Another Raid Gone Bad!!

[Nysrock]

Well I do know that most major drug dealers have a better communication system then most law enforcement agencies. Again, I cannot know if this was a bad tip, mistake or if he got wind and moved the evidence. If it was a mistake or a bad tip then they should investigate and make sure it never happens again. But stuff like that happens all the time and we never know the whole truth: Ruby Ridge, Waco, Etc...

I appreciate the different points of view and the lively discussion. Thanks to everyone into not turning it into another cop bash.

[JasonJi72]

I thought this would be a video about a ddo raid wipe. lol.

Well now I have to comment.

I agree that you should never take the news at face value. "The lesson is simple. Think for yourself, and question authority." I'll never forget that saying I read on the walls of the language arts building in college.

Well, I do have some familiarity with what could have happened.

I am in the military, and I have been through training given by retired police officers.

On the military side:

Somebody mentioned that his 'training' kicked in. One of the first rules you learn about weapon handling is that you never point a weapon at something you do not intend to shoot. That is one of the core things you learn about weapon handling.

On the police side:

Rule number one. Go home at the end of the day. It is better to be tried by twelve than buried by six. Pointing a weapon at a group of guys who are expecting to get shot at is a bad idea, and a Marine would know that.

In a case where all facts favor the dead guy:

He could have had a flashback.
The police could have had incorrect information, and should not have raided the house.

All things considered, he should not have raised his weapon. If I was on the squad and what they say about the scenario was true... two in the chest, one in the head. I will go home at the end of the day.

I didn't think I would be commenting on something like this when I checked the forums.

[BOgre]

the video doesn't show the victim raising his weapon. it doesn't show the victim at all. Nor his supposed stash of weapons. What's more, I highly doubt that his bedroom was accessed through the front door. If he had just woken up, he must have been sleeping where? in the front hallway? Door opens - rain of bullets. There are so many facts missing from where we sit that to comment in any meaningful way is impossible. Neither the cop-centric nor the victim-centric version of this story holds water from what we can see in the vid. Granted the points made above are great and well thought out; I just don't know how germane they can possibly be based on what we can see from the vid. Hence: CNN - nuff said. They'll happily show stock footage of random drug raids while discussing this case, if they feel like vilifying the victim, or conversely they'll show random footage of police brutality while reading the story if they feel like bashing the cops that day... oh, and someone mentioned FoxNews: seriously? Don't watch TV folks. No good can come of it.

[jwdaniels]

Ex-military = civilian. Civilians don't have the right to brandish weapons at police. Police officers have spouses and children at home waiting for them to come home. Shooting an armed, uncooperative suspect is not police brutality.

[nat_1]

As ex-army I have special insight into things like this which lead me to this conclusion: I have no special insight into this story because I wasn't there.

Even the people who were will give conflicting accounts due to the parts of the brain that are taking over in those moments, and the fact that they are different from the parts of the brain that store things for recall. The impossibility of knowing what actually happened leaves me without any feelings regarding police policy.

I spent Father's Day yesterday hiking with my 3 year old son and later playing with him and my 10 month old daughter. This story leaves me with nothing but crushing sadness for his two children.

[AndyD47]

Ex-military = civilian. Civilians don't have the right to brandish weapons at police. Police officers have spouses and children at home waiting for them to come home. Shooting an armed, uncooperative suspect is not police brutality.

Arizona is a stand-your-ground state, the victim as a civillian was well within his rights to be armed in the defense of his home.

Seeing as how it was a No-Knock warrant it makes perfect sense for him to be "uncooperative",if someone is busting in your door you really can't be faulted for going for your firearm.

It's just a horrible damned if you do damned if you don't situation for the victim from the start.

This is a tragic story and I feel bad for both the swat team and the victim,but the fact of the matter is that this was a poorly executed warrant that ended up in a death that could have easily been avoided with...I don't know...A regular warrant?

You worry about the SWAT team returning to their homes,when this poor guy got gunned down in HIS home in front of HIS children.

[baddax]

This is a tragic story and I feel bad for both the swat team and the victim,but the fact of the matter is that this was a poorly executed warrant that ended up in a death that could have easily been avoided with...I don't know...A regular warrant?

You worry about the SWAT team returning to their homes,when this poor guy got gunned down in HIS home in front of HIS children.

I couldnt agree more.
Also whatever happened to Innocent until proven guilty? It makes it a rather moot point if the supposed criminal is already dead.