Minn. man shoots cops after SWAT team kicks down wrong door

[ky_man]

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/12/minn-man-shoots.html

A Minneapolis police SWAT team kicked in the wrong door yesterday during an early morning raid, prompting the man of the house to grab his gun and open fire on the officers who entered the house.

"He took out his shotgun and he said if they are bad guys I'll shoot, I'll scare them away," Dao Khang, the brother of the homeowner, Vang Khang, tells the Star Tribune. "He fired first, he told me it was two shots."

Dao Khang says his brother was trying to protect his wife and six children. No one from the family was hit during the exchange of gunfire. Vang hit two officers, but the Pioneer Press says they were protected by ballistic vests and helmets.

"I must've heard over 20 or 30 shots, I swear, it was scary," Ruth Hayes, the family's next-door neighbor, tells WCCO-TV. "It was like 30 SWAT guys out here ... it was crazy it was just like havoc."

KARE-TV reports that Vang was detained at the scene and released a few hours later. Police say there may have been a "language barrier" between the residents and the officers.

"It was some bad information that was received on the front end that kind-of trickled all the way through," police Sgt. Jesse Garcia tells the station. "It's unfortunate because we have officers that were hit by gunfire and this truly, truly could have been a much worse situation."

Police haven't decided whether they'll try to charge Khang with a crime. KMSP-TV says the Khang family is consulting with a civil attorney.

What would you do? This story reminds us of the postings we wrote earlier this year about an elderly woman who was shot death when Atlanta cops kicked in the wrong door during a drug investigation.
• 92-year-old woman dies in shootout with police
• In Atlanta: 'Somebody is lying'
• Report: D.A. plans murder charges against Atlanta cops

What is going to happen to this guy? No deaths, and he was defending his home and property from "unidentified invaders". More fallout from "no knock" warrants, I suppose.

 

[K3]

Police haven't decided whether they'll try to charge Khang with a crime. KMSP-TV says the Khang family is consulting with a civil attorney.

If it is simply a matter of them effing up and going into the wrong house, why would they even consider charges?

 

[Kacerdias]

If I were in charge of determining the outcome - The homeowner would not be charged with any crime. The police department would pay for the damage done to his property (30 shots!?) and will be liable for a civil suit. Those responsible for faulty intel and kicking in the wrong door will be reprimanded and punished according to department policy up to and including termination.

No knock raids MUST stop.

 

[TexasRifleman]

I can't remember how many threads we've had here that said if you did this you'd be dead no ifs ands or butts because LEO is always so much "better" at this kind of thing.

Interesting how this turned out.

So it IS possible to rightfully and legally defend your home against illegal invasion and survive? Gee, I'm shocked...... (not really)

Police haven't decided whether they'll try to charge Khang with a crime.

That's just typical BS reporting. I'm sure the District Attorney will be well entrenched in the middle of this trying to decide who gets charged. My money is on the cop that took the information from an informant for the warrant but didn't follow it up.

(Other stories on this say the address came from an informant not from direct LE investigation).

 

[phil_in_cs]

So he fired twice and connected, thankfully into body armor. They fired the other 28 times? and hit nothing?

 

[K3]

So he fired twice and connected, thankfully into body armor. They fired the other 28 times? and hit nothing?

If he was shooting an SKS with FMJs we might be having funerals for a couple of public servants. Methinks that SOMEONE in the department should have made sure all the t's were dotted and the i's crossed. How does this wrong address stuff slip through the cracks as often as it does?

 

[matt87]

If it is simply a matter of them effing up and going into the wrong house, why would they even consider charges?

Because they're the police. (Yeah yeah I know it may be cop bashing, but I can't see any other explainantion.)

 

[Cosmoline]

Dao Khang says his brother was trying to protect his wife and six children. No one from the family was hit during the exchange of gunfire. Vang hit two officers, but the Pioneer Press says they were protected by ballistic vests and helmets.

So much for the expert SWAT marksmen. If the fellow had been using brenneke slugs they would have been toast.

 

[tallpaul]

Some are annoyed that just because some one yells "police" that a homeowner would shoot. I have annoyed more than one officer saying that ANYONE can say that and that they sell uniforms etc on ebay everyday. I WILL NOT sit back while intruders illegally enter my home with guns drawn. They will be nuetralized. If LE has a legitamate beef with me call me up/in etc. I have nothing to hide. Thier insecurites or intell mean NOTHING TO ME!!!

 

[dom1104]

Something is missing.

Scene 1: "Honey, I hear something"
Scene 2: BLAM <door is kicked down> "POLICE!"
Scene 3: "Honey, give me my blunderbuss! BOOM BOOM"
Scene 4: <The police open up with 30 shots>
Scene 5: Everyone is unharmed, and trying to figure out who sues who.

This.. does not make sense.

Possible Scenario 1.

These cops are the worst shots in the history of law enforcement. If you cant hit a homeowner in his pajamas that you surprised in the middle of the night... with 30 rounds....in full tactical gear <this makes me smile at the mall-ninjas that think being decked out like a SWAT team makes you the UBERSOLDIER... obviously learning how to shoot helps.>

 

[Cosmoline]

Maybe they were just using short guns.

