Why weapons arent allowed in the Court room

[Master Blaster]

A coupel weeks ago there was a debate here about why weapons are not allowed in court for folks in the gallery or attorneys:


Shooting in Philly Courtroom
PHILADELPHIA-April 13, 2004 — The Philadelphia Criminal Justice Center was placed under lockdown after a shooting in a courtroom. An ambulance and police escort had to rush the defendant who was shot to a nearby hospital.

IMAGES: The shooting scene
VIDEO: David Henry reports from the CJC
VIDEO: Walter Perez reports from Jefferson Hospital
VIDEO: Action News spoke with people in the CJC

There was a wild scene late Tuesday morning at the Criminal Justice Center in Philadelphia. A criminal defendant was shot by a sheriff's deputy in the courtroom where he was being sentenced for a parole violation. 24 year old Shawn Frazier was shot as he lunged for the judge. Frazier was rushed to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital with a bullet in his back. The shooting at the Criminal Justice Center raise serious questions about security. At the time, just one sheriff's deputy was assigned to the courtroom where a criminal with a violent history was being sentenced.

The violence erupted in courtroom 1102. Judge Gary Glazer had just handed down a two to four year sentence to 26-year-old Shawn Frazier for a parole violation.

Sheriff's deputy Thomas Clark struggled with Frazier. But he was outweighed and out-muscled by the 6-foot-three, 285-pound defendant. Clark shot him in the back, sending people in nearby courtrooms and hallways diving for cover.

Police came running from all over Center City. The courthouse was locked down. Frazier was rushed to the hospital in critical condition with a bullet in his lower back.

Lawyers and court personnel say security has been a concern for years. Generally there's only one sheriff's deputy in each courtroom except for special cases. If officer Clark had help, he might not have had to reach for his gun. Sheriff Green acknowledges that staffing levels need to be reexamined.

In recent weeks sheriff's deputies have had to deal with an escape attempt, a defendant who sucker punched his attorney and the same defendant later trying to smuggle a knife into the courtroom. Sheriff Green says he'll be going to City Council looking for more money to hire more deputies.

David Henry, Channel 6 Action News 2004.

 

[BowStreetRunner]

rule # 1 as a criminal defendant - don't insult, attack, or otherwise assault the judge........its just not conducive to a long life outside prison.

but despite that I am curious if he really needed to shoot him...but if he was a big dude
BSR

 

[Leatherneck]

I don't think even the most rabid 2A activist would advocate allowing DEFENDANTS TO HAVE A GUN AT THEIR TRIAL.

tc
tfl sURVIVOR

 

[GigaBuist]

Quality reporting.

24 year old Shawn Frazier was shot as he lunged for the judge.

Judge Gary Glazer had just handed down a two to four year sentence to 26-year-old Shawn Frazier for a parole violation.

I'd take everything in the article with a grain of salt.

 

[flatrock]

I think that if I were a Judge I'd be keeping pepper spray on hand. The duputies should carry it as well.

However, if the government wants to remove you're right to carry a gun in a courthouse, they need to provide ample security to protect you while you're there.

 

[El Tejon]

Judges keep far more than pepper spray handy!

 

[Erich]

No kidding.

 

[outfieldjack]

If officer Clark had help, he might not have had to reach for his gun.

If 24 year old Shawn Frazier had not lunged for the judge, he would not have needed to be shot!

 

[gruven]

According to this local article, the judge wasn't in the court room at the time. He'd already escaped.
http://www.kyw1060.com/news_story_detail.cfm?newsitemid=36828

Authorities say a defendant went berserk at his sentencing hearing on Tuesday morning, going after the judge before being shot by a sheriff's deputy in the courtroom. According to authorities, 24-year-old Shawn Frazier had just been sentenced to two to four years for a probation violation when he went berserk, flipping a table and going after Common Pleas judge Gary Glazer. It all happened around 11:15am inside Courtroom 1102 of the Criminal Justice Center, adjacent to City Hall.

Witnesses say the judge quickly retreated to a secure room but Frazier continued to pursue the judge.

Deputies tried unsuccessfully to restrain the defendant, who is 6' 3" tall and weighs 285 pounds.

As Frazier reached the door to the secure area, one deputy drew his weapon and fired a single shot. Frazier was hit in the back. Paramedics arrived and quickly began treating him for his wounds.
A short time later, an emergency services ambulance -- with a police escort -- took Frazier to Jefferson Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Paramedics arrived and quickly began treating him for his wounds.

I think I've spotted the problem.

 

[Drjones]

If officer Clark had help, he might not have had to reach for his gun.
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If 24 year old Shawn Frazier had not lunged for the judge, he would not have needed to be shot!

Oh, stop it you, with your common sense.

24 year old Shawn Frazier was shot as he lunged for the judge. Frazier was rushed to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital with a bullet in his back. The shooting at the Criminal Justice Center raise serious questions about security.

Riiiiiiight.....whatever....

I'd say if the guy was shot while lunging at a judge in a courtroom, that security is pretty good.

But what do I know...

I love this whole "the criminal is a victim" mentality the media is spewing. Positively sickening.

That the guy lunged at a judge in his courtroom demonstrates pretty clearly what sort of person this guy is.

If there's anything wrong with the incident its that the sheriff shot about a foot too low.