Utah Man Shot to Death by Police for Raising a Golf Club...

[theGinsue]

Terribly sad and wholey avoidable tragedy.

[Bailey Guns]

I'm a little torn on this. I watched the video and read the far more comprehensive version of events from the SLC Tribune.

There is no excuse for the sloppy police work that led up to the execution of the warrant.

I also disagree with the no-knock warrant in this instance, as I do in most instances. I have issues, myself, with the so-called "war on drugs", it's effectiveness and cost to society. So I'm disappointed a no-knock warrant was used in this particular case.

Having said all that, when the officers entered, the officer who fired said he thought the object held by Blair may have been a sword. And they were only about 8' apart...not 20. The officer who fired was the first through the door and had moved to the right after advancing into the home. I can't really fault him for firing in this case.

Of course, without the warrant, whether or not he should have fired would've been a moot point.

It's very tragic anyway you look at it. But, given the circumstances, I agree the shooting itself (discounting all other factors) was justified. Judging the shooting in light of the totality of the circumstances is a different matter.

[BigBear]

Ban Police!!! It's for teh childrens!!! .... "damnit Bear, get back to your corner...."

[DeusExMachina]

I think its a hell of a lot more than 8'. Its clear across a living room. Officer saw the guy standing there and shot. The guy didn't seem to make any sort of threatening move.

I have a feeling if he was standing there with nothing in his hands he would have been shot anyway. The officer's reaction upon seeing the guy was to fire.

[palepainter]

Sad. It could have possibly been any one of us here getting served like that. Who knows for what. The outcome would have been different with any other means than a golf club.

Terribly disturbing.

[Bailey Guns]

The distance from Burnett to Blair has been estimated between “a little more than an arm’s length away,” according to Burnett, to 8 feet, as reflected by a scale diagram showing positions of the shell casings.

Obviously it was more than an arm's length. 8' doesn't seem unreasonable. If he (the shooting officer) thought it was a sword and the guy was inside of 21' he would've been facing a reasonably perceived deadly threat.

[Elhuero]

I'm a little torn on this. I watched the video and read the far more comprehensive version of events from the SLC Tribune.

There is no excuse for the sloppy police work that led up to the execution of the warrant.

I also disagree with the no-knock warrant in this instance, as I do in most instances. I have issues, myself, with the so-called "war on drugs", it's effectiveness and cost to society. So I'm disappointed a no-knock warrant was used in this particular case.

Having said all that, when the officers entered, the officer who fired said he thought the object held by Blair may have been a sword. And they were only about 8' apart...not 20. The officer who fired was the first through the door and had moved to the right after advancing into the home. I can't really fault him for firing in this case.

Of course, without the warrant, whether or not he should have fired would've been a moot point.

It's very tragic anyway you look at it. But, given the circumstances, I agree the shooting itself (discounting all other factors) was justified. Judging the shooting in light of the totality of the circumstances is a different matter.

you have GOT to be kidding me.



here's hoping they don't mess up and no-knock my address.

[BigMat]

I also don't think the cop should be off the hook for something like this! In any other career, if you do something that takes another persons life or even just breaks the law, you are responsible.

As an EMT and now nursing student if I screw up and give meds, even in they are prescribed by a doc, but poorly or in error, its my ass too, end of story. Maybe not jail, but I for sure am not a nurse anymore and beyond a shadow of a doubt I am getting tagged with a big old law suit. If I chrashed my box into someone, code three call or not, I could promise you I was in trouble.

If you are going to carry a gun you are responsible for where the bullets land, that is a choice you make. The law should apply equally to all in this country, that is a big part of what keeps us free.

[Elhuero]

maybe the backlash has already started


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41235743...ime_and_courts

[Bailey Guns]

you have GOT to be kidding me.



here's hoping they don't mess up and no-knock my address.

Why don't you try actually understanding the point I was trying to make.

I was referring to only the circumstances in which the shooting took place. Not the circumstances that lead to the shooting. You have a:

• dynamic entry
• in low light
• with unknown person rushing into view
• and holding unknown shiny item that appeared to the shooter to possibly be a deadly weapon
• which it potentially was
• and he was in dangerously close proximity to the officer

And apparently the DA agrees.

Now, the whole thing, no-knock warrant and all that BS that lead up to the above circumstances...different story.

And that's why I wrote I agree the shooting itself (discounting all other factors) was justified.(Emphasis yours)