FAIR?

[Duchess]

In a nutshell - police were trying to shoot a man when one of several bullets fired at him hit an innocent, female bystander who died. The police are now charging the man they fired upon with murder for her death. Is this a fair charge?

Story

[Midwest Spy]

Yep. I think it's fair to charge him in this case.

[HairOfTheDog]

Hell, first degree felony murder means causing the death of someone while in the commission of a crime.

I guess it legally applies here and, on a personal level, I don't care how long the dude with the gun spends in jail.

But best I can tell from the story, the crime he was committing that resulted in police accidentally killing the bystander was Resisting Arrest -- unless carrying a concealed weapon illegally applies, even if the gun is unloaded and the person ain't packing ammo. That appears to have been the situation when police fired nine times in a crowded public place and hit the bystander.

Sad for the woman and her family. I don't know if I think the charges are fair without more information though.

[Duchess]

police fired nine times in a crowded public place

You'd think there would be some kind of protocol to follow in cases like this, like if the man were firing upon the crowd or something similar. Police can't be opening fire in a crowd for resisting arrest FFS. Well, obviously they can and did but you know what I mean.

[HairOfTheDog]

The police probably didn't know that the man's gun was unloaded and I understand, in that case, that they had to assume it was loaded and that he was armed and dangerous. But, yeah, I'd be curious to know how many of them fired and what was the plan when they first took the call and were dispatched to an occupied club.

On a side note, this part of the story had me scratching my head:
Amid the exchange of gunfire, one of the bullets fired by Orlando police officer Eduardo Sanguino hit and killed 22-year-old Fernanda Godinez

Based on the rest of the story, doesn't sound like there was any exchange of gunfire to me.

[Midwest Spy]

Let's say the cops don't fire, after the guy pulls his weapon and starts spraying the crowd with bullets, gonna be some real shit directed toward the cops too.

[username]

Shoot first, ask questions later MS?

[Midwest Spy]

Shoot first, ask questions later MS?

Not sure, User.

My point is: Damned if you do, damned if you don't for the cops.

[SIXFOOTERsez]

Police policy in most cases is if you have to shoot, shoot the living shit outta the guy.
Something is basically wrong with that policy IMHO. Where I grew up you conserve ammo and control your fire. Double tap or triple tap, 9 shots and only 5 on target inside a room? WTF?
It does take a lot of training to use the kind of fire discipline it takes to take a guy down cleanly in an occupied space, but I think its something they should work on.
This chick got shot because the cops made errors, they should have capped his ass instead of using the taser. Had they done that it should have been 1 shot, 1 kill. Spray and Pray is always a bad idea.

[Midwest Spy]

This chick got shot because the cops made errors, they should have capped his ass instead of using the taser. Had they done that it should have been 1 shot, 1 kill. Spray and Pray is always a bad idea.

When Six talks like this ^ I like to picture him as Kurt Russell playing Wyatt Earp.

[HairOfTheDog]

When Six talks like this ^ I like to picture him as Kurt Russell playing Wyatt Earp.

When MS talks like this ^ I can't help but picture him watching gay porn in his assless chaps.

[Midwest Spy]

When Six talks like this ^ I like to picture him as Kurt Russell playing Wyatt Earp.

When MS talks like this ^ I can't help but picture him watching gay porn in his assless chaps.

By gay you mean old videos of you, KrystalShores & Ramsey, right?

[HairOfTheDog]

By gay you mean old videos of you, KrystalShores & Ramsey, right?

Nah, I imagine you in your chaps watching gay porn flicks that actually exist.



Like ^ Ride 'Em Up Cowboy.

Spraying and praying that no one walks in on you.

[Midwest Spy]

By gay you mean old videos of you, KrystalShores & Ramsey, right?

Nah, I imagine you in your chaps watching gay porn flicks that actually exist.



Like ^ Ride 'Em Up Cowboy.

Spraying and praying that no one walks in on you.

Nah.

I mean if I were into male gay porn, it would have to be something with Star Wars characters.

Maybe Lando and Chewbacca going at it, or Darth Vader and Han?

And, who didn't secretly wonder if Obi Won was doing a young Luke Skywalker?

[HairOfTheDog]

I see, MS.

I was gonna get you a boxed set of Will & Grace episodes for Christmas. But, scratch that.

I think I can get my hands on your dream gift: Star Wars -- The Empire Licks Crack; Rear Admiral (XXX)

[Midwest Spy]

I have the Will & Grace DVD's, but I appreciate you thinking of me.

Maybe The Rockford Files on DVD instead?

[HairOfTheDog]

You're getting what you asked for, MS -- the gay Star Wars porn. That's that.

Don't worry, I don't expect anything in return.

P.s. You can watch Jimmy doing his thing for free at Hulu. http://www.hulu.com/the-rockford-files

[Midwest Spy]

^ That's great.

I never would've known.

Thanks!

[thekid65]

I'm always amazed when I read stories on how bad some of our policemen are at hitting the target. I wouldnt be surprised to find out that of all the times a policeman discharges his weapon at a subject, that he hits the target < 50% of the time.

There was one here in Boise awhile back...multiple officers, 50+ shots fired...and I think it was less than 10 hitting the suspect.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not insinuating that it's easy or nothing...but it seems to me that officers should be a lot more accurate, and perhaps spend more time practicing shooting at a moving target, as opposed to a stationary piece of paper at an indoor range.

Where did that fag cop go that used to hang around here?

Anyhoo, I'm of the opinion that the cop is liable in this case. The responsibility is solely on him/her to insure that the public is not in the line of fire. I wouldnt charge him with murder or anything, but involuntary manslaughter would certainly be appropriate. I like how the story refers to "the exchange of gunfire". There was no exchange happening here.

[Duchess]

..but it seems to me that officers should be a lot more accurate, and perhaps spend more time practicing shooting at a moving target, as opposed to a stationary piece of paper at an indoor range.

I don't think it's too much to ask that LEO's at least hit their target somewhere.

Did you see the story about the cop hitting & killing the bike rider and he won't be charged because he was sending a work related email?