[sgtjbone]

Yeah they didn't say anything. They just went in and opened fire. Who ever called is also to blame. I bet it was some gun hating democratic white lady that over reacted and called 911. Instead of really looking at the situation for what it was. An air rifle that was for sale in the store is not a threat. 911 should have confirmed the report with Walmart security. This was a tragic accident brought on by someone that over reacted.The police over reacted as well, but I understand their situation.

[30564U]

Originally Posted by jumpingjames69 ↗

You daft Americans and your guns

That's funny because that is exactly what General Cornwallis said to General Washington right before he handed him his sword. Daft Americans and their guns...indeed.

[30564U]

Originally Posted by sgtjbone ↗

Yeah they didn't say anything. They just went in and opened fire. Who ever called is also to blame. I bet it was some gun hating democratic white lady that over reacted and called 911. Instead of really looking at the situation for what it was. An air rifle that was for sale in the store is not a threat. 911 should have confirmed the report with Walmart security. This was a tragic accident brought on by someone that over reacted.The police over reacted as well, but I understand their situation.

Ah...there was no sound recorded on the tape. I'm fairly sure they told him to drop the rifle and remain still...that's just police 101. I am unaware of any requirement, anywhere in the world, that requires police officers to be weapons experts and be able to tell the difference between a real gun or an airsoft or BB gun at a distance. You take up a position of safety, take aim, give clear verbal commands, and base whether to shoot the bad guy or not on the bad guy's reaction(s). If the copper honestly thought that that kid had a firearm and that the police officer's life was in danger...it was a good shoot...period. Everything else is utterly irrelevant. Did the officer feel in danger? Did the officer feel that the bad guy was a danger to others? Did the officer see the bad guy make a movement indicating the he was turning toward the officers, thus placing them in imminent danger? If the answer is yes to any one of these questions...then it's a good shoot. It doesn't matter who called the police, whether that person felt there was a danger (a good question for a civil suit later), whether the toy gun was secured properly prior to the shoot (a good question for a civil suit later), whether the bad guy was Black (totally irrelevant), whether police should have been called (totally irrelevant), whether police shot the bad guy too many times (totally irrelevant), whether the police gave verbal instructions prior to shooting (a good question for a civil suit later...not really an issue because you know they did...that's why he turned and was shot), whether the gun was a real firearm (irrelevant...the threat was based solely in the officer's judgement based on a reasonable man/officer expatiation). Look at the case unemotionally and on the cold face of it...stop using pre-existing or prejudicing suppositions. Just use common sense.

[FunkPumpkin]

Originally Posted by K9Grip ↗

It's not that easy. You also can't just buy any gun you want by walking up to the counter, pointing at what you want, and paying. Walmart, from when I've been in them, only sells certain hunting rifles. No hand guns and yada, yada, yada.

Plus, this guy was carrying a pellet gun, not a real one. They may look the same, but I'm sure you're smart enough to figure out the differences.

Crosman MK-177 pellet rifle

This "pellet gun" looks a lot like an SCAR or ACR battle rifle. Why the fuck are these not orange-tipped or something? They look very realistic, even to me who's had the luxury of handling the aforementioned rifles.

I can only imagine what the first responders were thinking as they ran up on this dude.

[Chaweewee]

It didn't even look like he noticed the cops, like they just snuck up on him and just shot him. His gun wasn't even aimed on anything at the time he was hit

[BiscuitBumper]

Originally Posted by danielsan1971 ↗

OK. So this might sound like me being a Britisher, but here in England WalMart is called Asda. Asda is a 'family' supermarket, one of the biggest in the UK before a part take over from WalMart. I can't believe that in the US you can buy 'guns' from a supermarket!! That's fucking crazy!!! I am no gun expert and use the word in the 'bang' kind of way, but is it that easy to purchase one in the US??

Yeah pretty much, but who needs to go to WalMart.

Take a walk through MacArthur Park here in Los Angeles and you'll find as many hoodlums selling guns and fake id's as you will ice-cream vendors.

[30564U]

Originally Posted by Chaweewee ↗

It didn't even look like he noticed the cops, like they just snuck up on him and just shot him. His gun wasn't even aimed on anything at the time he was hit

Look...the first rule in gunfighting is to bring a gun. The second rule is to win. There are no rules about police warning you or giving you a chance or opportunity to shoot them before they shoot. If this idiot had had a real semi-auto high caliber rifle capable of firing thirty rounds as fast as you can pull the trigger...I think sneaking up on him would be the sane and correct action to take. Remember there is no duty to warn someone that you're going to shot.

[FunkPumpkin]

So how long do you think it'll take the family to file lawsuits against both Wal-Mart and Crosman? (If they haven't already. )

[30564U]

Just making a rash and I'm sure completely prejudiced assessment...they've probably already filed. Don't forget to include the officers involved, the police department, the fire department, and the local trauma center in the law suit. Not to mention all the people who made the 911 calls. Of course this young man will have been an Eagle Scout, Altar Boy, Honor Student, college bound prodigy, basketball superstar almost drafted by the NBA, future finder of the cure for cancer, etc., etc.

[30564U]

Oh...and I almost forgot, the bullet company that made the bullet that killed him, the gun manufacturer that made the gun that shot him, the guy that taught the copper how to shoot and "sneak up" on innocent taxpayers to kill them. I'm sure my list is lacking and the ambulance chaser attorney will find others to share the blame of killing this poor innocent future Nobel Prize winner.