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Wednesday, June 16, 2010 | 12:02 p.m.
Shooting location
A Metro Police officer fired at a man Tuesday evening after being startled while responding to reports of a possible prowler in an eastern valley neighborhood, authorities said today. The man wasn't struck and no one was injured.
Police said officers responded to the 3900 block of Cherokee Avenue about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and made contact with a person who reported the prowler. The officers were speaking to the person in front of an abandoned residence when a man appeared while climbing over a wall, police said.
An officer was startled by the man and fired one shot, missing him, police said.
The man was detained and other officers responded to conduct an investigation of the shooting. Investigators interviewed the man and determined he was not a prowler; he was taking a shortcut in the neighborhood when confronted by the officers.
He was not armed and was released, police said. No charges were filed.
Metro will release the name of the officer after 48 hours, which is standard department policy.
Where does one begin? Firing a weapon without just cause? Lack of self-control? Lack of overall training to avoid being startled and reacting in an ill-advised manner? Lack of marksmanship under pressure?
And you wonder why people hide when the police are around.
So someone is walking in a neighborhood, which startles a cop, and he fires a shot.
I hope this gets investigated, and we get some more details.
He was startled, so he pull his gun and shot. Great, where does metro find this kind of person
I'm sure that the sheriff will find a way to bury this story.
This is exactly what I am always yelling about, WE HAVE THE WORST POLICE DEPARTMENT in the nation, what a bunch of buttheads, this so-called officer should be fired and charges should be pressed.
"BANG"...... Who's there?
poolguy123, I would love to see you try their job. as if you could>>> you must be one of the ones that tried and didnt make it... Dont hate.
The ineptitude of Metro's boys startles me! Good thing I wasn't holding a gun while I was reading this article.
"Raw fear" is not a justifiable reason to shoot someone, or AT someone.
A STARTLED METRO POLICE OFFICER = FATAL SHOOTING = JUSTIFIABLE..ONLY IN LAS VEGAS..
"when a man appeared on the wall of a building"
Spiderman live in Las Vegas now??
In his defense, the officer also said he peed himself a little.
Are we missing the "Stop. Police" part?? Bad reporting or bad cops? If "Stop, Police" did not work and you get a runner then well, moving target, not that I advocate they shoot, well, yea shoot. If they run probably a criminal anyway, kill them save taxpayer dollars and maybe save a baby or some old lady from a rape. "Stop, Police" means stop, hold up your hands and don't move. This should be taught at more schools.
Comment removed by moderator. Comment was in all caps.
Comment removed by moderator. Comment was in all caps.
Shoot first, ask questions later..
My God.
Metro.
What hath we wrought?
"Barn, this pains me so. Gimme back that bullet."
"Oh, Andy, REALLY? He scared the bejeezus out of me! This ain't fair, ang!!!"
At least this one lived long enough to be asked questions. Sample questions - 1. Are you Spiderman? 2. You sure you're happy to see me and that's not a gun in your pocket? 3. Where did you learn to duck?
shouldn't this officer have been busy writing tickets like the rest of 'em? Seriously the local government's budgets are at greater risk than public safety!
Imagine if the civilian was hit how different this story would have read.
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At the very least this cop should be assigned to motor duty for 6 months, he'll have to learn real fast not to be so easily startled.
Was the officer "in fear of his life"? No. Did the shortcut-taker make "a furtive movement"? No. So now we get this new "the officer was STARTLED so he shot" defense in Metro's press release. What if this officer had the shooting skills of Officer Gant (two out of three dead)??
Sworn to uphold the law yet breaking all the rules. STARTLING indeed.
Regarding the comments about the wall, I called Metro to get some clarification. Police said the man was climbing "over" a wall when the officer noticed him and became startled. We've updated the wording in the story.
Yeah, that makes it better. They should send him to Chuck E. Cheese to provide security for the ball pit until he's immune to dangerous, scary situations.
This is kind of weird, but I have to make this comment that sort of fits in with the topic.
I am on the Board of Directors for a condominium association I live at.
We have had (and still have) a problem with people climbing the walls, cutting through our condo complex, to get somewhere else. So, to fix the problem and stop it and maintain some safety and integrity, we put axle grease on the top of the walls, so that anyone that tries to do it, they get it all over themselves.
It has met with measured success. What the hell...you gotta do innovative stuff to fix things.
Well, whoever is doing these trespassing shortcuts, some are still fighting us and continue to do it, even getting dirty in the process. But, on the whole, it has been successful using this downhome remedy.
Although I don't agree with violent force for a situation like this...if people feel they are going to get a bullet in them for climbing a wall, I can go with this as a deterent.
