Teenager Shot Dead for Holding a Wii Remote

[lacktheknack]

Since when does opening a DOOR warrant being shot to death?It's not like the kid was a wanted criminal or anything.

He was violating probation, which instantly scares cops. You don't care about the law, or you wouldn't be violating probation. Plus, probation violators have a history of being violent, and the cops know it.

And if he answered the door with what looked like a gun, then yes, that's going to freak out the cop. Why would you answer the door with a pantomime gun?

If it wasn't actually a threatening object (less likely), then the cop has no excuse and will face legal action.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

Back in my day we put things down before opening the door.

Just another turn in the loop of societal degeneration. What really strikes my curiosity at this point is wondering how many death threats the officer and her family will get from our much beloved internet kin.

 

[NiPah]

This news is not limited to YouTube. How ridiculous for you to criticize it for such a silly reason. Actually, I posted a thread on this, with a link to the news source, yesterday. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/528.842885-Teen-shot-dead-by-police-for-holding-a-Wii-Remote

The op posted a Youtube video (which linked their source to a fringe website), the next 4 posts don't even bother mentioning a reliable source... Kudos to you for your thread where you post to an actual news source. And you're damn right I'm going to criticize a guy using a Youtube vlogger for a news source, it's not a silly reason it's common sense.

So...you don't think we should discuss this until after a trial?

Oh we should discuss this, but it should be common sense that no one has all the information. You have to understand people have bias, you're quoting the family as a reliable source when the had their own son shot in front of them, not only are they shaken up but they may be a little angry at the police for shooting their son... maybe enough to embellish the truth? I'm not saying its certain they did, but to deny the possibility that they are lying is also illogical.

Just because he can lie doesn't mean that he is. You assuming he is lying just because it condemns the police shows your own bias.

You're right, I am biased, but I'd argue that it is more logical to believe the police in this situation then the layer who represents the family and wants to see this go to court or the family who recently saw their son shot in front of them.
Now could the officer be lying in order to cover her ass? Certainly, but due to my bias I would like to see more evidence.

Why do you think the lawyer is lying?Because the shooter was a cop?I bet you would'nt be saying that if it was a random stranger that shot the teen.

I don't put much trust in lawyers, of course if this situation was changed and it was not an officer I'd still think the lawyer was lying. I'd wait for more unbiased new sources.
Do you guys really put that much faith on lawyers trying to drum up public opinion? This is his job, it's literally against his code of ethics to say things against his client.

 

[WeepingAngels]

Since when does opening a DOOR warrant being shot to death?It's not like the kid was a wanted criminal or anything.

And if he answered the door with what looked like a gun, then yes, that's going to freak out the cop. Why would you answer the door with a pantomime gun?

So it's cool for the cop to be pointing a loaded fuckin weapon at him but should he be holding a BB gun in his own house then the cop should be scared and light him up?

Isn't that the case, she had her gun out and ready to fire before he opened the door?

 

[lacktheknack]

Since when does opening a DOOR warrant being shot to death?It's not like the kid was a wanted criminal or anything.

He was violating probation, which instantly scares cops. You don't care about the law, or you wouldn't be violating probation. Plus, probation violators have a history of being violent, and the cops know it.

And if he answered the door with what looked like a gun, then yes, that's going to freak out the cop. Why would you answer the door with a pantomime gun?

If it wasn't actually a threatening object (less likely), then the cop has no excuse and will face legal action.

Does this look anything like a gun to you?

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcThf6j40IA6KoScPcHbrMA4zCSmHqRFzOwEMf5SCYHHIrGRGGJD:images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/videogames/detail-page/B0045FGET2.01.lg.jpg

No. Does this?

<img width=250>http://ep.yimg.com/ay/airgundepot/refurbished-umarex-sa177-bb-repeater-177-caliber-air-pistol-5.gif

Because that's what the neighbor, the most reliable witness, claimed he was holding.

 

[Roxas1359]

But why kill the kid?If his father was the one she was after why did the officer have to shoot someone who opened the door for her?Until the case is laid out this looks like another cop with a itchy trigger who shot someone because they overreacted.

