Not all cops have long range binoculars and a clearing big enough to see the person before he can see them. I don't know the layout of the street, but it is very possible they had to get close to see the situations.
No, but he has a point. If someone's waving a gun around or got a hostage situation going on, cops don't just dart in. They make visual contact at a safe distance, and talk to them somehow.
Have guns drawn sure, but I would've expected them to get close, guns drawn behind their squad cars for cover, and use a bullhorn to talk to him.
I mean essentially what they did was run in. What if it WAS a gun? He could've shot at them as they were getting close to begin with. So why as an officer would you just get so close that you had to open fire without even being sure of the entire situation? I mean this is just fail here.
You can blame the guy all he wants for having a garden hose that looks like a gun and pointing it at the police, but if the cops were 150 feet away, would they start shooting? Probably not? 20? Yeah.
It is a distinct possibility. Cops are easy targets for gunmen. They get threatened all the time and are hated by a large number of people. This is why when someone displays what might be lethal force, they shoot first and ask questions later.
People in this thread need to realize, if someone points something that looks like a gun towards you, what do you do first? Try to talk the person down? Or do you shoot him before he has the chance to shoot either you or those around you?
I don't think the guy was evil, just that he was under the influence of a drug. You do stupid stuff when drunk and run the distinct risk of getting yourself killed. Life isn't kind to the stupid.
The police get paid to use judgment. Apparently, they didn't. When I drink, I often play with my battle axe. Fortunately, it only looks like a battle axe. Maybe, I can look forward to just getting grazed the next time someone calls the police when I point my battle axe at them.
The police get paid to use judgment. Apparently, they didn't. When I drink, I often play with my battle axe. Fortunately, it only looks like a battle axe. Maybe, I can look forward to just getting grazed the next time someone calls the police when I point my battle axe at them.
Step 1: Someone reported that a guy was waving what looked like a gun around.
Step 2: the police go to the scene of the incident.
Step 3: Said guy with thing that looks like a gun points it at the police (presumably before they can really say anything.)
Step 4: Police shoot the guy and find out later it was not a gun.
Where is the lack of judgment? Someone reports a guy is waving around something that looks like a gun, you are going to go in assuming that it is a gun. That sounds like they were being totally reasonable.
It happens, but not for stupid shit on their part.So, the two officers can expect to be randomly gunned down?
I thought that as well after reading the article.Suicide by cop?
I 100% agree pointing a gun like object at police is a stupid fucking thing to do and warrants lethal force
My outrage lies in the fact that the police never id'd themselves as such so how could a drunk mother fucker know NOT to point it at them since they did not establish themselves as police
My friend Alexandra was shot to death by a cop much in the same way.
Pretty much this. In a country where lots of people have guns, I would be a jumpy cop.You shouldn't point objects at the police. They do not know who you are or what your intentions are.
Loved this quote:
Honey, if I'm a cop, answering a call for a suspected weapon holder sitting out in public (basically, brandishing what someone thought was a pistol), and you suddenly point it at me, you are going to die of lead poisoning.....AFTER which, I will be happy to yell "FREEZE!", if it makes you feel better.
Cops have a hard enough time of it, without some drunken asshole pointing anything that vaguely looks like a firearm at them.
If you enter a store and make them think you have a weapon and are robbing them it is Armed Robbery. Regardless of the fact that you are unarmed.
If you point a garden hose nozzle at the police as if it were a weapon and they were advised that you were armed then they have a duty to protect themselves and the public.
What if they had waited a second and it was a gun?
A bigger question is:
Why would you point a garden hose nozzle at the police as if it were a weapon?
Stupid should be painful.
You said:
I'll rescind ALL of these comments if it comes out that the PD identified themselves AND told the guy to drop the weapon or put his hands up.
There isn't always time. He pointed it as if it were a weapon, how long does it take for him to pull the trigger? Why would they have to ID themselves? Any half wit can ID a police officer on sight.
Guess what asshat? Every officer involved shooting is investigated.
The officers would much rather not have to shoot this kind of idiot, trust me.
No, he pointed a gun shaped object at two UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICERS.
So let me get this straight...
You're a cop, and some guy points what looks like a gun at you. If it is a gun, he can kill you in an instant. So what do you do? Shoot first to protect your life? Or identify yourself and tell the guy to drop it?
One saves your life, the other gives your life away.
Your choice.
Again, you're not thinking.
A guy has what you have every right to believe is a gun at the scene of a call AND IS POINTING IT AT YOU. Why on earth would you give him a chance to shoot you first? Or do you think cops are disposable?
Pretty much this. In a country where lots of people have guns, I would be a jumpy cop.
Poor guy
Does it hurt to be this stupid/controlled/afraid/ignorant/illiterate/complacent/subservient?
Does it hurt to be this stupid/controlled/afraid/ignorant/illiterate/complacent/subservient?