09-24-2012, 10:22 AM
A wheelchair-bound mentally ill man with one arm and one leg (Claunch) was shot and killed by Houston police at a care home. He had threatened his caregiver, demanding soda and cigarettes, so the police were called. Somehow, Claunch reportedly cornered one of the officers.
"They both attempted to separate the suspect from the officer, but the suspect continued to swing this object at both officers," police spokeswoman Jodi Silva told ABC 13 in Houston. "The other officer, officer Marin, in fear of the safety of his partner and the safety of himself, discharged his duty weapon, striking the suspect."
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/natio...2158.story
The officer (Marin) who shot Claunch - his partner was the one cornered - is on leave pending investigation. He'd shot and killed a man in 2009 when the suspect reportedly lunged at him with a knife.
I've seen mentally ill people get very agitated and scary. Depending on the mental state and conditions, they can sometimes be dangerous - no doubt. But, I'm having a hard time understanding how a double amputee in a wheelchair with a pen posed enough of a threat to two police officers that killing him was the only option; looking forward to hearing the results of the IA investigation.
"They both attempted to separate the suspect from the officer, but the suspect continued to swing this object at both officers," police spokeswoman Jodi Silva told ABC 13 in Houston. "The other officer, officer Marin, in fear of the safety of his partner and the safety of himself, discharged his duty weapon, striking the suspect."
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/natio...2158.story
The officer (Marin) who shot Claunch - his partner was the one cornered - is on leave pending investigation. He'd shot and killed a man in 2009 when the suspect reportedly lunged at him with a knife.
I've seen mentally ill people get very agitated and scary. Depending on the mental state and conditions, they can sometimes be dangerous - no doubt. But, I'm having a hard time understanding how a double amputee in a wheelchair with a pen posed enough of a threat to two police officers that killing him was the only option; looking forward to hearing the results of the IA investigation.