She didn't go out of her way to purposely kill the kid I'm sure.
Do you know how dangerous probation is? Probation officers have some of the most dangerous jobs because of the parolees. My aunt almost was killed multiple times in her 20 years she was a probation officer, because the parolees can be dangerous.

The kid's death is a tragedy, and the probation officer is indeed gonna be in trouble, but seeing as she's already gonna get millions of death threats from the internet, let's see how the investigation being done and how the inevitable trial will go okay?

 

[lacktheknack]

Since when does opening a DOOR warrant being shot to death?It's not like the kid was a wanted criminal or anything.

And if he answered the door with what looked like a gun, then yes, that's going to freak out the cop. Why would you answer the door with a pantomime gun?

So it's cool for the cop to be pointing a loaded fuckin weapon at him but should he be holding a BB gun in his own house then the cop should be scared and light him up?

Yes, she's a police officer. Police officers are allowed to aim loaded weapons at people. It's part of the job description.

If she didn't announce police presence (I doubt she didn't), then yeah, it's tragic that he was holding one. But if she DID announce her presence, then why would he hold onto a BB gun when answering the door like a total goddamned moron?

Isn't that the case, she had her gun out and ready to fire before he opened the door?

Probably. Violating probation will make cops antsy like that.

I don't see what that has to do with anything, unless you're implying she meant to shoot him all along. Which of course you wouldn't be implying, seeing how you're all unbiased and shit. -____-

 

[Roxas1359]

So the kid deserved to get shot because he forgot to put down a fucking Wii Mote?!This logic makes me sick.

I think you should honestly calm down a bit here because you are getting really worked up about this. Seriously, take some time off of the internet. He did not say that the kid "deserved to be shot", and you shouldn't be inferring that's what he was meaning.

 

[WeepingAngels]

Since when does opening a DOOR warrant being shot to death?It's not like the kid was a wanted criminal or anything.

He was violating probation, which instantly scares cops. You don't care about the law, or you wouldn't be violating probation. Plus, probation violators have a history of being violent, and the cops know it.

And if he answered the door with what looked like a gun, then yes, that's going to freak out the cop. Why would you answer the door with a pantomime gun?

If it wasn't actually a threatening object (less likely), then the cop has no excuse and will face legal action.

Does this look anything like a gun to you?

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcThf6j40IA6KoScPcHbrMA4zCSmHqRFzOwEMf5SCYHHIrGRGGJD:images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/videogames/detail-page/B0045FGET2.01.lg.jpg

No. Does this?

<img width=250>http://ep.yimg.com/ay/airgundepot/refurbished-umarex-sa177-bb-repeater-177-caliber-air-pistol-5.gif

Because that's what the neighbor, the most reliable witness, claimed he was holding.

See, I don't agree that the neighbor is more reliable than the people that were actually there. The people that were actually there claim he was holding a Wii Remote. If there were a gun in his hand, why would the news media that covered the story not know about it? You think the "unreliable" family members hid it?

 

[The_Amazing_G]

All this "let's wait for more info" while ignoring the info we already have is bullshit as well.

How so? We literally have no information about the situation except for these facts:

1. A cop was there to serve a warrant on a probation offense and shot a teen with one shot, killing him
2. ???

...the end. That is literally the only information that is confirmed. The family says he had a Wii controller and that's it (the cops did not confirm nor deny if a weapon was found). Hell, even what the kid had is conflicted as the lawyer/family is saying "Wii Mote" and the neighbor in the story is saying "BB Gun".

The website the OP put up says the officer was verbally and physically abusive but you're going to have to forgive me if a site that has this:

as a t-shirt I can buy raises a few "Conflicted Interest" flags in my eyes. Those actions also conflict with what the other new stories are saying (that she broke down in tears after she realized what she did).

The information we do have is:

- The kid was holding a Wii Remote
- The police were asked to identify themselves and they did not
- The kid was shot as soon as he opened the door

The police have not disputed this information so I think it's fine to go with this information until we have reason not to.

