Unarmed Man Goes On Shooting Rampage

[Batboy2/75]

Brought to you by the police state Hydra; police, prosecutors and politicians.


http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/05/how-d ... an-with-sh

[baffled]

I read that earlier as well as the full article at the Times.

Ridiculous. Police have so little accountability it's ridiculous. The NYPD is also limiting/eliminating the reporting of crime in each precinct, so the media may not even know a crime existed unless someone reports it themselves, or a call is put into the Public Affairs office or whatever it is.

In contrast, Iceland just had its first ever death as a result of a police shooting. Ever.

German police fired 85 rounds at humans, not counting animals, in all of (I think) 2012.

Even when you compensate for differences in the size of our population and Germany's, our cops are firing at a rate that doesn't come close to making sense.

[Batboy2/75]

Want a license to kill? Become a cop. If you're a Dexter type psychopath, you could gun people down for years or decades and no one would say boo. If bumbling idiots can kill with impunity, just think what a crazy smart guy could get away with? The body count would drawf most serial killers. We're talking third world war criminal territory.

[Bedlam 0-0-0]

In contrast, Iceland just had its first ever death as a result of a police shooting. Ever.

And the police issued an apology. Do ya think the NYPD will do anything of the sort? No way. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-0 ... ogize.html

I hope police departments will re-evaluate their training in dealing with mentally ill people. This sort of thing happens way too much. A review of the following rule is in order too: "Be sure of your target and what is behind it."

A plague on your house Shannon Lucey.

[DPR]

It reminds me of the South Park episode where they have to pretend the animals are charging them before they can shoot. "It's coming right for us!"

[baffled]

In contrast, Iceland just had its first ever death as a result of a police shooting. Ever.

I hope police departments will re-evaluate their training in dealing with mentally ill people. This sort of thing happens way too much. A review of the following rule is in order too: "Be sure of your target and what is behind it."

lol, they'll never do anything of the sort.

Shoot first, answer whatever questions your union rep allows later.... take paid vacation, retire at 52 with full pension, likely collecting extra pay for unused sick time or injuries suffered on the job, even if you returned to full duty for a decade or more.

[Turdacious]

This thing's gonna get ugly.

Cops trying to subdue an emotionally disturbed man with a long rap sheet accidentally shot two female bystanders outside Port Authority Bus Terminal on Saturday night, source said.

Theodora Ray, 54, was struck in her leg — breaking two bones in her calf — as she stood leaning on her four-wheeled walker across from the terminal; Sahara Khoshakhlagh, 35, was grazed in her buttocks.

Two cops pulled off a total of three shots in the mistaken belief that the deranged Glen Broadnax, 35, was armed after he reached into his pocket as they approached him, officials said.

http://nypost.com/2013/09/15/cops-accid ... ubdue-man/

Shooting bystanders is probably the bigger issue here.

[baffled]

This thing's gonna get ugly.

Cops trying to subdue an emotionally disturbed man with a long rap sheet accidentally shot two female bystanders outside Port Authority Bus Terminal on Saturday night, source said.

Theodora Ray, 54, was struck in her leg — breaking two bones in her calf — as she stood leaning on her four-wheeled walker across from the terminal; Sahara Khoshakhlagh, 35, was grazed in her buttocks.

Two cops pulled off a total of three shots in the mistaken belief that the deranged Glen Broadnax, 35, was armed after he reached into his pocket as they approached him, officials said.

http://nypost.com/2013/09/15/cops-accid ... ubdue-man/

Shooting bystanders is probably the bigger issue here.

Ummm, yeah, that's exactly it.

They're trying to shrug off any accountability the cops should face by blaming the unarmed guy.

[Turdacious]

This thing's gonna get ugly.

Cops trying to subdue an emotionally disturbed man with a long rap sheet accidentally shot two female bystanders outside Port Authority Bus Terminal on Saturday night, source said.

Theodora Ray, 54, was struck in her leg — breaking two bones in her calf — as she stood leaning on her four-wheeled walker across from the terminal; Sahara Khoshakhlagh, 35, was grazed in her buttocks.

Two cops pulled off a total of three shots in the mistaken belief that the deranged Glen Broadnax, 35, was armed after he reached into his pocket as they approached him, officials said.

http://nypost.com/2013/09/15/cops-accid ... ubdue-man/

Shooting bystanders is probably the bigger issue here.

Ummm, yeah, that's exactly it.

They're trying to shrug off any accountability the cops should face by blaming the unarmed guy.

I haven't seen a tape on it, but if they reasonably thought he was about to fire on them (taking into account his history as a violent criminal), the shooting was reasonable. The cops don't have the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. Hitting bystanders with 2 of 3 shots is a big issue though.

[baffled]

This thing's gonna get ugly.

Cops trying to subdue an emotionally disturbed man with a long rap sheet accidentally shot two female bystanders outside Port Authority Bus Terminal on Saturday night, source said.

Theodora Ray, 54, was struck in her leg — breaking two bones in her calf — as she stood leaning on her four-wheeled walker across from the terminal; Sahara Khoshakhlagh, 35, was grazed in her buttocks.

Two cops pulled off a total of three shots in the mistaken belief that the deranged Glen Broadnax, 35, was armed after he reached into his pocket as they approached him, officials said.

http://nypost.com/2013/09/15/cops-accid ... ubdue-man/

Shooting bystanders is probably the bigger issue here.

