I am sure the locals here are following this case; I am personally really drawn to it. It is gaining steam and won't be going away any time soon.
Long story short, man sitting on his front porch, drunk, holding a water nozzle to a hose. 911 call in says a man is possibly holding a gun. Long Beach police come in and blow him away with shotguns and gunfire.
I understand the whole idea of things looking like weapons. I understand that LE cannot always tell if it is a real gun and if people are in danger. I understand that this garden nozzle does look like a gun. I get that.
In this case, LE snuck up, surrounded him as he sat cross legged in a lawn chair on his porch. No contact with him whatsoever.
He had no idea they were there. He raised the water nozzle in the direction of LE and they blasted him. They blasted INTO an apt complex and it is a wonder that no innocent bystanders were killed. It is reported that the area was pretty isolated and it would have been extremely difficult for LE to see what the man even had in his hand. his family has been all over the media bringing attention to this killing.
No, "this is the police-freeze" no "put down your weapon you are surrounded" nothing. Just shot him on the porch.
What are your thoughts on this?
>>
LONG BEACH, Calif. (CBS/AP) Long Beach police officers shot and killed a man Sunday when they apparently mistook a pistol-grip water nozzle he was holding, for a gun.
Now family members of the man, 35-year-old Douglas Zerby, are lashing out at the police, saying they made no attempt to contact him before opening fire.>>
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20025657-504083.html
Long story short, man sitting on his front porch, drunk, holding a water nozzle to a hose. 911 call in says a man is possibly holding a gun. Long Beach police come in and blow him away with shotguns and gunfire.
I understand the whole idea of things looking like weapons. I understand that LE cannot always tell if it is a real gun and if people are in danger. I understand that this garden nozzle does look like a gun. I get that.
In this case, LE snuck up, surrounded him as he sat cross legged in a lawn chair on his porch. No contact with him whatsoever.
He had no idea they were there. He raised the water nozzle in the direction of LE and they blasted him. They blasted INTO an apt complex and it is a wonder that no innocent bystanders were killed. It is reported that the area was pretty isolated and it would have been extremely difficult for LE to see what the man even had in his hand. his family has been all over the media bringing attention to this killing.
No, "this is the police-freeze" no "put down your weapon you are surrounded" nothing. Just shot him on the porch.
What are your thoughts on this?
>>
LONG BEACH, Calif. (CBS/AP) Long Beach police officers shot and killed a man Sunday when they apparently mistook a pistol-grip water nozzle he was holding, for a gun.
Now family members of the man, 35-year-old Douglas Zerby, are lashing out at the police, saying they made no attempt to contact him before opening fire.>>
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20025657-504083.html