Police Officer Kills Suicidal Man For Refusing To Drop Knives

[Illusion]

Coeur d’Alene Police Officer Spencer Mortensen ordered Eric Byron Johnston eight times to drop two knives before fatally shooting him in a small apartment near downtown last summer, the officer’s body camera recording shows.

Police released the video footage today. The prosecuting attorney in neighboring Bonner County reviewed an Idaho State Police investigation into the Aug. 25, 2013, shooting and concluded that Johnston, a 35-year-old Dalton Gardens resident, appeared intent on “suicide by cop” and that no charges should be filed against Mortensen.

The officer’s body camera footage shows a tense confrontation between the officer and Johnston, who had just fled a nearby car accident and was inside a friend’s apartment. Mortensen entered the apartment looking for Johnston after learning Johnston was upset and had the knife. In fact, Johnston was holding two knives.

“Put the knife down, now,” Mortensen said as he pointed his gun at the man. “Put it down. I’m serious. Put the knives down.”

Mortensen then radioed for help: “I need you in this house right now.”

Johnston, who was standing in the kitchen, began to walk slowly toward the officer, prompting Mortensen to warn, “I will shoot you.”

Four more times Mortensen yelled for Johnston to put the knives down as the man continued to walk toward the officer. Then he fired five times from a few feet away, and Johnston crumpled to the floor.

Mortensen and other officers approached the apartment at 1422 E. Young Ave. shortly before 8 a.m. that Sunday looking for Johnston, who had driven his pickup truck into a utility pole, knocking it over, a half-hour earlier about a block away.

Johnston’s friend, Wendy Woods, came out of the apartment as Mortensen approached and was standing just outside when the shooting occurred.

“I’m worried about him cutting himself,” Woods told Mortensen before the shooting. Afterward, she became distraught, screaming at officers, and was placed in handcuffs and led away.

[flyflicker123]

wait till the cop hating ,been busted numerous times folks get here..douches...good for the cop.

[deanmine]

that was really crazy video...

[horsecs]

Stupid fucking cop! The cop had all the options, but he had to stay in the drunk guy's face, knowing how drunks can act stupid. AND he gave an ultimatum of death by standing his ground on this drunk. No taser, no backup, no patience. I like seeing assholes get shot (in here), but not a drunk in his home with his wife un-threatened. I hope they can this pig.

[christo882]

totally over the top, why kill the guy? he could have shot him once in the leg, not 5 times

[5yn]

Love the people who think you can just shoot someone in the leg and that'll end it. First, you've obviously never shot a gun, because shooting at a target as small as the width of the leg when you're in a high stress situation is incredibly difficult. Second, if you miss, the guy still has a knife and was well within about 10 feet of the cop, which is more than enough time to stab the cop several times. We've all seen the videos here. Third, the guy had an ample opportunity and multiple warnings to put the knives down and not advance, and he decides not to listen.

Fuck him. Glad the fucker is dead.

[CuriousCanadian]

Originally Posted by christo882

totally over the top, why kill the guy? he could have shot him once in the leg, not 5 times

EXACTLY - one to the knee/leg while backing up. More than likely the guy drops....
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Come on really

[CuriousCanadian]

Originally Posted by 5yn

the guy had an ample opportunity and multiple warnings to put the knives down and not advance, and he decides not to listen.

You coulda had the GoodYear blimp in there warning him and it wouldn't have mattered.
Shooting a target as small as his leg is easy - when he's SLOWLY walking toward you. Like he was at first.
I agree, not easy hitting a leg when the guy is running towards you though.

[DaveTheBassist]

"totally overkill. hur hur. i h8 pigs. hur hur"

Go kill yourself.

Having many law enforcement friends and family, they are trained to not take any chances when someone obvious has no fear of dying. Shoot him in the leg? That's cool, what if he's packing a small firearm that he decides to get out while he's writhing around on the ground?

One of the training videos for the state police of Connecticut is of this exact scenario and why you don't take chances. Ultimately, it is up to the police officer, but they advise you not to. The video is of an officer who shot a man in the leg that was wielding a baseball bat. When the officer approached, he was shot in the face with a small firearm the man had holstered on his ankle.

When you have someone like this man in the video that does not care about his life, he sure as fuck doesn't give a fuck about yours. At this point, this man feels he has nothing else to lose. It's best to just take the fucker out before anyone gets hurt.

[vagabond]

@ Cyrexis - exactly!