LAist: Long Beach Police Kill 'Erratic' Man, Provoke Angry Crowd

Johnny

Mon, 19 May 2008 18:22:30 -0800

"violently and erratic" "The officers, in an attempt to gain control of the suspect, utilized their batons, which were ineffective. During the ongoing physical confrontation, the officers feared for their lives." Not knowing the details but it sounds to me like they didn't have time to step back and call for backup. Shooting people in the limbs while moving violently is stuff of movies. Even the best marksmen would have trouble with that. Again I don't know how many times he was shot but not everyone stops after 1 or 2 shots. If violent that person could still be a threat. I'll hold judgment until after the investigation.

stevelyon

Mon, 19 May 2008 16:31:46 -0800

I can't think of a time when it's justifiable to shoot an unarmed man. If two cops can't hold him down, call in two more. If four can't handle him, keep calling in backup until you can get the guy under control. It sounds like they got backup there in a hurry when there were 40 angry people on the scene in their face - where was this backup when the guy was still alive? Admittedly, I don't know the details, but this sounds to me like another instance when the police do not treat lethal force as a last resort.

Manny

Sun, 18 May 2008 18:47:19 -0800

No doubt...

db

Sun, 18 May 2008 18:11:01 -0800

Cops don't shoot to wound. They shoot to kill. That includes 13 year old boys and 55 year old women.

Manny

Sun, 18 May 2008 14:50:27 -0800

Multiple times? What is that? Twice? Four times? Twelve times? Not that that matters... If the man was carrying a gun or a weapon then yeah you gotta put him down. But they were wrestling with him with their batons and then went to the sidearm when they found they couldnt handle him. If they are trying to subdue him, then ONCE, in the leg or kneecap or something. It says he was Samoan so Im guessing he wasnt a small dude. But really, multiple shots? Now he is dead and the police have another mess on their hands.