Climb a wall? You're gonna get a bullet from LVMPD. If it helps, we'll go with this. So, LVMPD is kind of helping our problem.
Sounds heartless, but what the hell... It gets the word out.
Colin,
Yes.
That is kind of weird.
Wow, I didn't know they hired Barney Fife here. They should send his butt to Mayberry, Sheriff Andy is not here to cover his butt every time he gets startled and start shooting.
Experience in Iraq? Or another coward like Yant?
Always interesting to read the excuses Metro gives for inappropriate use of force via loose cannon trigger happy cops. Every once in a while they get one right.. otherwise their success rate is very, very low as a percentage compared to just about any other major city.
When you can't fire the whole team, whom do you fire???
If you shoot because you get "startled" you shouldn't be a cop.
You stone throwers! Ha - being in the dark looking for a prowler is stressful and puts you on edge. You weren't there. Cut the cop some slack.
Yeah, he's going to be in trouble for this one... Contrary to popular belief, Metro officers have lost their jobs over shootings that weren't justifiable. Metro just doesn'r broadcast it all over the place.
Is it even dark yet at 8:30?
In my gated community,the scumbags have thrown big rocks againt the block wall and knocked big holes in the wall for them to put their feet when crawling over the wall. Send that police officer over to my gated community.
Yes, it is dark, barely, at 8:30 right now.
If the guy was climbing over the wall as Metro states and the cop got startled and shot at an unarmed civilian who posed no threat to anyone, it sheds some really bad light on Metro's training and evaluation process of the officers they hire.
It reflects directly on the leadership at the top.
Everyone, please read the guest column written in 1996 at: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/1996/sep...
@ColinFromLasVegas
Are you kidding me?
Your policy screams negligence and exposes you to more than general damages, making you a big liability to your association.
1. You are on notice that people climb these walls.
2. You knowingly and intentionally create a hazardous environment in an effort to deter people from climbing those walls by putting axle grease on the wall.
3. You say "[a]lthough I don't agree with violent force for a situation like this...if people feel they are going to get a bullet in them for climbing a wall, I can go with this as a deterrent."
That third statement is inherently disingenuous. You don't agree with violent force for these kinds of situations but you agree with this violent force to deter wall hoppers. wow!
Wow -- talk about exposure to liability.
Say its not so... Metro shooting at others for no apparent reason other than he is a wuss in the dark.... "I was startled" said the cowardly lion...Thats a good excuse to shoot someone climbing a wall.. Instant firing squad for being guilty of climbing......lol.... Or for someone thinking you could be a prowler,, shoot first ask questions later... Judge jury executioner.....What can you say metros finest protecting innocent people the easy way....Maybe he missed shooting himself in the foot instead of coming close to shooting the wall climber..... I feel safe now knowing who is protecting the city....
If the officer noticed him like the article said he could not have been startled.He just was too jumpy.I would have drawn my gun but one must absolutely feel threatened,and know what you are firing at.
If I were that guy who just missed getting sent to the great beyond by accident..I would play Megabucks for a while..You don't get much luckier than that..And you're right..Getting your head blown off for taking a shortcut is of course JUSTIFIABLE..
A shortcut that involves climbing over a wall?
Will you yellow bellied cop haters please just take stock of that fact? If it was YOu would you wait and see if it was an an armed lunatic?
Yes, a shortcut that involves climbing a wall. I'm not sure if you were ever a child, but when I was, I used to climb over the fence in my backyard as a shortcut to the bus stop every single day.
Colin, why not put some decorative iron fencing across the top of the wall - you know, the kind with the iron spikes? Looks better than barb-wire but I would imagine it's every bit as effective in keeping from jumping over the wall or scaling it.... and if it doesn't stop them then they'd better proceed with caution or suffer instant vasectomy :)
Hmmm, I wonder, if the bullet had found it's mark would we be reading how the wall climber had made a "furtive movement" and the cop felt in fear for his life?
I say they reassign him as a motor cop and he can sit on Alta between Hualapi and Rampart with his buddies every morning, before heading to the donut shop! But look out folks don't go over 35 in the #1 speed trap in the state. This guy might get startled if you happen to come around that downhill curve (2 wide lanes in each direction) at 36.
It's just a matter of time until a startled cop fires a shot and it finds it mark (probably by accident). If you think the city or county is in debt now, just wait until a civil rights violation is prosecuted by the Fed's, followed up by a major law suit that finds its mark.
Shooting an unarmed black man, in the face, hiding in his bathroom may pass the test at the inquest here in Vegas, but the FBI may see it differently.
These cowboys are going to cost the taxpayers a fortune, and that's not counting all the room & board the taxpayers are going to foot while "Metro's finest" are in the big house as a result of not being properly trained and scared to death of anything that moves.
