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Boy Harassed By Police, Family Says
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The family of a teenager who was shot and killed after he stabbed a police officer said the police didn't need to end the boy's life.
Brandon Erdman, 15, had been in trouble with the law before prior to Monday, when he stabbed New Albany Officer Laura Schook with an 8-inch knife during a scuffle, WLKY NewsChannel 32 reported.
The confrontation took place at about 9 p.m. Monday in an alley between Oak and Elm streets after a short chase. The chase came after a report of a knife-wielding suspect who tried to break a window at the Swifty gas station and convenience store three blocks away at Spring and Silver streets.
According to NewsChannel 32, Schook shot Erdman at least once, but after the first shot, the suspect remained standing and approached Pumphrey, who'd just arrived at the scene. Pumphrey also shot Erdman, who fell to the ground and was pronounced dead a short time later, police said.
Schook underwent surgery after she was stabbed Monday night, and is expected to make a full recovery.
Schook reportedly fired at least two shots and Pumphrey fired at least three shots, according to investigators, but it's not clear how many of the shots struck Erdman.
Schook suffered neck and facial injuries from the knife attack. She is expected to make a full recovery.
Police said Erdman acted disturbed and overly aggressive to the point that the officers had no choice but to shoot.
Mother Says Boy Was Intoxicated
Mindy Hardin, the mother of Brandon Erdman, told NewsChannel 32 Tuesday that a homeless man bought her son a fifth of 190-proof liquor just prior to his death.
"My son's toxicology report is four times the legal amount," she said.
Hardin said also that police were looking for her son in the hours prior to the gas station incident because he kicked out the windshield in her car.
"They had a description of Brandon from head to toe," she said. "I told the officer right out there in front of this house, thirty minutes before he was shot and killed. I couldn't get to the end of that alley fast enough. I just couldn't get there to pick him up."
According to Erdman's aunt, Elizabeth Hardin, the teen was supposed to be leaving town soon.
"He was actually on his way to Florida to live with his dad," Elizabeth Hardin said. "He was 600 yards from being in Florida."
Erdman feared the police, his aunt said, following a four-day stay in juvenile detention because of a marijuana charge.
"The cops come to school, pull him out of class, take him and interrogate him for two hours, no adult, no parent, no teacher, no principal, no nothing, and then send him back to class after they do that and expect him to have a normal day," Elizabeth Hardin said.
Erdman's family claimed also that the shooting wouldn't have happened if the teen had not been harassed by the police. They are planning to contact the Indiana Civil Liberties Union to see if they can take legal action, Charlton reported.
Erdman's family acknowledged that the boy's problems were no excuse to attack a police officer with a knife, but they don't think the officers needed to shoot until the boy was dead.
"The only thing I can't understand is why they had to shoot him more than once," Mindy Erdman said. "He was already injured, and yes, he got back up, but they have other things."
New Albany Police Chief David Graves said officers are trained to use deadly force to defend themselves.
"On each shift, we have the pepperball weapons, but of course, that's not something you can use on a split second basis," Graves said.
Schook joined the force in 1995, while Pumphrey just joined last year. Monday's incident was the first time the officers fired their guns.
Graves described each officer as responsible, dependable and level-headed. They've been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which is being handled by the Indiana State police.
Erdman's funeral arrangements are pending.
http://www.thelouisvillechannel.com/news/2648460/detail.html
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More of the same... "Good boy" stuff...
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The family of a teenager who was shot and killed after he stabbed a police officer said the police didn't need to end the boy's life.
Brandon Erdman, 15, had been in trouble with the law before prior to Monday, when he stabbed New Albany Officer Laura Schook with an 8-inch knife during a scuffle, WLKY NewsChannel 32 reported.
The confrontation took place at about 9 p.m. Monday in an alley between Oak and Elm streets after a short chase. The chase came after a report of a knife-wielding suspect who tried to break a window at the Swifty gas station and convenience store three blocks away at Spring and Silver streets.
According to NewsChannel 32, Schook shot Erdman at least once, but after the first shot, the suspect remained standing and approached Pumphrey, who'd just arrived at the scene. Pumphrey also shot Erdman, who fell to the ground and was pronounced dead a short time later, police said.
Schook underwent surgery after she was stabbed Monday night, and is expected to make a full recovery.
Schook reportedly fired at least two shots and Pumphrey fired at least three shots, according to investigators, but it's not clear how many of the shots struck Erdman.
Schook suffered neck and facial injuries from the knife attack. She is expected to make a full recovery.
Police said Erdman acted disturbed and overly aggressive to the point that the officers had no choice but to shoot.
Mother Says Boy Was Intoxicated
Mindy Hardin, the mother of Brandon Erdman, told NewsChannel 32 Tuesday that a homeless man bought her son a fifth of 190-proof liquor just prior to his death.
"My son's toxicology report is four times the legal amount," she said.
Hardin said also that police were looking for her son in the hours prior to the gas station incident because he kicked out the windshield in her car.
"They had a description of Brandon from head to toe," she said. "I told the officer right out there in front of this house, thirty minutes before he was shot and killed. I couldn't get to the end of that alley fast enough. I just couldn't get there to pick him up."
According to Erdman's aunt, Elizabeth Hardin, the teen was supposed to be leaving town soon.
"He was actually on his way to Florida to live with his dad," Elizabeth Hardin said. "He was 600 yards from being in Florida."
Erdman feared the police, his aunt said, following a four-day stay in juvenile detention because of a marijuana charge.
"The cops come to school, pull him out of class, take him and interrogate him for two hours, no adult, no parent, no teacher, no principal, no nothing, and then send him back to class after they do that and expect him to have a normal day," Elizabeth Hardin said.
Erdman's family claimed also that the shooting wouldn't have happened if the teen had not been harassed by the police. They are planning to contact the Indiana Civil Liberties Union to see if they can take legal action, Charlton reported.
Erdman's family acknowledged that the boy's problems were no excuse to attack a police officer with a knife, but they don't think the officers needed to shoot until the boy was dead.
"The only thing I can't understand is why they had to shoot him more than once," Mindy Erdman said. "He was already injured, and yes, he got back up, but they have other things."
New Albany Police Chief David Graves said officers are trained to use deadly force to defend themselves.
"On each shift, we have the pepperball weapons, but of course, that's not something you can use on a split second basis," Graves said.
Schook joined the force in 1995, while Pumphrey just joined last year. Monday's incident was the first time the officers fired their guns.
Graves described each officer as responsible, dependable and level-headed. They've been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which is being handled by the Indiana State police.
Erdman's funeral arrangements are pending.
http://www.thelouisvillechannel.com/news/2648460/detail.html
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More of the same... "Good boy" stuff...
