger.

Every single one of your explanations will get us 'little people' 10-20 for 2nd degree murder in an identical shooting.

I guess some animals are more equal than others.

[microgood]

What if he left the scene and kill several innocent people? You would be screaming the cops were idiots for not stopping him!

What if he was just drunk? Usually punishment is doled out after a trial. You do not kill people based on what they might do. If a cop cannot tell a cell phone from a gun, he should not be a cop. With two of them there it is hard to believe they both though it was a cell phone. I am sorry, but a presumption of innocence on the part of a citizen is more important than a cop's safety. This solution is too final to take so lightly. Someone is dead and the cops will walk away from it. Hell, maybe thats why some of them like to be cops - you get to kill people.

[NonValueAdded]

You have to really pay attention, folks. There were two officers shooting, not just one so make that 4 shots each; two double-taps. Second, it is easy after the fact to say the perp pointed his cell phone but what would you think at the time? So the perp turns and runs. You expect the cops to wait until he turns around and shoots first? For all you know, the perp turned his head and looked back over the shoulder. I don't know about you, but if I have reason to believe the guy is armed and he even twitches back in my direction, bye-bye perp.

[roadcat]

"Maybe the police officer's finger slipped... eight times."

I was thinking, why don't they just shoot at the legs and bring him down, instead of the back. Then I recalled my brother-in-law telling me of his training in the CHP academy, of how hard it is to hit a specific area let alone any target on the move and they go for dead center when they shoot. Sigh, I watched too many Hollywood shoot-em-ups where they shoot the bad guy in the arm or leg to disable them. And from a hundred feet away!

[freeeee]

I don't know about you, but if I have reason to believe the guy is armed and he even twitches back in my direction, bye-bye perp.

Have fun in jail.

[mewzilla]

Can someone explain to me why bloody Sky News gives a rat's patootie about this story? They don't have enough crime and punishment in the good ol' UK?

[PISANO]

Onelife's recommendations for a long life

One other thing KEEP IN MIND that they put up with ASSHOLES all day, EVERY day they are on duty, be smart, be polite and obey their commands and stay ABOVE GROUND for another day.

[NonValueAdded]

Not if I'm a LEO. I didn't mean the average John Doe could justify such a shooting in a public place. These were Law Enforcement Officers pursuing a suspect that gave them reason to believe he was armed.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Onelife's recommendations for a long life:

1) Don't run from cops.
2) Don't spit on cops.
3) Don't tell cops where they can shove it!
4) Say "Yes, sir." and "No, sir." to cops, as required.
5) Don't take a swing at a cop.
6) If a cop is acting like a total jerk, see recommendation #4.

Does this apply to school teachers as well? Or, does the teacher have to be wearing a gun? How about other authority figures? Just asking...

[discostu]

Hit the second link in post 17, from there you can get to stills of it. They're shooting him in the back because the officers are seperated by about 15 feet, as he's pointing at one his back is exposed to the other. You also get a good still of him holding the cellphone like it's a gun and given the lighting it looks like a gun. While he's point at officers (you also get good stills of one ducking like mad, it's pretty clear they thought he was armed) he's heading towards a convenience store that seems occupied (other cars in the parking lot). Skynews is heavily interpreting before the presentation.

[Rad_J]

Watch the 3 video downloads linked at http://www.nwlouisiana.com/policeshooting/

There are three high quality videos from the three cars.

Notice in the first and third videos that it looks like the cops do not start shooting until after the perp points the cell phone a second time at one of the officers. The officer ducks to avoid getting shot and the other starts shooting and they both shoot him several times.

After watching the video, I believe the cops were justified in shooting him. Did they fire any rounds the first time he pointed the cell phone? Can somebody please listen to the second download and tell me if they hear shots when he first points the cell phone? I can't turn up the volume very loud right now.
Thanks.

[freeeee]

Not if I'm a LEO. I didn't mean the average John Doe could justify such a shooting in a public place.

The average John Doe couldn't justify such a shooting in his own bedroom at 3 am during a violent home invasion.

8 shots to the front of an assailant will get you convicted.

Like I said, looks like some animals are more equal than others.

[sinkspur]

Fact: You absolutely cannot legally use defensive force unless your life or that of others is in immediate danger.

Absolutely true. And the officers believed their lives were, as the video tape shows a shiny object in this perp's hands.

And a single gunshot to the back, nevermind multiple ones, is prima facia evidence to every DA in America that you were in no such danger.

Nope. I suspect Louisiana's laws are like those in Texas. Here, if somebody's stealing my wheel covers, I can shoot them in the front, the back, anywhere, to protect my property.

I can also do the same to protect my life.

The cops have already been no-billed by the DA, so the issue is moot anyway.