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twitterTeen slain in Metro shooting remembered as teacher, visionary
Jean Reid Norman
A collage of family photos was on display at Tanner Chamberlain’s funeral on Oct. 9. Chamberlain, a junior at Chaparral High School, was killed by police during a dispute at his home near Vegas Valley Drive and Nellis Boulevard.
Published Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 | 1:34 p.m.
Updated Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 | 4:18 p.m.
Video played at Chamberlain's funeral
Audio Clip
- Chamberlain's teacher, David Winkler, speaks and reads Chamberlain's self-eulogy
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“Here rests a great soul, a man who moved forward throughout his eventful life and affected the lives and minds of many people.”
Tanner Chamberlain, 15, wrote those words about himself less than a month ago when he wrote a self-eulogy in a Chaparral High School creative writing class. Today his teacher, David Winkler, read those words at Chamberlain’s funeral.
Chamberlain died Sept. 29 in an officer-involved shooting outside his apartment on East Vegas Valley Drive. Police said he was fighting with his mother over a knife and had held it to her throat. Family members say the teen, who was both genius and bipolar, may have had a knife in his hand, but he was not a threat to his mother. A single shot killed Chamberlain.
Little was said about how Chamberlain died as almost 200 family members and friends celebrated his life and grieved their loss.
In his class eulogy, Chamberlain described himself as “teacher, creator, visionary and dear comrade to many people,” themes that were repeated by Winkler, the teen’s aunt and words written by his mother.
Two videos showed photos of the boy who had learned card tricks for his part as Oberon in the school production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and as they played, rows of teens chuckled through their tears at his antics.
Chamberlain was a multi-faceted person who loved Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” and Ayn Rand, martial arts, nature and writing poetry, the Rev. Mary Bredlau said. He would try any new food at a restaurant, she said, to which the mourners laughed in agreement.
“He had a lot of fun and was a lot of fun,” she said.
Winkler said Chamberlain challenged him to be a better teacher.
“Being a massive intellect himself, he made you want to rise to your own occasion,” Winkler said. “I have a sense of him out there now scrutinizing and weighing each word I am saying and preparing a few words about how I can gussy it up later.”
Suzanne Oquendo, his aunt, said Chamberlain was the center of his mother’s life and the lives of four other families, including hers, who had adopted them as their own. Her own son died three months after Chamberlain was born, Oquendo said, and he visited her and her husband every summer.
“He was only 15 and had his whole life ahead of him,” she said. “He will have no prom, no car, no marriage, no children of his own.”
His mother, Evie Oquendo, in a remembrance read by Bredlau, said Chamberlain was her best friend and partner in life in addition to her son and asked, “Give me a sign. Let me feel your presence. I need you so much.”
Noting that Shakespeare was one of Chamberlain’s favorite authors, Winkler ended his comments with a quote from Hamlet:
“Good night sweet prince. And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!”
Discussion: 68 comments so far…
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sounds like things are pretty heavy out there with the coppers. bummer, no wonder people are staying away.
wow! how did he get a knife in his hand? it doesnt look good especially in a family quarrel.
Someone once said about Einstein "there's a fine line which separates a genius from an idiot".
To bad metro's mental midget brigade could not deescalate the situation....hard to get under control and access the scene after driving 110mph to get to there.
Andy Taylor could not get a job for Metro, Barney on the other hand would be recruited.
There sure are a lot of cop haters out there. Why is that? What exactly is your guys beef?
To me, it sounds like the cops saved a ladies life by taking out an immanent threat. If the day comes when I need such help, I hope the same officers show up.
Slain??? Maybe shot and killed but "slain" implies he was gunned down to me or slain in battle. This is a very inaccurate headline; either poorly thought out or intentionally intended to be sympathetic to the criminal who held a knife to his mother's throat.
I'm sad this shooting had to happen but glad I wasn't nearby when he had one of the "bipolar" episodes his mother described and he decided I'd be the point of his rage or whatever the heck it was.
Police had every right to do what they did, but I still feel bad for the family who loved a loved one.
Comment removed by staff.
Planetearthcalling, I hope for all our sake you don't succeed on that diet and your fingers fall off from your chronic diabetes so we don't have to read any more of your stupid posts.
If the cop knew it was her son then MAYBE a different choice could have been made BUT it was a judgement call. If the officer looked in the kid's eyes and believed that the kid was about to cut his mother's throat then he did the right thing. Who knows, maybe the kid really WAS about to kill her and the officer saved her life.
Tourists will never come back. This has to be the worst police department in the country. Condolences to the family.
Families considering moving to Las Vegas - please reconsider.
