LA police shoot boy holding toy gun

[philw]

http://www.livenews.com.au/news/los-angeles-police-shoot-boy-holding-toy-gun/2009/5/11/206117

I hope the kid recovers ok.

A boy playing "cops and robbers" with a toy handgun has been shot and injured by a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy, officials say.

The boy was shot on Sunday night in Palmdale, about 80km north of downtown Los Angeles.

Police Deputy Jeff Gordon said the boy was hospitalised in a stable condition and was expected to survive.

His age and identity were not immediately released.

Gordon said deputies were responding to reports that someone was riding a bicycle and brandishing a handgun. They spotted the rider and ordered him to drop the weapon but instead he pointed it at the deputies, Gordon said.

One deputy fired a shot and hit the boy in the upper body.

[Texas_Bryan]

Wow.  I'm glad those cops weren't in my neighborhood when I was a kid, we ran around our suburb with BB guns and toy guns.  Its sad we live in this fear based society.  50 years ago would a cop have shot a kid like this?  Alot of it probably has to do with urban cultures that aren't held to very high standards, in Texas the cops show up during a dove hunt say hi and don't shoot anyone.

[Pathfinder]

Wow.  I'm glad those cops weren't in my neighborhood when I was a kid, we ran around our suburb with BB guns and toy guns.  Its sad we live in this fear based society.  50 years ago would a cop have shot a kid like this?  Alot of it probably has to do with urban cultures that aren't held to very high standards, in Texas the cops show up during a dove hunt say hi and don't shoot anyone.

Guess what, Bryan? They do live - and work - in your neighborhood. This is how they have been trained. You are now the enemy unless they can prove you otherwise. Point anything at them and you are likely to be shot by them, no questions. And no repercussions either.

I too hope the boy recovers. and gets his college education paid for by the FOP insurance company.

[Harmony Hermit]

When I was a young'n, a loooong time ago, I got grabbed by an off duty Ossifer who was on a stakeout. I was playing Army with friends and ducking and hiding behind cars, they were looking for car thieves. The cops let me go and called my parents. Thank God I am not a child today!

[Hazcat]

A kid on a bycycle.  I think the LEO needs remedial manhood training!

[Sponsor]

[JSC3ATLCSO]

Different world now boys.. You think any of our troops overseas wouldn't or haven't done the same thing.. Depending on where you are at in LA... I'd rather be overseas.

[Rastus]

A kid on a bycycle.  I think the LEO needs remedial manhood training!

I tend to agree with HAZ.  Some things are supposed to be worth dying for, like a child's life.  There is the training world and then there is the world outside of training.   Outside of training a child is valued (by some anyway) and inside of training is cold reaction.  Training said gun, react....training dictated shoot and I understand that...but my mind is wired to say child and take my lumps...and yes, that could be a fatal decision. 

In a war zone, where children are killers, it is different.  It just is.  It is war.

Now, comes the other part...what area were those police in?  An area where society values order or one that disdains order?  Without further information I can't condemn the officer in doing what I would have strived to avoid.  I also wonder that the society that hates guns fosters such unfounded fearmongering that the mere sight of a gun is grounds to lose all touch with reality...and that, I fear, passes over to law enforcement especially in places like California.

[twyacht]

It's something almost impossible to train for, more info about the "kid" would have described different outcomes. Age, green hair, race, bad neighborhood, etc,.. Was the kid 10 or 15? I've seen 15 year olds, that look like men.

Whip out an Ipod, cellphone, toy gun at a cop, and very well likely can be shot in today's world.

Tough call.  I'm sure the LEO feels pretty bad regardless.

[Hazcat]

It's something almost impossible to train for, more info about the "kid" would have described different outcomes. Age, green hair, race, bad neighborhood, etc,.. Was the kid 10 or 15? I've seen 15 year olds, that look like men.

Whip out an Ipod, cellphone, toy gun at a cop, and very well likely can be shot in today's world.

Tough call.  I'm sure the LEO feels pretty bad regardless.

Agreed TW, but I think that if I came upon a kid on a bike and he pointed a gun at me (did he or was it near or in the direction of or caused by handling the bike....) I WOULD take a chance on not being shot and try to actually figure out what is going on.

Then again I am a thinking adult and not a robot.

[twyacht]

From Haz,
Agreed TW, but I think that if I came upon a kid on a bike and he pointed a gun at me (did he or was it near or in the direction of or caused by handling the bike....) I WOULD take a chance on not being shot and try to actually figure out what is going on.

Then again I am a thinking adult and not a robot.

Totally agree, experience is paramount, I just didn't get enough skinny on the LEO's exp. or more info on the "kid" to make the call.

I'm sure a fresh "rookie" (no offense to LEO'S at all) as at one time they were all rookies, would be more inclined to shoot first.

Than again, a veteran that has been shot at before, might not to be again.

The devil is in the details....  Was it the "Beaver" riding a bike, or a punk ass....? The law still refers to a 17 year old as a "kid", who can be a total menace. Columbine shooters were technically "kids"...

Sad story.