Police shoot teen with fake gun, and of course.....

[HardDrive]

......and of course people in the community are questioning the police. Look at the fake gun, look at the 'kid'. Would you open fire? I sure as hell would. I own an AK variant, and I can't tell from that photo that its fake.

Instead of getting mad at the police, how about questioning the PARENTS as to why their son was wandering the streets with a 'toy' that looks like that. Personal responsibility is dead.

Community questions police shooting of 13-year-old | National & World News | Seattle News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | KOMO News

[sammyg2]

it is not against the law to own an AK, or even a fake AK. There is nothing against the law to carry one.
If carrying a toy gun like that gets you shot, then maybe YOU are not the problem.

Some folks see a gun like that and think owning one it is a crime punishable by death squad and many of them wear badges.

Sure looks to me like a case of "stop or BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM I'll shoot".

[KFC911]

Gotta agree with Sammy on this one...blame squarely falls upon the cop UNLESS the kid actually pointed the gun at the cop (which I seriously doubt). I thought they painted the tips of toy guns orange? My LEO tenant told me a while back that the real gang bangers were painting the tips of their guns orange to "get an edge". LEOs have a TOUGH job...I give them the benefit of a doubt many times.

Don't know if this made national news or not, but a few weeks ago, a young (20 something) black guy was in a serious car accident down in Charlotte. He freed himself from the wreckage late at night in the upscale neighborhood and went to a house looking for help and the homeowner called the police. When the black guy saw the cops he went towards them (as most would do)....young "trigger happy" cop shot him 10 times killing him. Cops like that should be charged (and convicted) of manslaughter at a minimum, and maybe even 2nd degree. I live in an open carry state...you want to strap a pistol on or walk down the street carrying a rifle, it's perfectly legal.

[cjannelli]

I believe it is against the law in California to own or carry an assault rifle in public. This kid was near a high school as well. I don't think law enforcement had any choice but to stop him. It's sad he didn't know to drop the rifle lay spread eagle on the ground.
chris

[berettafan]

I see the little plastic pellet shooting toy guns at stores and i'm shocked at how realistic they are.

Just an awful story. Can't imagine calling foul without seeing what took place. We certainly can't say that it's silly to think a 12 yr old would shoot someone....at least not anymore.

[Baz]

I don't know about you but I always make sure my kids carry the most feared weapon on the planet with them when I send them outside to play.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by berettafan

Can't imagine calling foul without seeing what took place.

Yep

[widebody911]

The question I don't see being asked or answered in the article is what exactly was he doing; was he pointing it at the cop or someone else? Robbing a liquor store? Being close to Halloween, he was probably doing some silly cosplay.

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by Baz

I don't know about you but I always make sure my kids carry the most feared weapon on the planet with them when I send them outside to play.

A copy of the Obamacare act?

[Rick Lee]

An article I read said he was shot after ignoring commands to drop it and then started to raise barrel at cops. IMHO, this is the parents' fault. WTF would you let your kid have something like this or at least ever take it off your property or out of immediate adult supervision? I highly doubt any cop wants to shoot a kid.

The question I don't see being asked or answered in the article is what exactly was he doing; was he pointing it at the cop or someone else? Robbing a liquor store? Being close to Halloween, he was probably doing some silly cosplay.

[manbridge 74]

Currently being investigated by FBI so expect to never know what happened in DETAIL ala Sandy Hook, etc. I heard he turned toward cops and likely he only knew hoodspeak and not english.

PSA for all parents needs to go out along the lines of "never point a toy gun at anyone." People are on edge and kids killing people is the new reality.

[gordner]

Originally Posted by manbridge 74

Currently being investigated by FBI so expect to never know what happened in DETAIL ala Sandy Hook, etc. I heard he turned toward cops and likely he only knew hoodspeak and not english.

PSA for all parents needs to go out along the lines of "never point a toy gun at anyone." People are on edge and kids killing people is the new reality.

What an incredibly ignorant post.

[Tervuren]

Even if it was a real gun - he should not of been shot. He shouldn't of even been harassed to drop his gun.

That's like asking me to drop my race helmet. The kid turned around, he had no idea who/what was talking to him. Shameful to get harassed for walking in broad day light with a gun.

Where I grew up, walking with a rifle, shotgun, etc, wouldn't of elicited any special attention. Asking some one to "drop" a gun that can be dammaged from the fall, and shooting them because they don't, is rough. Public carry isn't legal where I grew up, but it didn't seem to bother anyone.

If a guy points a pipe at a cop and says he gonna shot the cop, and gets shot, that's one thing. I am totally fine with someone without a real gun, that plays up that he has a real gun, getting shot for it. I am not ok for someone being shot just because they have a gun.

