The world is a better place without wood carvers...

My concern is that the officer unassed his vehicle with his weapon drawn. I feel that was a safe distance, and he didn't need his weapon. Most officers call for backup before things get hairy as to prevent the situation we have here. But as already stated we don't have much to go on here. Same as what will be available to the department so they will be on speculation as well. I do know from personal experiences the truth won't come from the news or the Department. Its everyone's job to Cover their Asses.

 

It's nice that cops like to stick together but you are missing a couple things. If this cop had encountered the VICTIM before this incident he would have known that he was deaf(in one ear) but still. He was also wearing head phones which the cop should have noticed. Also, the only reason that he was 9 feet away from him is because the STUPID cop ran up behind him to within 9'. The bullets hit the VICTIM in the side so he was not even fully turned around.

 

i think he got out the that car planning to shoot him. its one thing to have his hand on a holstered gun but another to have it ready to shoot when the guy had both hands full of a swiss army knife and block of wood.

 

The guys only mistake is he was Canadian. Normally in Canada will be almost the last thing that ever happens is the cop going for a gun. It almost never happens here. They will beat the crap out of you tazer you to death but shootings is rare here.They pull guns on you guys down there when they pull your car over.

The guy did no wrong and did not hear the police. Can't attack him 9 feet away with a pocket carving knife. If it was a West coast carving knife those things can't even cut you, they are like a rake and not a knife. Cuts wood on the pull. More like a scoop.

 

So his misdemeanors made him super dangerous? Washington actually has an open carry law. I know that technically closer than 21ft is considered deadly, but the reason the officer was so close is because the officer closed on him and put himself in that situation. Then he most likely just got scared. What happened to escalation of force? Taser/pepper spray?

 

Look on the positive side, with one shot the poor guy probably would have suffered longer before he died. If I were to be fatally shot, I would rather take 100 rounds and die sooner, than one round and suffer for 4 hours.


My question is, what about those old fashioned stun guns? Anybody ever use those any more?

True its a lethal weapon against a non lethal, but still, would it not have been worth a try?

 

^ I actually hadn't thought of that. It's perfectly legal to carry a gun or knife in public (in most places still.) And you can't shoot a deaf guy for not hearing you.

I do support law enforcement officers..........when their not trying to infringe upon my rights or try to gun me down.

 

I don't see the positive side of this man being killed for walking down the road whittling .

 

exactly. I carry and when I was up in washington ans seattle I also had a pocket knife (as always). I dont know how I made it out alive.

 

Seems like now a days its luck that keeps us alive.

 

Looks like something from where I live. I live in a town of 27000 and the cops act like it's downtown Detroit. I may respect cops elsewhere.....but in my hometown.....they all have this mentality and I don't respect a single one. My new philosophy is if you don't have a warrant....don't even talk to me.

 

The only time a person should be holding a knife out in public is either in a restaurant or trying to get his hamster out of the sphincter.

 

Why wouldn't a free person be allowed to have their knife out?

 

are you serious? a knife is just as much a tool as a wrench is.

 

Can I still have pens and pencils? Because if so you'd better shoot me now, I can do a helluva lot of damage with a pen. How about my keys? I teach self defense to people using common items easily obtained to protect themselves.

 

I feel for both sides. Certainly the cop is in the wrong, but I can see the road he took to get there:

Dude looks homeless - many homeless are insane- he is kinda is semi-openly carrying a knife- doesn't respond when called- turns suddenly.

Add in some quick judgment calls (which in this case were all wrong) and some adrenaline and I totally understand how this happened. It doesn't change that he exited the vehicle with the gun drawn and chased the guy- making a strange situation into a potentially dangerous one "requiring" deadly force.

 

I completely agree with this statement ^.

The difference between one shot and 5 is all very subjective.

Either way I'm afraid when its said and done this officer is going to wish he had been a little slower on the trigger and had pulled out a non-lethal weapon instead.

There are cameras everywhere these days. There is bound to be security footage that will turn up eventually, which will probably be the make or break for this officer.

 

not that I've ever considered whittling wood, but now I'll think twice...especially in public

 

Do you know any homeless people? Do you have evidence that supports your claim of high numbers of "insane" homeless people?

 

Yeah actually my stepmother is a shrink.

Everyone has a reason to be on the street. For many its hard times, for others its other things.


Edit: I knew that someone was going to get heated about that but I posted it anyway. Some of the greatest acts of charity I have ever witnesses were by homeless people offering someone something when they had almost nothing, or bailing someone (me) out of a situation. I have also taken on the role of someone in a delusional fantasy of a homeless woman as I walked down the street, been attacked and had to fight my way out of a public bathroom, been followed and eventually set upon by an insane homeless man among other bizarre things. Call it bad luck I guess.