This young mans life was determined by a few rookie cops that were taught to shoot to kill, no other reason but to shoot to kill! The United Citzens need to rethink who we elect or put in office to govern over Us, This could of been your son or your daughter that could of been killed, without any consideration...The police are there to serve and protect, not to shoot to kill! My condolences to Tanner's Mother... she would of given her life for his.... RIP Tanner, no more worries... no more strife.
I was at the funeral, Tanner was my friend, and many of you made idiotic comments but that's due to your ignorance. Allow me to enlighten you dumb a$$es. "there's a fine line which separates a genius from an idiot", just so you know he was a true genius with bipolar disorder. That can disrupt any rational thinking. I want everyone to know that Tanner was 1 in a Billion and as unique as it gets. He was fun to be around and everyone that got to know him liked him. If this didn't happen, he probably would have been famous in what ever profession he chose. I'm pissed that every one is portraying him as a crazy thug. He didn't take his medication and this happened. He was not a criminal. Oh and by the way, how is a mom going to make a kid that studies wrestling and karate take his med. That police officer pulled that trigger way to quick. There was not a 100% chance that Tanner would have used that knife and I doubt he would have. No one had to die but someone did. He should have been kicked of the force. And he did not do any favors for Tanner's mother. He ruined her life. She raised him for 15 years and he was shot right next to her. None of us know how bad that feels. She called for an ambulance to help him and instead a cop with a hot hand shows up and kills him. Tanner was a great kid with a lot of future. Read that article if you don't believe me, but don't portray him as a thug.
Great post BIOYA.
Johnny your post was from the heart... may you keep Tanner in your heart, he was blessed with having you as a great, loyal friend, and that is priceless. Tanner's Mom will need you and his other friends a part of her life... to keep Tanner's life lived not in vain.
Thank you. I don't know you but it means a lot. Just so you know Tanner's mom has a note book with about 30 names, numbers, and e-mail adresses from everyone that went to the service.
Johnny that will become a great comfort to her... God Bless you,and keep you safe!
My email address is sui_generis628@yahoo.com
Thank's and take care. God Bless you!
The kid deserved to get shot if he held a knife to his mom's neck. Maybe not shot in the head, but shot somewhere.
Not if he's not himself. A trip to the pych ward but not a bullet to the head.
I'm moved by the heartfelt comments of the above poster who knew the deceased. And I have no doubt that the young man who is now gone, was all that those who knew him say he was. Also, I am often one who is critical of local law enforcement. But the tragic fact remains, the police officers on the scene shouted for him to put down the knife, and he responded by putting it up against his mother's throat. I cannot fault the officer who fired a single shot. How could he be sure that the young man was not an instant away from slitting her throat. If he was "not himself," it sounds like this was a real possibility.
Anyway, this came to a very horrible and tragic ending. I don't believe there are any bad guys here. Just a deep loss for all concerned. I am truly sorry. I hope we all get closer to understanding how help our children with this disorder. May those of you who knew the young man, keep his light and his memory alive.
A shot in the leg wouldve dropped him. Bad cops. Bad people go to prison, bad cops get a talking to.
Nanoreactor,
"A shot in the leg would've dropped him." Nice thought, but not at all guaranteed.
"QUOTE by BIOYA This young mans life was determined by a few rookie cops that were taught to shoot to kill, no other reason but to shoot to kill! The United Citzens need to rethink who we elect or put in office to govern over Us, This could of been your son or your daughter that could of been killed, without any consideration...The police are there to serve and protect, not to shoot to kill!"
EMVANCE
All Police officer are trained to shoot to kill not to wound . they saved his mother's life if that kid had kept up with his med's he too would be alive today.My condolences to Tanner's Mother and to Metro. My father was a police officer in a other state for 35 years he pulled his gun once and killed that man my father was never the same after that day. Las Vegas is not the wild west let see how many notch's on the gun handle we can get TODAY ... give it a rest pray for all the family's...
have you ever been shot in the leg? your brain stops working.
What a waste! Are we sure that the cops couldn't have shown SOME restraint? Afterall Tanner's mother made the call for HELP--help her and her child. I'm no cop and have never been in that type of situation--BUT, I have shot guns before and do know that you can shoot where you aim...where were these cops trained? Sad, sad loss and totally unnecessary. RIP Tanner and deepest sympathy to Tanner's Mother, Family, and Friends who cared so much about him. Peace out from Rockford, Michigan.
Comment removed by staff.
other civilized countries have teams to resolve these incidents peacefully, Metro is on a reckless kill-crazy spree. They killed the snake, the pit bulls, the aligator, the roosters, the homeless and themselves...
they are responsible for the irreversible decline of Las Vegas
Comment removed by staff.
TO: EMVANCE, " My father was a police officer in a other state for 35 years he pulled his gun once and killed that man my father was never the same after that day."
