13 Year Old Boy Killed Carrying A Pellet Gun

[B_J 2,752]

aw. do tell me about the real world daddy! when do i get to join in with the others?!

no, deadly force was not justified. obviously. cops should be a little bit more in control of their emotions with their fingers on the trigger, imo. this isn't an isolated incidence, it happens quite frequently.

Seriously, what should the cops do in that situation? Are they supposed to wait until one of them gets shot; then they can be sure it's a real gun? I'm not saying this is in any way a good outcome; but I really don't know what the cops could safely do in this situation.

[decocker 7,198]

Seriously, what should the cops do in that situation? Are they supposed to wait until one of them gets shot; then they can be sure it's a real gun? I'm not saying this is in any way a good outcome; but I really don't know what the cops could safely do in this situation.

when i read this story yesterday, the version of events was that the boy turned to face the cops with the gun still in his hand. from that perspective, he didn't know yet to obey the officers. one shot was fired and then seven more. that sounds to me like one cop popped off prematurely and the rest followed suit.

then the cops have to justifiy their actions and we get a bunch of excuses. not being able to tell if it was a real gun is a reasonable excuse, but no shots had been fired by the kid.

[Danno 1,228]

when i read this story yesterday, the version of events was that the boy turned to face the cops with the gun still in his hand. from that perspective, he didn't know yet to obey the officers. one shot was fired and then seven more. that sounds to me like one cop popped off prematurely and the rest followed suit.

then the cops have to justifiy their actions and we get a bunch of excuses. not being able to tell if it was a real gun is a reasonable excuse, but no shots had been fired by the kid.

You do realize SHOTS need not be fired to justify the use of deadly force.

[decocker 7,198]

You do realize SHOTS need not be fired to justify the use of deadly force.

they do in my book.

[B_J 2,752]

when i read this story yesterday, the version of events was that the boy turned to face the cops with the gun still in his hand. from that perspective, he didn't know yet to obey the officers. one shot was fired and then seven more. that sounds to me like one cop popped off prematurely and the rest followed suit.

then the cops have to justifiy their actions and we get a bunch of excuses. not being able to tell if it was a real gun is a reasonable excuse, but no shots had been fired by the kid.

If all he did was turn around; then I don't think the cops were justified, no matter what directive was given to the kid. It's easy to imagine a kid turning around just because somebody was talking to them.

However, if the kid raised the weapon, the I side with the cops. I don't think cops should ever be expected to get shot first in order to find out if the other person has a real weapon or not.

[decocker 7,198]

If all he did was turn around; then I don't think the cops were justified, no matter what directive was given to the kid. It's easy to imagine a kid turning around just because somebody was talking to them.

However, if the kid raised the weapon, the I side with the cops. I don't think cops should ever be expected to get shot first in order to find out if the other person has a real weapon or not.

i don't think cops should be expected to get shot in order to justify opening fire, but i do think that cops are expected to serve and protect others first and foremost.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Cops probably made up the he pointed the gun towards them because they are in trouble. Nothing like the cops fabricating lies. Since the kid is dead, he will never be able to tell his side of the story.

[decocker 7,198]

exactly.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Amazing how times change so quickly. We used to walk around with bb guns all the time. No one ever gave it a second thought.

Proving that the problem is not guns. It's what has happened to society.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Proving that the problem is not guns. It's what has happened to society.

The number of gun deaths in the 1970's and 80's is roughly the same as it is now, so guns are most definitely a huge part of the problem. I think the reason society as a whole has changed about the issue is due to the extended media coverage we have nowadays. People are more aware of the problem and the media does a great job of instilling fear in people.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

The number of gun deaths in the 1970's and 80's is roughly the same as it is now, so guns are most definitely a huge part of the problem. I think the reason society as a whole has changed about the issue is due to the extended media coverage we have nowadays. People are more aware of the problem and the media does a great job of instilling fear in people.

There are approx 100 million more people in the US than there was in the 1970's, so the gun death rate has gone down. Back then you could go hunting and walk down the side of the road carrying a shotgun and nobody would have given you a second glance. Today, anyone with a gun is a psychopathic murderer. The media does do a great job of instilling fear, but these school shootings just didn't happen as frequently as they do today. Something has changed in people. Home life, single parents, etc. Something is drastically wrong.

[himher 634]

yes, when in doubt, shoot. hell, why not never entertain doubt and shoot first, ask questions later?!

we need to ban plastic toy guns, get a toy gun registry going, public permits..

Pellet guns aren't toys

[himher 634]

You do realize SHOTS need not be fired to justify the use of deadly force.

By cops. Otherwise, your little declaration up there doesn't apply within the boundaries of my property lines.

[decocker 7,198]

Pellet guns aren't toys

well hello there my love. so glad you're keeping in touch.

[Danno 1,228]

Has anyone verified that it was a "Pellet gun?"

I might be a Air-soft gun which shoots little plastic balls by a battery. Not very powerful but more fun in some ways.