Man accidently shot and killed by police. Lessons?

[ascorb]

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2017/01/23/police-responding-to-burglary-kill-homeowner-not-intruder/

Take a read, what does everyone think he should or could have done to have avoided being shot by police.

I would have not shot at anything if I knew cops were already on the scene but we dont know if he knew.

 

[Hakuna Matata]

Nowhere near enough info in that article to form an opinion, there are soooo many questions that need to be asked.

1. Did the guy that was killed chase the burglar out of the house and into the yard then fire a shot?
2. Where was the HO when he was shot by police?
3. Was the burglar actually inside of the home?

IDK but it really seems like so many ppl are just dying (no pun intended) for the day to use their firearm in self defense that when the opportunity arises they often get caught up in the moment. In the Air Force we called it being "spun up". We trained daily for war and every now and then we would get tdy orders to go kill stuff and then be called off for whatever reason. I think the victim may have been a lil bit caught up in the moment.

 

[Name Taken]

Tough situation and decisions are being made by the millisecond.

Another example why it's best not to play Rambo and to hold the room your in in these situations. No idea if kids were present but short of having to secure them there's no reason to be clearing your house after 911 is called. Lock yourself in a room and keep aim on the door while telling 911 where you are in the home and what you are wearing.

 

[VTHokies]

Need more information from the article. Sounds to me like the police were responding to the security system alarm and not a call from the owners of the home. Owner may not have even known the police were on the way...such a tough situation.

 

[ascorb]

Everyone is right, not enough information. A lot of things could have played massive roles on why he was room clearing after the police showed up. The alarm system could have been the cause. If I had no kids, I would have barricaded kept aim at the door, I don't know if I would have announced myself or not that's always tricky.

 

[clandestine]

Tough situation and decisions are being made by the millisecond.

Another example why it's best not to play Rambo and to hold the room your in in these situations. No idea if kids were present but short of having to secure them there's no reason to be clearing your house after 911 is called. Lock yourself in a room and keep aim on the door while telling 911 where you are in the home and what you are wearing.

I have Kids, and I AM going to go get them.

I don't care if its unpopular with the Public, L.E., or is not consistent with the Law.

 

[SRD]

I have Kids, and I AM going to go get them.

I don't care if its unpopular with the Public, L.E., or is not consistent with the Law.

This,my "kids" are 28,22 and 10.One is a Marine and if they're in my home,they all get the same protection.Back to the op,I agree there's not enough info but it looks like a no win situation since there's no mention of the bad guy.

 

[Name Taken]

I have Kids, and I AM going to go get them.

I don't care if its unpopular with the Public, L.E., or is not consistent with the Law.

I'm pretty sure that's what I said.

Short of having to make sure the kids are safe there's no reason to be Rambo after 911 is called.

 

[John from MD]

Tough situation and decisions are being made by the millisecond.

Another example why it's best not to play Rambo and to hold the room your in in these situations. No idea if kids were present but short of having to secure them there's no reason to be clearing your house after 911 is called. Lock yourself in a room and keep aim on the door while telling 911 where you are in the home and what you are wearing.

+1 Been there, done that. Too old to be clearing my house by myself.

 

[clandestine]

I'm pretty sure that's what I said.

Short of having to make sure the kids are safe there's no reason to be Rambo after 911 is called.

You made it clear my friend. I was just backing up your point about kids in the home and how I handle it.

Apologies if it seemed negative towards you, it was not my intention.

 

[MightyWarMonger]

Honestly I had to read the article twice, but it says

"The ex-wife of a Pittsburgh homeowner fatally shot by police responding to a burglary call says officers “shot the wrong guy.”

so they say the ex wife was shot but say the wrong guy was shot as well. another part

They returned fire and killed Thompkins

both have the same last name so I'm not sure who was actually killed and they mention Christopher as the shooter. The article is to vague in information but if they shot and killed the wife that only makes it worse for the officers.

 

[Threeband]

It's not saying the ex-wife was shot! She's the one commenting on it afterwards.

...homeowner fatally shot...

... ex-wife ... says ...

 

[K31]

Nowhere near enough info in that article to form an opinion, there are soooo many questions that need to be asked.


3. Was the burglar actually inside of the home?

The article clearly says he was.

 

[K31]

The intruder was arrested on a criminal trespass charge.

Why wasn't he charged with felony murder?

 

[platoonDaddy]

Why wasn't he charged with felony murder?

DITTO!

 

[Sthomas229]

Honestly I had to read the article twice, but it says so they say the ex wife was shot but say the wrong guy was shot as well. another part both have the same last name so I'm not sure who was actually killed and they mention Christopher as the shooter. The article is to vague in information but if they shot and killed the wife that only makes it worse for the officers.

Poorly written.Instead of this;

"The ex-wife of a Pittsburgh homeowner fatally shot by police responding to a burglary call says officers “shot the wrong guy.”

I'd go with either a comma after WIFE or this;

The ex wife of a Pittsburgh homeowner who was shot by police responding to a burglary call, says officers "shot the wrong guy".

Actually, looking at it, I'd definitely go with the second choice. I'm not an English major, but I did sleep in my own bed last night.

 

[ascorb]

Poorly written.Instead of this;

"The ex-wife of a Pittsburgh homeowner fatally shot by police responding to a burglary call says officers “shot the wrong guy.”

I'd go with either a comma after WIFE or this;

The ex wife of a Pittsburgh homeowner who was shot by police responding to a burglary call, says officers "shot the wrong guy".

Actually, looking at it, I'd definitely go with the second choice. I'm not an English major, but I did sleep in my own bed last night.

I totally forgot I posted this lol, there are updates on more detaila of this incident. I can post it to the discusion.

 

[knightindullarmor]

One wonders about the 911 call. If i call before i investigate, I am telling dispatch to inform the responding officers of my attire & that I am armed with whatever type of firearm that i choose to use. No need to tell them model number or caliber, just tell them you have a revolver, pistol, or rifle, etc...

Something else to consider... were the officers in the home unannounced? Is that current LE training to not announce when entering home of a scared & potentially armed caller? One would think that avoiding a situation where the homeowner & officer might mistakenly target the other would take precidence of a situation where the officer may lose tactical advantage to a criminal.

 

[Hakuna Matata]

The article clearly says he was.

The article also "clearly" states that they were in bed when they spotted an intruder so the guy grabs a gun then heads DOWNSTAIRS to confront the burglar, the police think he's firing at them so they shoot him....the story is ambiguous at best, how TF does all that happen inside the guys house? How does someone in their bed, in their bedroom spot an intruder that's downstairs? How do the police know who actually fired the shot if they didn't see the shooter? How are the police already at the scene of an active burglary?

My point is this article is anything but "clear"

 

[K31]

The article also "clearly" states that they were in bed when they spotted an intruder so the guy grabs a gun then heads DOWNSTAIRS to confront the burglar, the police think he's firing at them so they shoot him....the story is ambiguous at best, how TF does all that happen inside the guys house? How does someone in their bed, in their bedroom spot an intruder that's downstairs?

It didn't say they spotted him downstairs. It said they spotted him "in the house".