Tanner's Mother will NEVER be the same either.. she heard the gun fire that killed her baby son...the 15 years that he lived,was taken with one bullet!
Family Suing After Phoenix Cop Shoots Homeowner Instead of Intruder
Tony Arambula Was Shot Six Times After Calling 911 For Help
By SARAH NETTER
Oct. 6, 2009--
When Tony Arambula managed to corner an armed intruder in his son's bedroom he expected police to come to his aid.
Instead, a Phoenix police officer confused Arambula for the intruder and shot him six times before realizing his mistake, a moment captured on the 911 call with a simple "F**k."
Even after realizing their mistake, Arambula said he was treated roughly, being dragged out of the house and transported briefly on the hood of a police car.
I think it's a shame that so many people are focused on blaming who was at fault for this tragic incident. That is not doing anybody any good.
Anyway, I think what this article should be more of a wake up call to the mental health profession and our society about doing a better job of finding medications and techniques that do a better job of helping adolescents with bipolar disorder. So many times adolescents with this disease don't take their medicines because they are highly intelligent and the medicines dull all of their senses and their thought processes. Also, these medications often times make them physically ill which is why they don't take them on a regular basis. Most of these medicines are designed for adults and not the complex chemistry of a teenage body.
I hope more people will read this article and think more about how to help other young people like Tanner. Maybe with more knowledge and understanding and better practices, fewer violent incidents involving bipolar disorder will occur.
I also pray for some sort of peace for all of those involved in this tragic situation particularly for his mother.
If someone is holding or pointing a knife or any other weapon in my direction I pray that the police don't waste time psychoanalyzing whoever it is. If they can reliably deliver a head shot and that's all they have then by all means do it!!!
If this kid had a history of instability and was obviously capable of treating his mother this way he'd have no problem doing the same or worse to the general public. What kind of person would EVER hold or approach their own mother with a knife?
Poor Tanner? Give me a break; even after his death HIS ACTIONS are what initiated all of this and HIS ACTIONS continue to cause hurt to his family and now it's probably extended to the officer and his family as well.
"Trouble teens" "Emotional Outbursts" = ticking time bombs!
One way or another, it was probably only a matter of time before his name ended up in the news with this type of headline for he and/or his next victim(s).
Im with WestVegas on this one - stop hating the people (cops) who saved the Mothers life... "...took out an imminent threat" is right! Metro did their job... sad but true...
This story has run its course. While the event generated a lot of interest because the perp kid was goofy and dangerous, it should slowly die a natural death of being news.
"His mother, Evie Oquendo, in a remembrance read by Bredlau, said Chamberlain was her best friend and partner in life in addition to her son"
Maybe she should have been a mother first.
I feel sorry for the mom, I truly do, but this statement implies the two were friends instead of mother/son.
Damn right, Chunky. If someone puts a knife to my throat, I don't want the cops calling the knife-holder's shrink or looking up his medical records to see if he's on Zoloft. Put some hot lead between his eyes and ask questions later.
Only criminals and leeches hate the cops.
Recently a man was killed by his unstable father; this lady could have suffered the same fate. THE COPS WERE NOT WRONG.
I think the word "slain" in the headline was unnecessary. Maybe "shot" or "killed in police shooting" would have been a better choice. While nobody likes the outcome, this unfortunate event happend due to the fact that a knife was held to mom's neck in a threatening way. If the mom had been killed, the cops would have been faulted for not taking action. I can't stand bad cops, But I will stand behind the good cops (I.e. most cops) who are doing their job. I guarantee that there's no celebration going on at Metro over this one. And I do offer condolances to the family who is obviously upset over these events.
But instead her son died and she is heart broken. She cried through the entire service. And remember that could have is not the same as would have.
This article is about rembering Tanner not about the shooting. If you don't have something to say about him then don't post.
Threats to society are not "slain" by police when they threaten others and fail to obey orders to drop the knife. Sorry for your loss mom but it was your responsibility to get your son help or make sure he was taking his medication and it the meds weren't right you should have taken care of that to.
The whole situation is just tragic. Plain and simple. It's easy to cast blame around but I'm sure everyone involved in this incident is in some kind of pain.
Thumper, you must live a terrible reality. You never have anything hopeful to say. You just spew hate and negativity with every post. Go away from here. You contribute nothing. It's the same old you hate the cops, government, politicians, tap water, pandas, and anything else your mind conjures up. Go sell crazy somewhere else, we're full up here.
Anyone voting on what month The Citizenry Board (what a joke) will rubber stamp that Metro was justified in the shooting? I say they will in December,anyone else think sooner or later?
Thumper's always humiliating himself. He just doesn't realize it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWamxEDcq...
(Quack, quack!)
Hey, didn't ya just know things would lighten up once I entered the room?
