Deputy Fires at Car Driven by 12-Year-Old

Yahoo News ^ | June 27, 2005 | Yahoo

[Nachum]

LAKELAND, Fla. - A sheriff's deputy trying to stop an erratic driver fired at the car when it lurched toward him, not realizing a 12-year-old girl was behind the wheel, officials said. Neither she nor her 6-year-old brother were hit.

Deputy Chris Hillsgrove and a colleague pursued the car Sunday, eventually blocking it between their two patrol cars. When the deputies exited their vehicles, the car lurched forward and backward into the two cars, then drove toward Hillsgrove, Polk County Sheriff's spokeswoman Michal Shanley said.

"He, fearing for his life, fired several shots at the oncoming vehicle and managed to jump out of the way as the vehicle sped by him," Shanley said. The car then crashed into a nearby parked car.

The officers couldn't see the driver because the car's window's were tinted, she said.

The deputies discovered the driver was a 12-year-old girl when they broke a passenger-side window to get in, Shanley said. Her 6-year-old brother was also inside.

The girl suffered cuts and bruises, but neither child had been shot, Shanley said. The shots had passed over her head.

The girl was charged with attempted murder, auto theft, driving without a license and other counts. Hillsgrove was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

The girl had asked for and received the keys to the car, which belonged to a family friend, Shanley said.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Why was the guy placed on leave, it sounds like he did the right thing to me.

[Mears]

And now I suppose there will be all sorts of investigations into the poor deputy by the libs.Shooting at a child! Imagine!

[Colonel_Flagg]

Discharge of a weapon often is often automatic cause for adminstrative leave.

[scott7278]

The girl had asked for and received the keys to the car, which belonged to a family friend, Shanley said.

No charges there?

[Colonel_Flagg]

Discharge of a weapon often is often automatic cause for adminstrative leave.

Proofreading is my friend.

[tutstar]

The girl had asked for and received the keys to the car, which belonged to a family friend, Shanley said.

What? Charges against that family friend????

[Fierce Allegiance]

It sure sounds like a justifiable discharge to me. Thanks for the info.

[kx9088]

Yeah, that to me is the real story.

[HaveGunWillTravel]

Last time a car came at me I didn't get to shoot at it, and I wasn't even chasing it.

[FroedrickVonFreepenstein]

The officers couldn't see the driver because the car's window's were tinted...

Fourth Commandment: Be Sure of Your Target and What's Beyond You can't stop a shot in mid-air. So don't fire unless you know exactly where your shot is going and what it will strike. Never fire at a sound, a movement or a patch of color. Never shoot without being absolutely sure of what you're shooting at, and what's behind it. Remember, bullets can travel great distances with tremendous velocity -- know how far your shot will go if you miss your target or your bullet ricochets.

[mlc9852]

That girl is lucky she wasn't killed. What in the world was she thinking? And what was the "family friend" thinking? People can be such idiots!

[jboot]

It seems to me he hit his target.

Even had he known it was a 12-year-old, he would have been fully justified in shooting her to protect his life and the lives of other bystanders.

That's how it is when you play in the big leauges.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

They always do that for pschological reasons. To de-stress.

[monday]

"No charges there?"

She may have said she wanted to get something out of the trunk. I don't think it is illegal to give a twelve yr. old keys in order to get something from the car. I am pretty sure the family friend didn't want her to steal his car.

[MortMan]

A sheriff's deputy trying to stop an erratic driver fired at the car when it lurched toward him, not realizing a 12-year-old girl was behind the wheel, officials said. Neither she nor her 6-year-old brother were hit.

He did nothing wrong. He was acting to stop the vehicle by stopping the driver. Not knowing who was driving is absolutely immaterial, if his life was in danger. Would it matter if it were Santa Claus apparently trying to run hime down?

[Bhrian]

So if we lose the brakes in a vehicle and an officer is nearby, we may be killed. Nice.

Of course, if he shoots the engine or better yet, the tires, he might stop the car.

[spartan_abn_inf]

Thats brilliant. A car is coming straight at you and your supposed to shoot the tires? Yeah and shooting into the engine with a 9mm isn't going to do a whole lot of damage. Maybe if he was packing a .50 cal.

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
"...if you miss your target..."

It was a cop wasn't it?

Michael Frazier

[Zeroisanumber]

Why was the guy placed on leave, it sounds like he did the right thing to me.

Standard procedure after an officer is involved in a shooting. He goes home on paid leave while the dpt investigates. Usually it lasts less than a week.