Posted on 02/19/2014 3:37:02 PM PST by servo1969
A Georgia family is in shock following the death of their 17-year-old son, who was accidentally killed by a police officer who believed the video game controller he was holding was a gun, according to the family’s lawyer.
Christopher Roupe of Euharlee, Georgia heard a knock at the door of the family’s home last Friday night. Upon opening the door, he was immediately shot by a female police officer.
Roupe was pronounced dead upon arrival at a local hospital.
The officer broke down it tears upon realizing her mistake, according to The New York Daily News.
She had been making a probation-related visit to the home. She thought Roupe was holding a gun, according to a statement from the police department.
Cole Law, the family’s attorney, said he believes that the officer did mistake Roupe’s video game controller for a weapon. Roupe was holding a remote controller for the Nintendo Wii when he opened the door, according to Law.
Standard-issue Wii controllers are white cylinders, but specialty controllers shaped like guns do exist. It is not yet known what type of controller Roupe possessed. (RELATED: Update: Texas teen faces 8 years in prison over Facebook comment)
Neighbors confirmed that Roupe had a Wii controller, not a gun, according to Law.
“The eyewitnesses on the scene clearly state that he had a Wii controller in his hand,” said Law, according to WSB-TV. “He heard a knock at the door. He asked who it was, there was no response so he opened the door and upon opening the door he was immediately shot in the chest.”
Roupe had plans to enlist in the Marines after finishing high school. He was involved in the ROTC program at his high school.
The officer has been placed on administrative leave while the police department investigates the matter. The family will likely file suit against the department.
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Give it some time for things to die down a bit, and manufacture some good evidence in the meantime.
Only took 39 posts for someone to post the Wii gun controllers. Course there wasn’t one in the article.
agree....the shoot first attitude is just crazy....
Let’s reverse the situation. What if the homeowner shot the cop first because he thought she was an intruder?
Hmmm.. I can only guess what the outcome would be.
What is it that we keep hearing about “common-sense” gun control “keeping guns out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them”? What happens when that’s the cops?
Wasn't one meaning what? They were mentioned. You would know that had you read the article and possessed the ability to comprehend.
Standard-issue Wii controllers are white cylinders, but specialty controllers shaped like guns do exist.
We should all be making a list and checking it twice!
I tell folks that if their Uncle Henry has locked himself in the bathroom (again!), not to call the cops. They’ll come, and kill him when he emerges brandishing the hair dryer.
“We were in fear for our lives...”
Or, if there were real justice, give the family the option of shooting this Rambo cop-chick center of mass with her own sidearm. That's justice.
“Something is wrong with cop training when they go around killing innocent people...and dogs.”
No, the training is just fine.
“Shoot at anything that you perceive to possibly become a threat.”
[ Give it some time for things to die down a bit, and manufacture some good evidence in the meantime. ]
Bad cops are experts at testifying before a judge....
Shame.. used to be a man’s home was his castle or such.. now .. it’s a shooting gallery.
RIP
“The officer broke down in tears upon realizing her mistake”
Shouldn’t she have been taught to make sure there was no mistake beforeThe officer broke down it tears upon realizing her mistake firing?
The officer broke down it tears upon realizing her mistakeThe officer broke down it tears upon realizing her mistake
Let’s reverse the situation. What if the homeowner shot the cop first because he thought she was an intruder?
Hmmm.. I can only guess what the outcome would be.
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Can you imagine if the 17 year old was also in this frightening uniform in addition to having his Wii controller?
The picture at the linked site could terrify any young cop who has his/her gun drawn.
As long as the officer went home safe.
“Indeed there has. Some serious issues with our police forces.”
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Yes, they are morphing into jack-booted thugs, and in no way resemble police that I knew in my earlier days.
I think some of it may be in part to the Cop movies and TV shows, where cops are in full SWAT gear, armed to the teeth, and always yelling “Get on the ground,get on the ground, NOW!”. Rarely do you now see the “good old boys on the beat” in TV action shows. The Barny Fifes have long retired.
She'll rake in the big bucks on the anti-RKBA circuit.
She did not ‘accidently’ kill him. She shot him in the chest - she obviously meant to kill him.
“Shame.. used to be a man’s home was his castle or such.. now .. it’s a shooting gallery.”
I think giving consent to warrant-less searches is required for probation in a number of states.
It will not be long before every officer has a live camera attached to them while they are on duty. Some departments have already instituted such a policy.
You make an excellent, and correct, point.
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