It started as a noise complaint. It ended in another fatal Phoenix police shooting

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Maybe he did not intend to shoot that gun, and maybe he just had it in his hand because he thought there might be somebody dangerous at the door. But if you think there might be somebody dangerous at the door, you don't open the door and step outside. You keep the door closed and say "Who is it?"

Maybe he came out intending to shoot a cop. Maybe he came out because he used really stupid tactics.
Cops had no choice. They really did have to shoot. No time to determine what his intentions were.

One thing the cops could have done better is to more clearly articulate the word "Police". They just kind of mumbled it loudly, so that a person on the other side of the door might not have heard the word, just somebody yelling something.
 
Bullsh*t. The cop needs to be charged with manslaughter at the least. If this had happened in Iraq or Afghanistan and the shooter was one of our soldiers, he or she would be court martialed for murder under the current rules of engagement. The cop had no reason to shoot. If you as a civilian had done the same thing as the cop, you probably wouldn't be out on bail yet. This crap has to stop. Just because a person is armed, it does not make them a threat. The only justified use of deadly force is if the firearm is pointed at you or another person. Period.
 
One thing the cops could have done is not shoot him when he went to lay the gun down and comply with their instructions.

Unless there is much more video out there or many other circumstances, this was a seriously bad shoot.
 
smithers599 said:
Maybe he did not intend to shoot that gun, and maybe he just had it in his hand because he thought there might be somebody dangerous at the door. But if you think there might be somebody dangerous at the door, you don't open the door and step outside. You keep the door closed and say "Who is it?"

Maybe he came out intending to shoot a cop. Maybe he came out because he used really stupid tactics.
Cops had no choice. They really did have to shoot. No time to determine what his intentions were.

One thing the cops could have done better is to more clearly articulate the word "Police". They just kind of mumbled it loudly, so that a person on the other side of the door might not have heard the word, just somebody yelling something.

Maybe you need to move to a country that enjoys summary executions of non violent citizens.

Maybe North Korea would suit you better, I hear they police their citizens the same way. To much noise, death penalty.

While this country still allows its citizens to bear arms as a fundamental human right, every single cop in the nation needs to recognize gun possession is a right that they must put their own safety aside for until that weapon is pointed directly at them! No exceptions, and if you cant do that, you have no business wearing a badge! EVER!!!!
 
Another one the city/county/state will pay out on. THX champs..They straight executed that guy. He was clearly going to the ground once he realized it was PD..

Cops need to understand that if they bang a dudes door after dark a firearm might follow.

Depending on the situation, my T12 might be how they are greeted.
 
I heard "Phoenix police" very clearly and saw him reach behind his back for the gun. I didn't hear him say a word about putting the gun on the ground. If he would have kept his hands up i bet money he would still be alive. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
 
These cops were not focused or properly trained. Did you hear them speaking out the beginning? They were already nervous and uneasy. Not professional and not intelligent
 
gunsnboobs said:
I heard "Phoenix police" very clearly and saw him reach behind his back for the gun. I didn't hear him say a word about putting the gun on the ground. If he would have kept his hands up i bet money he would still be alive. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

You might want to watch the video again. He didn't reach behind his back for a gun, he had it in his right hand. He started to drop to his knees, left hand in the air. the pistol was never pointed towards the officers or even in front of him. He appears to be dropping to his knees and setting the pistol down.
The body cam on the officer that shot, clearly shows the pistol was never raised or pointed.

Come to my door unexpected and banging on it, I don't care what you're shouting, you are likely to get the same or a worse reception, but I wouldn't step out in the open, until I saw ID.
 
gunsnboobs said:
I heard "Phoenix police" very clearly and saw him reach behind his back for the gun. I didn't hear him say a word about putting the gun on the ground. If he would have kept his hands up i bet money he would still be alive. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

Did you even watch the full video?
The gun was down at his side when he opened the door. He raised his left hand and crouched in a manner that clearly indicates he is setting the gun down.
 
Police say the caller contacted 911 again about 30 minutes after the initial call to report that things had escalated. "It's getting really loud and they've been doing it for the last hour," he said. "I hear slamming of doors. I don't know. Somebody could be gettin' thrown into a door for all I know. But I hear all kinds of banging."
Sounds like good times. ;)

If incidents noises actually occured, other neighbor would able report that for part of investigation.

However, does not excuse for officer's action.
 
I notice the officer put the flashlight on his face when the door opened.
So if he was not sure it was police he could not see them after being flashed.
I did not see him raise the pistol either.
 