I had a WWII/Korean vet that died of cancer with no relatives, leave his rifle's to my brother. The last time I shot a gun I walked around with a Chinese made Assault Rifle from the Korean war, that was at age 13. I cherish that memory, I helped my brother move his guns between safes a few months ago, came across the Chinese assault rifle and Japanese single shooter, brought back a lot of childhood memories with holding those rifles again.

Used to be day schools had shooting ranges, and rifle's on the premises...

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by berettafan

Just an awful story. Can't imagine calling foul without seeing what took place.

Again, this^^

I'm not willing to point fingers, but some things do raise questions.

Two witnesses to the shooting, two ladies that were behind the police car when the police turned on their lights and pulled up to the boy, both say that the officers only shouted to "Drop the weapon" only once, not twice as claimed.

The timeline for the shooting, recorded by the police dispatch communications, was 10 seconds. That's 10 seconds from the time it they reported spotting the boy to the time they reported, "shots fired."

Personally, and it's just my opinion, the police statement that the boy turned and raised the weapon at them is just boilerplate police reporting and I am skeptical every time I read that line. It may or may not be true in this case, but it appears in every single police shooting of similar circumstance, as it must, to justify using deadly force.

[manbridge 74]

Originally Posted by gordner

What an incredibly ignorant post.

Whine what you will.

I'm guessing here b/c PC media will never let the truth out. Hard to argue against clear instructions to "drop your gun." Or do you think police murdered intentionally here?

[island911]

Sad when 'trained professionals" screw-up so badly.

Originally Posted by Tervuren

Even if it was a real gun - he should not of been shot. He shouldn't of even been harassed to drop his gun.

That's like asking me to drop my race helmet. The kid turned around, he had no idea who/what was talking to him. Shameful to get harassed for walking in broad day light with a gun.

Where I grew up, walking with a rifle, shotgun, etc, wouldn't of elicited any special attention. Asking some one to "drop" a gun that can be dammaged from the fall, and shooting them because they don't, is rough. Public carry isn't legal where I grew up, but it didn't seem to bother anyone.

If a guy points a pipe at a cop and says he gonna shot the cop, and gets shot, that's one thing. I am totally fine with someone without a real gun, that plays up that he has a real gun, getting shot for it. I am not ok for someone being shot just because they have a gun.

I had a WWII/Korean vet that died of cancer with no relatives, leave his rifle's to my brother. The last time I shot a gun I walked around with a Chinese made Assault Rifle from the Korean war, that was at age 13. I cherish that memory, I helped my brother move his guns between safes a few months ago, came across the Chinese assault rifle and Japanese single shooter, brought back a lot of childhood memories with holding those rifles again.

Used to be day schools had shooting ranges, and rifle's on the premises...

Excellent post ^

[widgeon13]

Originally Posted by manbridge 74

Whine what you will.

I'm guessing here b/c PC media will never let the truth out. Hard to argue against clear instructions to "drop your gun." Or do you think police murdered intentionally here?

If our soldiers in combat have engagement orders not to fire unless fired upon then our LEO's should operate under the same terms.

You don't shoot someone just because they don't do what you say to do. That may be movie crap but it shouldn't be reality. That is just wrong.

[tharbert]

It seems Washinton state allows open carry. So the kid walking along with a rifle/shotgun/handgun is not grounds, by itself, for a take-down with extreme prejudice. There's obviously more to this story...

[manbridge 74]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

If our soldiers in combat have engagement orders not to fire unless fired upon then our LEO's should operate under the same terms.

You don't shoot someone just because they don't do what you say to do. That may be movie crap but it shouldn't be reality. That is just wrong.

Sorry, but that is wrong. There is no negotiating when a policeman gives an order. Not saying they were in the right at all. But this kid would still be alive if someone had told him about authority and we have people to enforce it for the welfare of others.

And the police are on edge and read the news like any other person. There was a teenager recently that shot a beautiful young teacher with her whole life ahead of her. The crime? He was asked to stay after class. Sickening.

[widgeon13]

Originally Posted by manbridge 74

Sorry, but that is wrong. There is no negotiating when a policeman gives an order. Not saying they were in the right at all. But this kid would still be alive if someone had told him about authority and we have people to enforce it for the welfare of others.

And the police are on edge and read the news like any other person. There was a teenager recently that shot a beautiful young teacher with her whole life ahead of her. The crime? He was asked to stay after class. Sickening.

So your position is "shoot" and ask questions later. Perhaps the boy didn't hear the LEO or hear properly. LEO's being on edge does not justify shooting a 13 YO. It's a good training scenario for the future.