[Bob R]

http://www.msnbc.com/local/khq/m328698.asp?vts=92920031542

Turns out the thief that was threatening the LEO was hard of hearing (completely deaf has been reported), and was brandishing a BB gun.

I hope common sense prevails here and not emotions. The thief, while only 15, is still responsible for his actions. He tried to get away from a search, and pulled his weapon, (a colt 45 looking BB gun, which are very realistic), and then threatened the LEO and some bystanders prior to being shot.

After several commands to drop his weapon, he was dropped with one shot to the face.

I am sure the family has already gotten a lawyer.

My sympathies go out to the LEO that did the shooting. I am sure she did the right thing, and now is paying the emotional price.

I will follow this story for the outcome.

bob

[TheeBadOne]

http://www.msnbc.com/local/KHQ/M328719.asp?0LA=aap9n (http://)

Police Release New Information on Fatal Shooting of Teen

SPOKANE, WA, Sept. 29 - Spokane Police Chief Roger Bragdon today updated information on the Saturday shooting by a Police officer, of a young man who brandished a handgun at her and several bystanders on the city's north side.

Bragdon said the officer happened to be in the area of the Maid O' Clover convenience store at Hamilton and Baldwin about 4:30 p.m. when a young man stole a case of beer from the store and ran west with three companions in an alley behind the store.
According to police, the Patrol officer was on the adjacent block and spotted the described subjects running toward her. She stopped her marked patrol car and told the four males to sit on the curb. Bragdon said three complied, but the fourth became confrontational. He was identified as Eagle Michael.
Police say she moved to check him for weapons, and he swore at her and drew a handgun from his waistband. He said, "I'll kill you," and pointed the weapon at her.
Bragdon said the officer, Michele Madsen, repeatedly yelled for the subject to put down the weapon. She moved around her patrol car, trying to keep it between the two of them. He repeated several times that he would kill her, and when he again turned toward with the weapon pointed toward her she fired one shot.
According to police the bullet struck him in the face, and he died at the scene. They also said that these descriptions of what happened and what was said were been given to Spokane Police and County Sheriff's Office investigators by several residents who were at the area at the moment of the shooting. Bragdon said that at least two of the men who were with the young man also said the officer had no choice but to shoot.
An autopsy today verified the cause of death as the single gunshot wound to the head. The toxicology examination results, to determine what substances may have been in his system at the time, will take several weeks to complete.
Bragdon said the gun the young man had, was found to be a BB or pellet gun, a replica of a real handgun.
Michael was wearing a hearing aid in one ear, and may have had a hearing impairment. Bragdon said even if that were the case, he obviously saw the uniformed officer gesturing to the curb and saw his companions all sit down. Bragdon went on to say that drawing a weapon from his waistband and pointing it were acts unrelated to any hearing problem.
Chief Bragdon said the entire Department recognizes the tragedy of the shooting, and the impact it has had on the family, the officers involved and on the community.
The investigation into the entire case is continuing.

[C.R.Sam]

From the information presented...
Looks like a very good shoot.

Sam

[Redlg155]

Looks like a justified shooting.

Stupidity leaps any barriers that a handicap may provide.

Good Shooting
Red

[Steve in PA]

So what does possibly bein ghard of hearing have to do with brandishing a weapon.....threatening to kill someone........

Sounds like a good shoot to me.

[Quartus]

No, Sam, a necessary shoot. Not good. He was a stupid punk, and he paid. And the officer will pay, and pay, and pay. She'll second guess herself for a long time. She might even quit over this. She might hesitate when it's a real gun, and pay with her life.

Not good.



I think situations with gun look-alikes have gone well for the ossifer involved, as a rule. As they should. I ain't in favor of asking cops to check the make and model of a perp's gun before they shoot!

[Carlos]

Sad for the family of the shooter. "I'll Kill You" several times is enough to qualify for the treatment he got. Whatever videogame this punk grew up on didn't distinguish toy guns and real guns.

One less Future BG.

[Standing Wolf]

I'd have shot him.

[Bob R]

I agree with everyone here, it was a good and necessary shoot.

My concern is for the officer that had to shoot.

As Quartus said: She'll second guess herself for a long time. She might even quit over this. She might hesitate when it's a real gun, and pay with her life.


I hope she can continue with her life and with her chosen profession without having to carry a lot of excess baggage over this.

bob

[Tim Burke]

Turns out the thief that was threatening the LEO was hard of hearing (completely deaf has been reported), and was brandishing a BB gun.
If I'm waving around a gun, I don't think I need to hear what the Officer that is pointing a gun at me is saying to know what kind of behavior is expected of me.

[TheeBadOne]

Family members say he may have had a b.b. gun, but would have put it down if he could have heard the order from the police officer.
Family members say the police department needs to bear some measure of accountability in the wake the boy's death.

:rolleyes:

[P95Carry]

I am sad for the family's loss .... unfortunate also the kid had a hearing prob .. BUT

It makes NO difference - AT ALL - to the fact that he brandished.

I mean ...... who on this rock called earth would not react to a threat from another gun .. real or imitation or BB .... very few I'd guess.

The ''perceived threat'' is real .... very REAL ... and the cop was 100% justified in shooting. Anyone .. even a kid, should be more than well aware of the consequences of brandishing... anything ....... the only course of action is drop said weapon and do exactly as told .... that way he might have lived to learn.

[Tamara]

Once again the point is driven home: If you point a fake gun at people who have real guns, don't be surprised when they shoot you.

[jsalcedo]

If alcohol was involved I'm not surprised at the outcome.

I've seen otherwise rational folks go completely berserk after a few beers,
do suicidal things and are then indignant when you tell them you are going to call the cops "bring the Effin cops I don't give a ****"

Kids are even more stupid when it comes to drinking because they are already a quart low on common sense as it is.

I'm inclined to say this is a good shoot due to the simple fact that the cops gave the kid every chance they could.

[Preacherman]

I think that the officer displayed courage and self-restraint almost to the point of being foolish. You can rest assured that if some bozo pointed a gun at me, I would NOT give him the same (repeated) opportunities to drop it that she did - I'd defend myself against such a lethal threat without wasting time on the preliminaries. Sounds like a textbook "good shoot" to me.

[C.R.Sam]

And...
Good shooting under pressure.
One round ?

Sam

[El Rojo]

I agree that she gave him too much time. I don't know if I would wait that long. I bet there are a few officers there who might not trust her after this incident because she should have drawn and shot two right away. "Her nerve" might be called into question. Bad situation all the way around, but she goes home at the end of the night. That is a good thing.