Police justified in shooting, but no jail time for teen shooter...

[ezkl2230]

When police arrived at the scene, they were confronted by a 19 year old brandishing a pistol. Police had been called several times to this home for health and welfare checks relating to the young man. He had left a suicide note, and it appears that he was trying to commit SBC. Although he was ordered to drop his weapon, he refused, and police were finally forced to shoot him.

He survived, and spent the last month recovering in the hospital.

Turns out that the pistol was a .177 CO2 pistol.

The county prosecutor, after reviewing the case, determined that the shooting was justified. However, he also decided that, instead of sending the young man to jail, he would be better served getting the mental health help he so obviously needs.

We have been saying for some time that the government needs to pay more attention to the mental health side of this issue.

Thoughts?

Link Removed

 

[Rocketgeezer]

Some would say no good ever comes because of a domestic shooting, but appears it has

 

[HoJo]

Sounds like a system working the way it should.

 

[wolf_fire]

Agreed with the last two comments. A troubled man wanting to commit suicide and uses the police to try to do it... gets shot... doesn't get killed.... gets help. Sounds like a good end to the story to me.

 

[telpinaro]

Ditto.

 

[BluesStringer]

I've got no problem with the way this went down, but even if the "help" is "successful," the young man will likely never get his full rights back. I'm not sure I have a particular problem with that either, but I have known people, several in fact, who had troubled youths or mental illness somewhere in their pasts, and went on after getting help to be perfectly normal, productive people. I've also known people who suffered many years of mental illness and never got better. My only sister was one of those people. While she certainly should've never been around a gun alone, it didn't matter, it was suicide by pills for her. Still, even with the closest person to me having the longest and most severe mental illness of the several I've known, I don't like a system that will deny this guy's rights (most likely) for the rest of his life no matter what he does to get himself together.

Blues

 

[Kramer1113]

Best outcome possible in a sad situation.
I'm not worried about this persons future gun ownership. There are far more important issues that must and will be addressed. His well being and that of the people closest to him come first.
Interesting point, he can still purchase BB guns and other Non-Firearms, the same kind that brought attention and the shooting to him.

 

[Mobuck]

Did the "teen shooter" actually shoot anything?

 

[ezkl2230]

Did the "teen shooter" actually shoot anything?

No. He would not drop the gun, and he apparently continued to wave it aggressively at police.