 

[Markbo]

If there were truly honesty, integrity and balanced/fair reporting, the very first reports would have been on how Mr. Khang was victimizerd by an overzealous Swat team.

SWAT on a drug raid? 30 officers? 28 shots? Mr. Vang obviously had a language problem so the fact that a herd of armed men screaming at the top of their lungs did not make themselves clear is no big mystery.

Heck even on "Cops" when they bust in a door most of the people inside are just in shock until they are shoved down on the floor. I can imagine it takes a little time for everything to be clear what is going on... AND have gunshots shooting all around you????

I think Mr. Vang did exactly the right things, including contacting a civil attorney immediately. You can bet the city won't just up and apologize for this 'misunderstanding' and offer to fix up his house.

 

[qlajlu]

These cops are the worst shots in the history of law enforcement. If you cant hit a homeowner in his pajamas that you surprised in the middle of the night... with 30 rounds....

Someone was very, very lucky! On both sides.

This is also my worst nightmare because I live in a neighborhood where this type of thing COULD happen. If not the bad guys trying to rob you, then the good guys kicking your door in because they think you are the robber or worse.

Yes, someone was very lucky, indeed.

 

[Thernlund]

It's absolutely infuriating that there is even the possibility that this guy will be changed. I'd have done the same thing he did. If someone busts down my door I should stop and check their credentials before I open fire?! F*** that! If my or my family's lives are at risk, I'm going to down the threat post haste. If it turns out to be a SWAT team with the wrong address, I'll take comfort in the fact that I thought I had no choice. Then I'll spend every dime I have making sure someone pays for the life I took and that it never happens again.




-T.

 

[qlajlu]

That's assuming that you are still alive when it is all over!

 

[geekWithA.45]

Police haven't decided whether they'll try to charge Khang with a crime.

Outrageous.

Prostrating themselves before that family and begging their forgiveness would be a good start.

 

[Roswell 1847]

If you cant hit a homeowner in his pajamas that you surprised in the middle of the night... with 30 rounds....

Hitting an Asian wearing Pajamas has proven extraordinarily difficult at times, especially if the Pajamas are black. In fact thats the main reason they started using 30 shot mags instead of the old 20 rounders.
Even then it took about a hundred thousand rounds per kill.

 

[phil_in_cs]

The '30 shots' is a guess from a witness, and was likely a single guy putting a clip from his brand new MP5 into the ceiling.

I saw video from a convenience store shoot out where the owner and 2 BGs fired 30+ rounds at distances out to 10 feet, without anyone getting directly hit.

 

[ilbob]

Hopefully the homeowner will get a few million bucks out of the incident. Money seems to be the only thing that matters these days, and if they have to pay out big time, maybe they will not use false (probably falsified) information the next time.

"It was some bad information that was received on the front end that kind-of trickled all the way through," police Sgt. Jesse Garcia tells the station. "It's unfortunate because we have officers that were hit by gunfire and this truly, truly could have been a much worse situation."

Doesn't seem to bother him that this so called "bad information" (more likely fake information) might have led to the murders of a number of what appears to be law abiding citizens.

 

[Geno]

Well, after reading the thread locked at 11:30ish, I'd say this is about to lock too. That said, I think there is serious food for thought as to the happenings of the event. Fortunately, no one was injured.

Doc2005

 

[230RN]

"A Minneapolis police SWAT team kicked in the wrong door yesterday during an early morning raid...."

Again?

When are those judges and magistrates who sign those darned no-knock warrants going to wise up and put the screws to the Officers' Affadavits?

Not cop-bashing, either, but this is getting to be ridiculous!

"Oh, a confidential 'informant' told you such and so an address? OK by me, go ahead and bash in the party's door. Let me get my rubber stamp, here... (sound of rubber stamp on warrant)... OK, there you go."

"Thank you, Your Dishonor."

 

[Ultrachimp]

Hitting an Asian wearing Pajamas has proven extraordinarily difficult at times, especially if the Pajamas are black. In fact thats the main reason they started using 30 shot mags instead of the old 20 rounders.
Even then it took about a hundred thousand rounds per kill.

I lol'd.

Hopefully he'll sue the city's pants off.

 

[MICHAEL T]

I hope the man and his family will enjoy the large amount of money. They with the help of their lawyer will be getting.
SWAT team needs disbanded Their suppose to be top markman and get address right.
Once more a Civ. has shown with little or no training in a self defence sitution to have a better hit to shots fired than police.
Give cops cap and ball pistols They might improve their shooting I am tired of reading about all the shots fired by Police and most miss and endanger other people. This wasn't a problem in days of revolver . Police hit targets . Of course they didn't storm you home in middle of the night dressed like Ninja either.

 

[230RN]

^^^ Ref Ultrachimp Post 22
WMPOTO
(Wet My Pants On That One)

 

[doc2rn]

This is the reason shotguns are made for home defense! Score shotgun 2 vs handgun -28, just proves what I been saying for years, foil hat off. Thank god the law abiding citizens where not hurt. Another one chalked up for average joe.