Cop shoots 17 yo on HS campus

[hammAR]

QUOTE(FoxNews)

Fresno Student Shot, Killed by Police Officer After Bat Attack
Wednesday, April 16, 2008

FRESNO, Calif. — A police officer shot and killed a 17-year-old high school student Wednesday after authorities said the teenager clubbed the officer with a baseball bat on the packed, urban campus.

The officer fired at the student shortly before noon, after the Roosevelt High School sophomore allegedly came from behind and struck the officer in the head with a crude wooden baseball bat, Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said.

The officer fell down dazed, and reached for the gun in his hip holster, but the clip fell out.

As the student came at him a second time, the officer grabbed a secondary weapon — a semiautomatic handgun he carried as backup — from his ankle holster and fired one or two rounds, Dyer said. The student reportedly died within a few minutes.

"The officer was fortunate that he was able to defend himself," the chief said. "This officer had a secondary weapon that very likely could have saved his life."

The cause of the attack was not immediately known, and the officer did not know the student, Dyer said. There was no history of prior run-ins between the teen and the officer, who has been assigned to the school by the police department for the last three years, he said.

Police did not immediately release the identities of the officer or student, who was described as a Fresno resident who transferred to the school in January. The teenager was 6 feet tall and 250 pounds — larger than the officer, authorities said.

The officer was released from a local hospital Wednesday afternoon after being treated for a two-inch gash on the right side of his head, police said. He will be placed on administrative leave while the department reviews his conduct, Dyer said.

At least five students and a probation officer on campus witnessed the incident directly, but no one else was injured in the shooting, police said.

The campus was locked down for several hours as detectives combed the white school buildings and interviewed witnesses.

An automated system called all parents in the district to notify them of the shooting about three hours after it occurred, and parents of Roosevelt High School students received a second message stating that all students and staff were safe an hour later.

"The school district obviously is very saddened by this tragedy on campus, however our students on campus are safe," said Ruth Quinto, acting superintendent of Fresno Unified School District. "There certainly will continue to be support provided to all of our students here on the campus and, in particular, any witnesses to this tragedy."

Six extra district psychologists will be sent to the school Thursday to counsel students and staff, said district spokeswoman Susan Bedi.

By 2 p.m., students were allowed to leave the campus gates, where they found a crowd of nervous parents and family members waiting.

Dana Vasquez, a 14-year-old freshman, was on her way to gym class when the situation erupted in an outdoor hallway between two buildings.

"I just saw a bat swinging in the air and heard a gunshot and then I just started running," Vasquez said. She was visibly shaken when she left the school holding her mother's arm.

Ray Mendez, a volunteer at the school, said he was speaking to a remedial English class when he heard a loud popping sound outside the classroom.

"That's went I went down and saw the young man lying there and the officer was bleeding from his head. This was a real shocker. We try to prevent these kind of events at all costs," Mendez said.

Silvia Carrillo, whose daughter is a sophomore at Roosevelt High, said the shooting did not seem justified.

"My son and my brother went to school here too, and nothing like this ever happened. I think this wasn't enough for him to kill the kid," she said.

[Aceq2jot]

The student used Deadly force by swinging the bat at the officers head. The officer responded with the amount of force necessary to control the situation, and did what he had to, to gain control the situation. It was very obvious that the student intended to cause the officer Grevious bodily harm by going for the head. It is sad to hear that a Teen could be that violent and have that much anger towards a law enforcement Officer.

The world is becoming a sad place.

[Stradawhovious]

The world is becoming a sad place.

+1

[Widge]

Good shoot.

Carrillo needs to STFU. She wasn't there, she cannot know.

[hammAR]

Yea, I think that it is a good shoot too and as I told ACE, this is NOT posted here to bash LEO's, but I think that there are several messages in there for those not in or have never been in a profession that requires you to live by the gun......and they can be a lesson carryover to enforce the be prepared to defend yourself at all times and be situationally aware at all times...............

First, regarding the attack, when bad **** can happen, it is never when or where you expect it.

Second, regarding the main gun/magazine, when **** can happen, it will happen.

Third, regarding the LEO's actions, he was operating purely on training, instinct, and survival mode.........

Finally, BUG's are good...................

It is sad that such a young person must die, but he made his choice and he clearly took the options away from the LEO..............

[ttousi]

what gunny said................sad all around

[rucker]

Finally, BUG's are good...................

and/or magazine safeties are bad.

[hammAR]

Finally, BUG's are good...................

and/or magazine safeties are bad.

A New York speed load is usually better than a whack, rack, oh crap that hurt...................

[EricMN]

Good shoot.

Carrillo needs to STFU. She wasn't there, she cannot know.

+1

If that article is an accurate account of what happened the officer is 100% right. I just hope his department and the DA back him (again, if he was right)

[cobb]

..... came from behind and struck the officer in the head with a crude wooden baseball bat, ...
The officer fell down dazed..................... the student came at him a second time................. teenager was 6 feet tall and 250 pounds — larger than the officer......

The officer was released from a local hospital Wednesday afternoon after being treated for a two-inch gash on the right side of his head...........I just saw a bat swinging in the air ........ and the officer was bleeding from his head.

All the above snippets from the report and then a person says this?

Silvia Carrillo, whose daughter is a sophomore at Roosevelt High, said the shooting did not seem justified.

Idiot.

[Fast351]

Finally, BUG's are good...................

and/or magazine safeties are bad.

Was wondering about that. Either this guy was carrying on an empty chamber or had the mag disconnect type of safety. Otherwise a single round right now is better than 1-2 out of the BUG when you get it out.

Silvia Carrillo, whose daughter is a sophomore at Roosevelt High, said the shooting did not seem justified.

"My son and my brother went to school here too, and nothing like this ever happened. I think this wasn't enough for him to kill the kid," she said.

Shut the F up. Baseball bat is a deadly weapon. Swinging it at a cop (or any armed person for that matter) and your ticket is bought and paid for. What would she have the downed officer do? Ask for a hug and sing kumbaya while "talking about it"?

Hippies stink.

[princewally]

Yea, I think that it is a good shoot

+1

[hammAR]

Either this guy was carrying on an empty chamber or had the mag disconnect type of safety. Otherwise a single round right now is better than 1-2 out of the BUG when you get it out.

In a real world situation such as he was in, remember your brain goes on automatic mode AKA:oatmeal, and either having mag disconnect issue or the mag slide out would be enough to cause you to move immediately to the next mode of protection.............it is easy to sit here behind a keyboard and analyze, which is also why they have an AAR (After Action Report) and review to find out what went wrong and what went right..................regardless of the mag situation, he is alive, so more went right than wrong.....................

[Aceq2jot]

Yea, I think that it is a good shoot too and as I told ACE, this is NOT posted here to bash LEO's, but I think that there are several messages in there for those not in or have never been in a profession that requires you to live by the gun......and they can be a lesson carryover to enforce the be prepared to defend yourself at all times and be situationally aware at all times...............

I was going to post the story when i got home, but we went to the park so you beat me to it

But you still have to sit next to brit on the short bus !!!!!!!!

[hammAR]

But you still have to sit next to brit on the short bus !!!!!!!!

OK as long as you cuff him to the door-handle...................