Calls For "JUSTICE" In Shooting Of 13-Year-Old By Police

I'm curious as to why this kid would point something that looks just like an AK-47 at police officers. What did the kid expect the officers' reactions to be? For that matter, what would ANYONE think the officers' reactions would be?
Calif. boy with pellet gun shot 7 times by deputy, autopsy finds


October 25, 2013
SANTA ROSA, CALIF. – Residents of a Northern California community expressed skepticism Thursday about a sheriff's deputy's decision to shoot a popular 13-year-old boy who was carrying a pellet gun that looked like an assault rifle.

A preliminary autopsy report released Thursday said Andy Lopez was shot seven times, and the two fatal wounds were in his right hip and the right side of his chest.

The final autopsy results won't be ready for several weeks.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people marched more than 3 miles from Santa Rosa City Hall to the field where Andy Lopez was killed Tuesday afternoon. Some lit candles and placed flowers at a makeshift memorial with printed pictures of the victim, stuffed animals and a balloon that read "RIP Andy L." An Aztec dance performance followed the march.

"It's very tragic and sad. It just happened so quick," said Noel Nunez, 15, a sophomore at nearby Elsie Allen High School. Still, he said deputies should have been able to tell the difference between a real gun and a replica weapon.

A Sonoma County sheriff's deputy twice told the boy to drop the weapon, but he instead raised it in the deputy's direction, police said at a news conference Wednesday.

"The deputy's mindset was that he was fearful that he was going to be shot," said Santa Rosa police Lt. Paul Henry, whose agency is investigating the shooting in the suburban town of roughly 170,000 people. It's about 50 miles northwest of San Francisco in California's wine country.

The gun looked just like an AK-47 assault rifle, with a black body and ammunition magazine, and a brown butt and grip. Only after the shooting did deputies realize it was a plastic replica, authorities said.

"Nobody should die for a misunderstanding, especially not a young boy who hasn't even started his life. It's just really sad knowing that," said Viviany Diaz Agirra Torres, 17. Torres said she wanted to know whether police gave Andy time to put the gun down before opening fire.

Hundreds of community members marched Wednesday night to remember the teen and protest the shooting, chanting "We need justice," the Press Democrat of Santa Rosa reported.

Police said two deputies were riding in a marked patrol vehicle and were in uniforms when they spotted Andy in a hooded sweatshirt and shorts at 3:14 p.m. Tuesday. His back was turned toward the deputies, and they did not realize he was a boy.

One of the deputies saw what appeared to be an assault rifle similar to an AK-47 in the teen's left hand. The deputies pulled over and took cover behind one of the vehicle's doors, according to police.

A witness reported seeing the patrol car's overhead emergency lights turn on and hearing the chirp of a siren, police said.

One of the deputies twice ordered Andy to drop the weapon, according to a witness, police said.

The teen was about 20 or 30 feet away from the deputies with his back toward them when he began turning around with what one deputy described as the barrel of the rifle rising up and turning in his direction, police said.

One deputy then fired several rounds, striking the boy at least once, Henry said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators said they believe eight rounds were fired. The timeline released by Santa Rosa police says those shots were fired within 10 seconds of the deputies' first report of a suspicious person.

At Wednesday's news conference, Santa Rosa police displayed the pellet gun alongside a real AK-47. The two appeared strikingly similar.

Deputies also found a plastic handgun in the boy's waistband, police said.

The pellet gun did not have an orange-tipped barrel like other replica firearms, including the plastic handgun found in the boy's waistband, police said.

The deputies, who have not been identified, have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard after a shooting, sheriff's officials said.

Assistant Sheriff Lorenzo Duenas told the Press Democrat that the deputy who shot the teen is a 24-year veteran and his partner, who did not fire his weapon, is a new hire.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/10/2...shot-7-times-by-sheriff-deputy-autopsy-finds/

 

Perhaps he wanted to kill himself.

 

Yes, very possible. It's referred to as Suicide By Cop.

 

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Or somebody lied about what went down. Equally possible. And there's a lot of that going around.

 

But then he was just a 13-year-old kid. Of course they're famous for their foresight, level-headedness, and ability to make the right moves in any situation, so that probably doesn't factor into it.

 

Has there ever been a victim of gun violence that Right-wingers here didn't find to be their own fault? Here we go again. A 13-year old boy is supposed to have the wisdom of a saint while the adult trained police officer who shot him 7 times must be the real victim.

There is just something wrong with the Right-wing. Maybe a lot of somethings.

 

So, do you advocate the banning of all private gun ownership?

 

I think you're being a little harsh on them. I mean in a situation in which say a four-year-old finds a loaded gun in the nightstand, starts playing with it, and ends up blowing her head off or killing her brother I can see them advocating a slap on the wrist for the parents. But then it's equally easy to visualize the NRA saying that the kid should have known better and it was her own damn fault and if her brother had only himself been armed the tragedy never would have happened. So no, you're probably right.

 

Sadly, if this 13-year old had been armed with a real gun, he would be here today. We just need to start arming children. Why are there so many kids out there without the protection of guns? There have only been 10,000 gun deaths in this country since Sandy Hook and there could have been 20,000 damn it! We're just not trying hard enough. Why are these kids not armed at conception. They deserve their 2nd Amendment right to shoot their way out of the womb don't they?

 

It is a sad loss to the boy's family but also please do remember that this police officer has to live with the knowleadge that he shot a child, he had no idea if the weapon was real or not. Try asking yourselfs how you would have reacted in his place, do not forget the number of shootings carried out by children with dire consequences in the recent past.

Ps I would have also shot him or any one who pointed a weapon at me if I had been in that situation. This is why I have said many times any one using a real or fake weapon in persuit of a crime should get the death penelty without any appeal. (I am not saying that this young boy was committing a crime)

 

Unarmed Joe would have hidden behind a tree or just stood there and peed his pants.

Precisely.

 

Now you have no idea as to what Joe would or wouldnt have done, I have known pacifists who had a lot more guts than me

 

No, I'm sure he would have just stood there and peed his pants.

 

As opposed to what? Crapping in them? Which is what RWers do when confronted with the mere threat of actually having to fight in one of the wars that they support.

I just love how butch RWers are. As long as they have their guns and their military (and their draft deferments if they're of a certain age) and a suitable distance separating them from any real personal danger they are totally fearless.

 

I'm not going to generalize and say that an entire group would act a certain way, but I'm certain Joe would have just stood there and peed his pants.

 

You like saying "pee his pants" don't you.

 

I think you'll be hearing that a lot from me when I call out liberals as cowards.

 

Says the guy sitting behind his computer insulting people that would otherwise kick his teeth down his throat for opening his big mouth. Such courage!

 

Appears Coin has struck a nerve!