Miriam Carey shooting - justified??

[webbch]

No clarity on whether Capitol Hill shooting was justified - CNN.com

The following newspaper comments are VERY unnerving:

But Maki Haberfeld, chairwoman of the Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal Justice Administration at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, said police would have had no way of knowing whether Carey posed a threat as she got out of the car, and therefore the shooting was justified.

Wait a minute...hold the train. So, lack of knowledge of whether a person is TRULY dangerous or not sets precedent for LEO to shoot to kill?? W-O-W. What a great message to send <sarcasm>

CNN law enforcement analyst Mike Brooks said the police had no choice but to shoot.

"You don't know if she has a bomb," he said. "You don't know if it's a terrorist attack. The officers just don't know."

Again, the message is that a shooting is justified based on lack of knowledge, NOT on perceived threat.

I'm sorry, I don't know all the actual FACTS to this story, nor was I there, but something about this story doesn't add up.

 

[CoolClownFish]

Our legal system at it's finest. Guilty until proven innocent....... Or shot!

 

[jcreek]

The cops in DC are OFP. They can always justify anything with potential terrorism, and people buy it. "Oh he had some cocaine? I shot him in the face, because I thought it was anthrax." That kinda crap luckily wouldn't fly around my neck of the woods. We still have some people in high places with a head on their shoulders.

 

[Drzzit]

You have to remember that this was the Capitol and trying to get past barricades here is different than at any other place

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[maybejim]

You have to remember that this was the Capitol and trying to get past barricades here is different than at any other place

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Is that because the folks there think they are worth more than just plain old everyday citizens? Sorry I don't buy it. They may think they are some kind of aristocracy but we don't have royalty here.

 

[webbch]

I'm still not 100% convinced that she was indeed attempting to get past barricades. I've only heard that reported by the same people who would have a vested interest in it being true. And even if it is true, does that justify the shooting without any other information to go on? If so, the message being sent is that you can shoot someone who is mentally ill and acting erratically, especially if they're anywhere near people who might be considered important in society.

I did see the video of her turning her car around, which would definitely be dangerous to 5 police officers surrounding the first 180 deg of her vehicle, all with guns pointed at her and her baby. While one is supposed to stop when confronted by LEO, it is somewhat understandable that when confronted by 5 guns in your and your baby's face, that you take evasive action at all costs.

 

[tedkulpa]

Automobiles kill more people than guns. Outlaw automobiles for they also are dangerous or was it the driver? Umm?

 

[the dark]

So now we have a presumption of guilt.

 

[thru]

I can see ONE cop running up to the windshield/side window, LOOKING to see if any one else is in the car, and MAYBE firing one shot, but this PANIC STRICKEN PUNK response common today (AREA BARRAGE, everybody emptying their mag AFAP, regardless of likelihood of hitting or danger to others, is total bs. they send Swat teams for stuff today that in the 50/s, the cop would not even have unstrapped his .38 for. (without any body armor)

 

[golocx4]

You have to remember that this was the Capitol and trying to get past barricades here is different than at any other place

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You may want to look again from a different angle.
LiveLeak.com - Police Shooting on Capitol Hill Caught on Camera

 

[GHF]

Ms. Carey was using her car as a weapon. Why and if she had a firearm was not clear, but she was clearly a threat of death or serious bodily injury. In a one on one situation, I would shoot too, if the threat of death or serious bodily injury was possible, based in the behavior of the driver.

 

[JohnD13]

Our legal system at it's finest. Guilty until proven innocent....... Or shot!

And, naturally, once you're shot, you are guilty.

 

[dad45acp]

One of my favs.

 

[escapedthematrix]

I think what is the main issue here is the response by the media, congress, and the police. They were all so grateful that Carey was shot and killed by the "heros". They were just praising the heroic efforts. A true hero would have ended the situation without killing her. I saw many opportunities to shoot out the tires of her car or box her in but instead they fired directly at her multiple times before they actually hit something. Where did those bullets go? I saw Police cars driving at extrodinary speed directly into barriers, destroying their cruiser and injuring themselves. I believe this is just another case of overaction by an "on edge" police state. Wasn't there a military drill of some sort going on in that area also? We really need more information to determine weather or not the killing of that woman was justified but I think we all can comment on the response in the aftermath.

 

[CapGun]

The Chairwoman of John Jay College is either an idiot or think her statement through! hmmm would that be the same?
Amazing how us "laymen" cowboy gun nuts understand the ramifications of her statement.
I have thought if the shooting was necessary. I hope this doesn't sound like the "antis" that say couldn't they just shoot him/her in the arm, leg or just shoot the weapon out of their hand:wacko:. but I was wondering if those strips that flatten tires could have been used. Probably not in such chaos and short time.
On the other hand it was an erratic series of events and with such high anxiety of there being a possible car bomb I guess stopping the car was the focus.
I still wonder though that this sad situation might have been handled differently. I hope they do extensive investigation and study to determine if there was a better way to handle it and not just dismiss it with Law Enforcement had the right and obligation to shoot so that everyone would be safer!