Tim McBride said:
gunsnboobs said:
I heard "Phoenix police" very clearly and saw him reach behind his back for the gun. I didn't hear him say a word about putting the gun on the ground. If he would have kept his hands up i bet money he would still be alive. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

Did you even watch the full video?
The gun was down at his side when he opened the door. He raised his left hand and crouched in a manner that clearly indicates he is setting the gun down.

I still call it good.
 
YNOTAZ said:
gunsnboobs said:
I heard "Phoenix police" very clearly and saw him reach behind his back for the gun. I didn't hear him say a word about putting the gun on the ground. If he would have kept his hands up i bet money he would still be alive. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

You might want to watch the video again. He didn't reach behind his back for a gun, he had it in his right hand. He started to drop to his knees, left hand in the air. the pistol was never pointed towards the officers or even in front of him. He appears to be dropping to his knees and setting the pistol down.
The body cam on the officer that shot, clearly shows the pistol was never raised or pointed.

Come to my door unexpected and banging on it, I don't care what you're shouting, you are likely to get the same or a worse reception, but I wouldn't step out in the open, until I saw ID.

Can't see the gun in his hand on my phone but I can see he reached behind his back, to me that's a no no. My first thought would have been he was attempting to hide the weapon then, he didn't realize there was another cop behind him. He could have easily shot at the cop he saw from a kneeled position. like you said you wouldn't step out into the open. he could have easily called 911 to check and see if it was actually cops, he could have talked to them through the door but mr badass thought he would intimidate someone banging on his door by stepping out with the gun. I bet he holds that firearm sideways...or used to. The guy had several options but he took the worst one possible. Cops aren't telepathic, they have to react in a split second. Eliminate the gun from this scenario and I bet the guy would still be here.
 
gunsnboobs said:
YNOTAZ said:
gunsnboobs said:
I heard "Phoenix police" very clearly and saw him reach behind his back for the gun. I didn't hear him say a word about putting the gun on the ground. If he would have kept his hands up i bet money he would still be alive. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

You might want to watch the video again. He didn't reach behind his back for a gun, he had it in his right hand. He started to drop to his knees, left hand in the air. the pistol was never pointed towards the officers or even in front of him. He appears to be dropping to his knees and setting the pistol down.
The body cam on the officer that shot, clearly shows the pistol was never raised or pointed.

Come to my door unexpected and banging on it, I don't care what you're shouting, you are likely to get the same or a worse reception, but I wouldn't step out in the open, until I saw ID.

Can't see the gun in his hand on my phone but I can see he reached behind his back, to me that's a no no. My first thought would have been he was attempting to hide the weapon then, he didn't realize there was another cop behind him. He could have easily shot at the cop he saw from a kneeled position. like you said you wouldn't step out into the open. he could have easily called 911 to check and see if it was actually cops, he could have talked to them through the door but mr badass thought he would intimidate someone banging on his door by stepping out with the gun. I bet he holds that firearm sideways...or used to. The guy had several options but he took the worst one possible. Cops aren't telepathic, they have to react in a split second. Eliminate the gun from this scenario and I bet the guy would still be here.

So you are basing everything on not watching a clear video (on your phone) and the idea that somehow just the presence of the gun made the guy a threat?

And yes, I'm sure he'd still be alive if he didn't have a gun. And? Last time I checked people in Arizona had the ability to carry a firearm on their person (which includes in their hand), even more protected in and near the home.

Ultimately you are faulting Ryan Whitaker for not being perfect, and giving every excuse you can to the police.
 
AZ1182 said:
Well we'll just have to agree to disagree then, because from most of us that watched it saw that he complied and was gunned down.

Note: I am a big backer of the blue, but not when they gun someone down, especially in the back when you can clearly see that he was giving up without a fight.

100%

As a former cop myself I can't justify this. I get the situation guys find themselves in, but this shooting was wrong. Does it rise to the legal concept of murder that some claim? No. Was it wrong? Yes. At a bare minimum that officer should never be able to hold a LE certificate again, and face a civil suit without QI or the protection of the city.
 
Tim McBride said:
100%

As a former cop myself I can't justify this. I get the situation guys find themselves in, but this shooting was wrong. Does it rise to the legal concept of murder that some claim? No. Was it wrong? Yes. At a bare minimum that officer should never be able to hold a LE certificate again, and face a civil suit without QI or the protection of the city.

Agreed
 
OH-MAN said:
I notice the officer put the flashlight on his face when the door opened.
So if he was not sure it was police he could not see them after being flashed.
I did not see him raise the pistol either.

Many years ago I learned about blinding your opponent, lesson right after that was shoot for the light when someone blinds you. Someone blinds me I am shooting them. Home invaders like to yell police search warrant these days because they know people usually comply.
 
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