This is total B.S.!!! This coward of a cop needs to be FIRED IMMEDIATLY!!! He is UNFIT for duty. Just think about this... If any of us citizens were to just fire upon an UNARMED citizen because we became startled, what would happen to us??? We would get charged with attempted murder, they would probably add some kind of aggravated circumstances to the charges and we would be looking at 10-20 years in prison. That would happen even if we were in our own house and we fired a shot at someone hoping the wall to our backyard. Will Metro ever enforce the rule of law against it's own criminals??? What this officer did was a CRIMINAL ACT, plain and simple, CRIMINAL!!!! Maybe i should go join the force so i can just shoot at anybody that upsets me, or startles me or that just looks at me in a way i dont like cause then when i do MURDER them it will be completly justifiable. Murder is Murder! Meanwhile the family of the murdered victim will have their lives ruined wondering how they came to live in a police state where the rule of law is uphold with a bullet to the head instead of a judge and a jury. Maybe it's time the citizens take to the streets and conduct some very large protests and demand this officer be charged with attempted murder just like anybody else would be, show us that these officers are not above the law.
Running around a hospital with a gun to see what response the nurses exhibited was probably the dumbest thing ever, especially when shots are fired willy nilly, when someone shouts "BOO"!
Not too many years ago at a police conference at a hotel in Torrance, Calif., an armed intruder rushed into a police meeting and told everyone that it was a "Stick-up"! Thinking that it was role playing a captain and a sergeant stood up, and were immediately shot dead.
This lack of leadership is astounding!
Once a few cops are found guilty of a crime "Under the color of authority" and the taxpayers lose a few million bucks, an outside federal agency will be moved in to straighten things out.
It's becoming an every day occurrence, where these cowboys aren't afraid to shoot first and ask questions later.
The most crucial factor is missing:
If the officer already had his weapon drawn and was covering the wall (pointing his firearm) and suddenly a person comes over the wall - and as a reflex to the surprise, pulled the trigger - That is not so extraordinary - ( A training issue for sure) but not beyond understandable.
If the officer was startled - and then drew his firearm and fired - We have a problem Houston! There is obvious thought-process and overt action with the multiple steps of: Surprise! 1.Drawing - 2. Aiming - 3. Firing.
Disagree totally with drawing weapon vs having it at the ready.
What if it was a young kid coming over the wall, and this dude was a better shot?
Tell his parents that their child frightened him, and see if they understand!
Excuses, excuses, excuses!
There is no discipline on this force, and driving around town at over 100 mph responding to a reported noxious odor, killing your partner, is a perfect example.
It's just a matter of time until the wrong citizen gets blown away, and these b.s. stories won't pass the smell test.
TUFF-
I am talking the MECHANICS of the issue -
You are talking with issues -
I don't have ANY "ISSUE" with you, sir!
I have an "ISSUE" with a trigger happy bunch of cowboys who are startled in the dark of night, who shoot first and ask questions later. The ONLY reason these guys pull the trigger, at the drop of a hat, is because there is no consequences for their reckless actions.
Perhaps Metro should hire MECHANICS in the future?
If he hit and killed the guy, he would have said he was doing a "furtive move".
Maybe the officer thought it was an illegal immigrant trying to enter the country illegally? This will definitely teach me lesson..never to jump walls, climb over fences, or take a short cut to get somewhere. The guy should have taken the bus or just used the side walk. Also, be sure not to Jay Walk or you might get shot at. The new precedence...if you get caught speeding instead of issue a ticket, just shoot out the tire. Instead of issuing any type of ticket, simply shoot at the person and that should correct behaviour.
I would just hate to be the Kool-Aid guy around this dude.
Keystone cops time.
We need to dump Sheriff Doug Gillespie and replace him with someone that can take control of these yahoo's and set the proper example. LVMPD is out of control.
What happened to the guy that shot at the people trying to steel his car?
The only person that defends this (besides the police) is Alan Stock, but he is too much of a wimp to open the phones lines and let people give their opinions. Some News Talk Show.
A) Colin is a retard, "I dont believe in violence in a situation like this" yet its fine to shoot people who climb walls. Nice.
B) Where is this condo located I would like to climb your greased wall and make a lot money from the greased induced fall.
C) Just goes to show homeowner associations are filled with idiots.
Hey Lordglenmore, isnt that kind of their job???????? Determine threat levels and react is kind of a major function of the job not shoot then determine. Wow you are a scary person
How does everyone who is writting comments know the gender of the officer based on this article? The officer could have been female.
Because MR./Ms./Mrs .Icare2009, women are experts when it comes to "Going off half cocked"!
Nope it was definitely not a female who "Whoop's" or the dude taking short cut would have been forever singing soprano.