Now I must say, most of your juvenile attempts to insult me just slide off my back like so much water off a ducks back (quack quack). But I must admit, that the "de-tachable(sic) jaw" quip was pretty funny. I hope you came up with it on the spur of the moment, and didn't lose sleep trying to think that one up.
You've got the cause and effect backwards, Mr. Cottontail, Mr. Playboy Bunny. I was around on this thread back when it was sad and solemn. But then when I returned tonight, I saw that you were doing your usual wrasslin' in the briar patch with some new, unsuspecting innocent. And everyone else was long gone. Knowing you like my cartoons, I just thought I'd swing by and lighten the mood.
Thumper - Sorry to say but your posts add NOTHING of value to the discussion... We all write our opinion BUT you talk down on people like Brian & others about 'this isn't your Myspace page" and random quotes about nothing just brings all the quality/ intelligent dialogue to a halt... YOU have just about the most posts from an individual on this thread and most of it is bashing what others opinions are... Maybe in the heat of the moment non-lethal options were not available, Im sure before Metro made the decision to kill a minor, they evaluated ALL options big & small in the time they had... Any decisions police make in this type of a situation will have two sides - those who are against it and those who support - theres no way to possibly please everyone nor do they really have too... 'bad people' or threats to police and safety are not going to listen to police when they say drop your weapon 24/7 so decisions must be made on the spot... Put yourself in the same type of situations and you will have to fight for the decisions you make/ made as well... I respect and honor these police officers who risk their lives day in and day out putting themselves in the types of situations they do daily. Sure there are crooked cops and such but thats in every industry - they will eventually be brought to justice themselves... Personally - I stand behind Metro on this one - Ive read all I could find on this case and think they did what had to be done... like it or not - period.
A BIG problem with the United States is the Cops usually CAN'T do enough because of our laws to protect the criminals! If you can't handle the consequences of your actions... don't do the crime. If you wan't to take a life... expect your life may be taken instead! Criminals that run from the cops should just be shot then that CRAP would stop! Gangs should be treated as the terrorists they are... It is a shame we can't go outside and feel safe wearing nice jewelry etc... because some fool want's to support his drug habbit! I say put them all out of their misery and let them have all the drugs they want and if they die doing it at least they died doing what they wanted to do and leave the rest of the Law abiding citizens alone!
Sorry THUMPER if I add to the dialogue unlike you who just likes to veer off the path (story/ comments)... And I am not insulting or as you put it "scolding" anyone just giving my opinion and since you like to use quotes - "Thumper - Sorry to say but your posts add NOTHING of value to the discussion..." Thats not an insult just an observation that I am sure others agree with... ALSO - regarding my previous posts (which have absolutely nothing to do with my comment regarding YOU) Read above and below my comments and you'll understand why I wrote what I wrote... It ADDS to the dialogue.
Im not going to sit here and "bully" like some of your posts (back to back no less) and also make assumptions and allegations pulling a few words or phrases out of a previous post of yours and make it seem like your a "ass raper" as you so choose to do for me but I will say again that quote - "...your posts add NOTHING of value to the discussion..."
Bigrow - I totally agree with you... shame it will probably never happen thou...
THUMPER - I dont think this (your post below) is very mature especially since were talking about adding to the conversation... especially given how much detail & effort you put into it... very lengthy... This is what I refer to when I say "bully" Taking everyones attention away from the real discussion - ALSO (this may make you feel a little more in your place) I am informed, maybe I conceal it at times but I will inject this little bit of information for you so maybe you'll take my opinions a little more seriously = my father is a captain with Metro so I do get "facts" to compare with what I read in the papers amongst other sources... Now back to you to add NOTHING of value to the discussion... AGAIN...
THUMPERS MATURE POST @ 9:48AM
You wrote "Now he'll get his little 16 year old ass raped," and nobody raised an eyebrow. Right?
Is that your Fantasy? Can you picture that?
There's a name for people like YOU. PRIESTS.
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.j......
Are you a PRIEST? Tell us YOUR experience with 16 year olds. Why do you want them a "ass raped?"
Spend some time explaining that, as opposed to focusing on ME.
Funny how things YOU spew, come back to bite YOU in the butt later."
THUMPER - talking of insults... I love how you write books of total crap (read my above post for his quote from 9:48AM) then you write this in an earlier post talking to user - DTJ
"DTJ - This article and discussion isn't about you or your childish insults. At this point, you aren't relevant anymore. Go watch cartoons."
ALSO - Look at your comments page - An awful lot of your input (comments) have been removed by staff... Someone doesn't like you? I dont think so... The crap you spill out of your mouth is just that - CRAP! Thank you SUN for removing it... I dont think I have any of my posts removed to date...? Point made yet?