Erik Scott Coroner’s Inquest - Day 2

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Thu, Sep 23, 2010 (11:55 a.m.)

Discussion: 1 comment so far…

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By DisabledVeteran (Robert Nakamoto)

Sept. 26, 2010

3:56 p.m.

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1) According to the coroner, one of the rounds that killed Erik went up through his buttocks, through his bowels, and lodged in his chest. How did that happen? Why? Figure out the angles needed to get that kind of trajectory. Basically someone shot him up through his rear end. Was he standing, kneeling or laying down when this happened? Why? Is that standard procedure for the Las Vegas police department?
2) Erik was not a trigger happy or violent person. When a Rottweiler-Pit Bull (mixed with other breeds?) bit him earlier this year (2010), other than being upset, he showed truly great restraint in not shooting the dog. An average person would have, justifiably, killed that type of dog if it attacked them.
3) Being a law enforcement officer is a very difficult job and the officers had to make a split second decision. They may have been doing exactly as they were trained. But was the training correct? Was their response and procedures a recipe for disaster? I do mean to vilify them personally, but perhaps we should all take a step back and ask what lessons can be learned from this. Was there a better way to handle this? None of us are perfect and the quest for justice must also be tempered with mercy. In hindsight, neither Erik nor his guns were a threat to anyone. Disarming an honest man, in a humiliating and dangerous way, cost our society to lose the type of man that we cannot afford to lose. If the officers had personally known Erik they would never have pointed their weapons at him, but just given him a lecture and probably told him to "just go home". "If".
4) I personally do not plan on shopping at Costco, or going to Las Vegas, anytime in the foreseeable future. For any events I help plan or have input on, Las Vegas has moved to the back of the pack. As word of this spreads, I'm sure millions of Americans will make the same decision.
5) We all make mistakes. Part of recovery is asking for forgiveness. I believe Costco and the Las Vegas police department owe the Scott family and Erik's fiance an apology and restitution.