Thursday, October 24, 2013

California Sheriff's Deputies Shoot, Kill 13-Year-Old

Hoplophobia claims another victim.

5 comments:

FedUp said...

"O'Leary said the deputies fired several rounds from their handguns immediately after issuing the orders to drop the rifle."

At least they admit they fired immediately after yelling at him.

It happens a lot. Law abiding citizen minding his own business hears loud yelling. He turns to the source of the sound, and before his brain can begin to process the totally unexpected sight of uniformed thugs pointing guns at him, they shoot him dead.

Anonymous said...

There is no mention in the report that the kid attempted to point the toy towards the officers, only that they ordered him to put the piece of plastic down and he didn't. That's what you get in California where there is an inordinate fear of anything that looks like a gun.

Every so-called law officer who pulled a trigger in this case should be prosecuted for murder and should serve major prison time.

- Old Greybeard

SWIFT said...

Yet another example, of contemporary law enforcement, lacking any steel in their spine. Are all federal, state and local agencies recruiting from the same gutless mental institution? A militia member could have handled this in a much more professional, less lethal, way. Screw the ruthless, cowardly murders!

Longbow said...

The Waingrow excuse seems to fit here. "Look, I had to get it on! He was makin' a move! I had to get it on!!"

Crotalus said...

I'm not sure that they were that much at fault. The article referenced in the post says that the police repeatedly told him to drop the weapon. Likely the boy turned to see who was yelling at him and then they fired, perceiving a threat. The toy looked realistic, and apparently had lost its orange marker.

In the article someone lamented that they could have known that he wasn't a maniac, but just a 13-year-old boy. Yet it was a 12-year-old boy who shot up the school in Nevada. The cops' reaction may have been too quick, but given all the recent shootings, I can understand it.

So, unless I'm missing something, I wouldn't call this murder, and an abuse of power, but some overly jumpy cops who now have to live with what they did.

That's not to say cops are always right. There are plenty of instances of abuse under color of law.