Further, if the kid were holding a BB Gun, that is not a crime and certainly not worthy of a death sentence. This cop is 100% to blame. You criticizing a website just tells me that you are grasping for straws to defend this cop. Defending cops who shoot first and ask questions later only enables more of the same.

^This^

Normally, I don't involve myself in these kind of discussions, but when the result of this situation is civilian death, it can hardly be justified by anything. I don't believe the cop was bloodthirtsy, I don't believe she was a murderer, and she probably wasn't even a bad person. However, the death of an unarmed innocent is not "a simple misunderstanding". Parallels can be drawn, arguments made, excuses contrived, and metaphors created, but I feel like the result is what needs to be paid the attention: An unarmed teen was killed by a police officer without warning. I don't care what the situation is. That is unacceptable.

 

[WeepingAngels]

Yes, she's a police officer. Police officers are allowed to aim loaded weapons at people. It's part of the job description.

Which is why we expect police to be held to a higher standards in regards to guns. Not being so damn reactive as seems to be the case here.

If she didn't announce police presence (I doubt she didn't), then yeah, it's tragic that he was holding one. But if she DID announce her presence, then why would he hold onto a BB gun when answering the door like a total goddamned moron?

Why do you think she announced her presence? Do you have any information to suggest that she did? Why the bias?

Probably. Violating probation will make cops antsy like that.

They are just human right? Just like anyone else...it's just that they get to point their gun at whoever they like if they get scared. Should anyone else have a gun, well only the cops are allowed to shoot.

I don't see what that has to do with anything, unless you're implying she meant to shoot him all along. Which of course you wouldn't be implying, seeing how you're all unbiased and shit. -____-

No, I am sure it was an accident.

Just pointing out that SHE already had her gun out before she knew who was on the other side of that door. She was already in a paranoid state of mind. That Wii Mote threw her over the edge and this is a person who is supposed to be trained in the proper use of a firearm.

 

[lacktheknack]

Since when does opening a DOOR warrant being shot to death?It's not like the kid was a wanted criminal or anything.

He was violating probation, which instantly scares cops. You don't care about the law, or you wouldn't be violating probation. Plus, probation violators have a history of being violent, and the cops know it.

And if he answered the door with what looked like a gun, then yes, that's going to freak out the cop. Why would you answer the door with a pantomime gun?

If it wasn't actually a threatening object (less likely), then the cop has no excuse and will face legal action.

Does this look anything like a gun to you?

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcThf6j40IA6KoScPcHbrMA4zCSmHqRFzOwEMf5SCYHHIrGRGGJD:images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/videogames/detail-page/B0045FGET2.01.lg.jpg

No. Does this?

<img width=250>http://ep.yimg.com/ay/airgundepot/refurbished-umarex-sa177-bb-repeater-177-caliber-air-pistol-5.gif

Because that's what the neighbor, the most reliable witness, claimed he was holding.

Eye witnesses are notoriously unrealiable.

Such as the parents, right? One of which was on criminal probation?

You can't choose one witness and ignore all the others. You have to actually choose the most likely ones, not the ones you WANT to agree with because you're angry.

Honestly at this point it sounds like you are just trying to find some way to blame the dead teen because the shooter was a cop.

No, it's just more likely that the cop made an error and genuinely mistook the object for a gun.

No, seriously. It is.

I know I'm treading on your premade illusions on how the world works, but it's true: Cops can't get to where they are without undergoing insane numbers of background checks. Hoolywood-style killer cops are just that: Hollywood. They are unspeakably rare in real life.

Also in real life: After mistakes like this are made, the cop in question gets taken out of the force, mostly permanently. Legal action is set up against them, and their lives are made miserable.

And you STILL want to demonize the force?

People say their perceptions of reality aren't affected by games and movies... They're delusional, all of them.

 

[major_chaos]

Well Lack and Nero have basically said what I was gonna say so I'm just gonna ask what I always think when I see these threads: What exactly do the cop haters want? Because you obviously aren't real fond of the police, but your other options are robots or anarchy, and personally I prefer a statistically insignificant number of accidental fatalities to either of those options.