Ummm, yeah, that's exactly it.

They're trying to shrug off any accountability the cops should face by blaming the unarmed guy.

I haven't seen a tape on it, but if they reasonably thought he was about to fire on them (taking into account his history as a violent criminal), the shooting was reasonable. The cops don't have the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. Hitting bystanders with 2 of 3 shots is a big issue though.

They took him down with a taser. Why not pop him with that earlier on? Did the cops know who he was when they arrived? He reached into his sweatshirt or pants pocket, why not zap him then?

Does the NYPD have other non/less lethal options available to cops patrolling in cruisers? Did they arrive in a patrol car or were they on foot?

Unless any of those questions can be, or already have been, answered, then none of this was reasonable.

Cops too often show themselves to have terrible judgment regarding when to exercise lethal force. This looks like another unjustified shooting by incompetent cops.

[DrDonkeyLove]

The DA's actions are a warning to the mentally disturbed across NYC that they aren't tolerating these kinds of crazy monkeyshines. I'm sure it will alter the voices in their addled heads.

[Turdacious]

I haven't seen a tape on it, but if they reasonably thought he was about to fire on them (taking into account his history as a violent criminal), the shooting was reasonable. The cops don't have the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. Hitting bystanders with 2 of 3 shots is a big issue though.

They took him down with a taser. Why not pop him with that earlier on? Did the cops know who he was when they arrived? He reached into his sweatshirt or pants pocket, why not zap him then?

Does the NYPD have other non/less lethal options available to cops patrolling in cruisers? Did they arrive in a patrol car or were they on foot?

Unless any of those questions can be, or already have been, answered, then none of this was reasonable.

Cops too often show themselves to have terrible judgment regarding when to exercise lethal force. This looks like another unjustified shooting by incompetent cops.

You are ignoring half of the issue-- the shooting of bystanders with 2 of 3 shots. That's a bigger issue. Nobody is arguing that they handled it well. If a guy breaks into your house, gets you to believe he has a weapon and that your life is in danger, and you shoot him-- you have cause to do so. Cops should be held to a similar standard.

Regarding the question being answered, it has been-- by the DA. Whether or not it was a good answer is still an open question. There were probably cameras there, and bystanders were shot. The courts will decide, and it doesn't look good for the NYPD based on the article I cited.

[Pinky]

The post on this at Popehat was awesome.

As long as you ignore the fact that the shooting victims were innocent bystanders, hitting two people with three shots represents unusual excellence in marksmanship for the NYPD, matching another recent incident in which skilled NYPD officers were able to hit their target and nine bystanders with only 16 bullets. Overall the NYPD usually requires about 331 rounds to hit 54 targets, of which 14 will be innocent bystanders, 24 will be dogs, and 16 will be people the NYPD was actually aiming at.

[Initially Mr. Broadnax was arrested on misdemeanor charges of menacing, drug possession and resisting arrest. But the Manhattan district attorney’s office persuaded a grand jury to charge Mr. Broadnax with assault, a felony carrying a maximum sentence of 25 years. Specifically, the nine-count indictment unsealed on Wednesday said Mr. Broadnax “recklessly engaged in conduct which created a grave risk of death.”

“The defendant is the one that created the situation that injured innocent bystanders,” said an assistant district attorney, Shannon Lucey.

This is perfectly fair. Look, Mr. Broadnax, you know how the NYPD is. They love the people of New York. They just . . . they just get stressed out and angry sometimes. Why do you have to make them angry like that? Look what you made them do now. Look what you made them do.

[Blaidd Drwg]

I haven't seen a tape on it, but if they reasonably thought he was about to fire on them (taking into account his history as a violent criminal), the shooting was reasonable. The cops don't have the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. Hitting bystanders with 2 of 3 shots is a big issue though.

They took him down with a taser. Why not pop him with that earlier on? Did the cops know who he was when they arrived? He reached into his sweatshirt or pants pocket, why not zap him then?

Does the NYPD have other non/less lethal options available to cops patrolling in cruisers? Did they arrive in a patrol car or were they on foot?

Unless any of those questions can be, or already have been, answered, then none of this was reasonable.

Cops too often show themselves to have terrible judgment regarding when to exercise lethal force. This looks like another unjustified shooting by incompetent cops.

You are ignoring half of the issue-- the shooting of bystanders with 2 of 3 shots. That's a bigger issue. Nobody is arguing that they handled it well. If a guy breaks into your house, gets you to believe he has a weapon and that your life is in danger, and you shoot him-- you have cause to do so. Cops should be held to a similar standard.

Regarding the question being answered, it has been-- by the DA. Whether or not it was a good answer is still an open question. There were probably cameras there, and bystanders were shot. The courts will decide, and it doesn't look good for the NYPD based on the article I cited.

Bingo.

Shooting a sketchy dude playing pocket pool is not uncommon. And in many situations, reasonable minds can disagree about the degree to which officers feared for their safety. The fact they feared for their safety more than the welfare of the people they are "protecting" is beyond the pale.

[Pinky]

Bingo? If a private citizen had fired in someone who he believed posed a risk to his life and hit two bystanders instead of the perceived threat, you would never see a prosecutor charge anyone but the shooter for the shooting. Even in my very gun-friendly state, an armed citizen would acted a those cops did would be in jail.