from MSNBC.com
Miami police shoot, kill man carrying a toy gun
Relatives of victim say he was mentally disabled; no one else injured in incident
NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — A man carrying what was later determined to be a toy rifle was shot and killed by police, authorities in North Miami Beach said.The incident began Wednesday afternoon when officers responded to calls about a man seen walking around with a rifle.
One emergency caller reported the man had pointed the rifle at a dog, NBC Miami reported.
An encounter between the man and officers ensued and shots were fired, North Miami Beach police spokesman Sgt. Warren Hardison said. The man was flown to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Members of his family said that the man was mentally disabled and never violent, according to the Miami Herald and WFOR-CBS 4. Family members told WFOR the victim was 56-year-old Ernest Vassell.
"They murdered him in cold blood for a toy gun!" the victim's sister, Claire Harding, told WFOR. "That’s no reason for you to kill somebody!"
No one else was injured in the shooting.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Absolutely fringie, but given this person's impairment, the odds are that he was terrified, and too frightened to comply with orders screamed at him by armed strangers in uniform.
ReplyDeleteWhat I haven't heard is that this guy actually pointed the toy weapon at anyone, other than maybe - maybe - a neighborhood dog. And even then, we don't know if the dog was loose, or threatening or not.
My question is, if they were close enough to make themselves heard and understood, could they have taken a few more minutes to try to talk him into calming down, putting the toy down. Presumably police have access to protection like bullet proof vests that would have given them some greater leeway.
This is a tragedy, and it is not only a tragedy that this man was killed, or for his family. It must be a terrrible nightmare for the law enforcement officers involved as well, who presumably care about protecting people not harming them. My heart goes out to them as well.
Rather fringie, I'm arguing for a difference in thinking, a different reliance than a too quick one resorting to guns for solutions to challenging situations - and clearly this was a difficult situation. I'm not trying to suggest it was not.
Fringie, do you think the possibility that this was a toy gun, or an impaired scared individual was among the considerations in this response?
Let me add that another consideration that I think is imperative in good police work are the possiblities that someone does not comply with directions to do something because they are hearing impaired, or do not speak English, or for other legitimate reasons.
ReplyDeleteIt does encourage a more critical assessment of people for threatening posture or actions before escalating to lethal force.
Wow, that’s a real tough situation. A great start would be to not call the cops on open carriers, however given the man’s disability he may have been acting erratic with it. Recognition by the cops that the situation maybe different would help, or the man’s caregivers keeping a better eye on him if he had caregivers at all. We don’t know what level of autonomy he had.
ReplyDeleteDog gone: “Presumably police have access to protection like bullet proof vests that would have given them some greater leeway.”
Typically, issue vests are not designed to stop rifle rounds.
Dog gone: “It does encourage a more critical assessment of people for threatening posture or actions before escalating to lethal force.”
Totally agree.
What the real issue here is was there a non-lethal alternative available to them?
ReplyDeleteCops are covered by extended professional immunity related to their duty.
Civilian are not.
Still, cops can be sued for this type of action and lose.
Just think of what would happen to a civilian who did the same thing.
That is the reason for the "licence to kill" laws--they want to remove liability from actions which would lead to civil and criminal liability.
That would deter civilians from wanting to use firearms for defence--fear of legal liability.
I call this kind, Death Penalty for Disobedience.
ReplyDeleteOften the cops know damn well their lives are not in jeapordy, but they cannot stand to not be obeyed by the scumbags and the lowlifes.
His Neighborhood and friends are in mourning. Ernest lived in this neighborhood for over 40years. Everyone knew him and I believe, one of the NMBPD officers upon approach recognized him but it was too late, Ernest was dead. Mentally challenged Ernest was an easy target to be picked-on by strangers.His life was simple,he was always ready to give a toothy smile and drew comfort among those who accepted him for who he was. Ernest did not deserve to die this way. May He Rest In Peace.
ReplyDeletearobie, please accept our condolences. You sure right about his not deserving to die like that, nobody does.
ReplyDelete