Deputies shoot, kill man after knocking on wrong door

[P-Chop]

I have had the police knock on my door many times after midnight to ask me about a neighbor or let me know that said neighbor beat his wife's ass and is hiding in my back yard. When I responded to the door with loaded weapon at my side, I asked "who is it?" and they replied with Police. I then looked out the window to see the blue and reds, turned on the porch light, and slightly opened the door with weapon behind me. Never once thought of showing it to them and was glad the police were letting me know what is going on in my neighborhood. Nothing illegal about that....

This incident sucks for all those involved.

[Ferret_LE426]

Although "Police Department anyone home" might have solved alot of issues.

[IEDmagnet]

Although "Police Department anyone home" might have solved alot of issues.

As would looking out the window before shoving a pistol barrel out the door...and if I believe there is an armed man thay has already shown a propensity to violence on the other side of the door...I probably won't announce "police department, please shoot me through your door" either.

[JoBa]

This is nothing but a tragic accident, like getting hit by a car when your in a crosswalk. Wrong place, wrong time. It is also one of the downsides to not having enough money to live in a fancier neighborhood, so your paranoid about opening the door without a gun in your hand.

It is not anything that will come to a stop because "we have all learned from this experience." it will continue happening. It's part of living in any society where violence is the norm.

It's a real tough shit situation where nobody is to blame. Hell, mail carriers get the wrong address all the time, and they're professionals, it is all they do, all day long.

An accident, nothing more.

-John

[CharliePC]

Ask questions yes... Demand the heads roll prior to knowing what the investigation is completed is completely fucked up...and just supports my entire "we are guilty until proven otherwise" from earlier.

Sure. This is why I brought up Trayvon Martin. It seemed like the majority thought Zimmerman was; 1) a murderer, or, 2) justified in his actions... based on what group they were in.

I must say, when the police spokesman said in the video, "Bottom line, you point a gun at a police officer and you're going to get shot," struck me as being cavalier and as prejudicial as "guilty until proven innocent." A full fair investigation is necessary.

Question- why do this at 1:30am? It seems to this non-LEO more apt to provoke a confrontation.

[Ferret_LE426]

As would looking out the window before shoving a pistol barrel out the door...and if I believe there is an armed man thay has already shown a propensity to violence on the other side of the door...I probably won't announce "police department, please shoot me through your door" either.

Ahhh but Mike we are supposed to take the bullet. I used to believe in common sense, not so much anymore. The Cops are always trigger happy bufoons, civilians who are armed are always "asking to be shot in the face" Meanwhile the morale decay and lack of support from our fellow Americans is truly awesome.
and the lawyers get richer "while the band played on.."

[recondo82]

By the way I don't see how being a stockbroker dealing with people's money is even comparable to putting your ass on the line everyday for people who live happily under the protection you provide but will constantly question the means by which you provide it.

I don't see how quoting a movie line makes you Jack Nicholson, either. Read the entire context of what I wrote. Being a stockbroker handling people's money is not on the same level as being a police officer responsible for the safety of the public, as I thought was clear by my statement

And that's just money. Police are entrusted with the public safety.

Police have a much higher degree of responsibility because lives are at stake. When police fail to do their jobs properly at the cost of a person's life, those police don't need to be police anymore.

As far as your other statement, airbrnebkr:

I am trying to figure out if there is someone here who would not shoot someone pointing a gun at them. I would think the statement if you point a gun at a police officer you are going to get shot sounds pretty common sense and reasonable regardless of whether it is a police officer or anyone else. I figure if you point a gun at anyone you accept the inherent risk of being shot yourself. Weird!

, look at the context and circumstances of that idiot making the statement. Someone doesn't properly do his job, someone dies and then makes an insensitive statement like that, like the guy had it coming? And according to your philosophy, if a police officer points a gun at me, I'm perfectly justified in shooting him.

And Mike, I hate to disagree with your statement that

I'm going to remind you guys that the police were NOT there "illegally". Quite the opposite, they were there as a part of a LAWFUL investigation.

, but being at the wrong house implies that they were not at the dead guy's apartment legally.

[IEDmagnet]

Ahhh but Mike we are supposed to take the bullet. I used to believe in common sense, not so much anymore. The Cops are always trigger happy bufoons, civilians who are armed are always "asking to be shot in the face" Meanwhile the morale decay and lack of support from our fellow Americans is truly awesome.
and the lawyers get richer "while the band played on.."

All valid points, but I disagree, we are not supposed to take the bullet. We are supposed to effect the arrest. I also believe in common sense, but I refuse to tell my team mates let's go out there and get shot for the cause today. That is ridiculous man.

[jumpers-hit-it]

There seems to be quite a few LEOs on here, and I definitely understand the urge to defend your own, but these guys killed one of the people they were sworn to protect. EVEN if homeskillet answered the door with a gun, and EVEN IF he did point it at the cops, should they not have yelled at him to put the gun down? They do that shit on COPS all the time. If not, ok then. Their intelligence was completely fucked up by going to the wrong house. It just seems that there have been way to many instances as of late of the cops shooting the wrong person.

[IEDmagnet]

If it happens on COPS, its got to be the norm.

[Kilted Heathen]

If the fucking job was easy it wouldn't come with a gun in the first fucking place.

[Har]

So back on point. Did they ever get their bad guy?

You LEOs stay safe out there.

[Rocket1972]

If it was me I would have asked who it was and looked out the window of my room at the front door. Anyone banging on my front door necessitates me pulling out my pistol without a doubt. Out in the sticks where I live I always think of home invaders (it happens around here occasionally). BUT the caveat is that I myself personally would check and ask who is there and verify it visually. Others (like the man that died) may not have had the sense to do those things.

Meh. Sorry he had to die. It sucks for sure. I will wait and see updates.

[Ferret_LE426]

All valid points, but I disagree, we are not supposed to take the bullet. We are supposed to effect the arrest. I also believe in common sense, but I refuse to tell my team mates let's go out there and get shot for the cause today. That is ridiculous man.

Brother don't forget you an I tread the same ground. I was being sarcastic at all the shooting from the hip. I have seen the light.
I am just saying I wear a back plate for a reason and it is not because I am worried about a shitbird shooting me from behind

[LOOON]

The Cops are always trigger happy bufoons, civilians who are armed are always "asking to be shot in the face""

Bingo. That is how these types of conversations always devolve into....