Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Rookie cop who killed himself removed clip, left bullet in chamber
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | August 15, 2007 | Jaxon Van Derbeken,John Coté,

Posted on 08/15/2007 6:19:19 PM PDT by walkerk

The San Francisco rookie police officer who accidentally shot himself to death fired his weapon while displaying for a female friend how officers are taught to avoid having their guns used against them, law enforcement authorities said Tuesday.

The incident happened at 1:40 a.m. Saturday during a gathering of as many as 15 people at the San Mateo apartment of the 23-year-old officer, James Gustafson Jr.

According to those familiar with the incident, Gustafson was showing his Police Department-issued semiautomatic pistol after removing the clip that stores the rounds. He explained that there are ways an officer can disable a weapon in close proximity to keep it from being fired.

It apparently was part of a demonstration of the department's "weapons retention" procedures. However, there was still a bullet in the chamber.

Gustafson pointed the weapon at his neck and pulled the trigger, shooting himself, according to authorities.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: banglist; copkiller; darwinawards; donutwatch; gunsafety; leo; rkba
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-150 next last

1 posted on 08/15/2007 6:19:21 PM PDT by walkerk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: walkerk

sad


2 posted on 08/15/2007 6:20:18 PM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walkerk

Sounds like he was playing with his gun at a party.


3 posted on 08/15/2007 6:21:01 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Greed is NOT a conservative ideal.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walkerk; All

Barney!!!


4 posted on 08/15/2007 6:24:02 PM PDT by KevinDavis (Mitt Romney 08)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walkerk
MAGAZINE!
5 posted on 08/15/2007 6:24:03 PM PDT by ASA Vet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walkerk
he got the retention part right...

How about the "gun is always to be considered loaded, never point your weapon at something you aren't willing to destroy, fire only when you can identify your target and what lies behind it...

SF Police..... sad. If this was at a party, do you think that alcohol might have been involved?

6 posted on 08/15/2007 6:24:16 PM PDT by Dick Vomer (liberals suck....... but it depends on what your definition of the word "suck" is.,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walkerk

I think he probably left a bit more of an impression on her than he intended.


7 posted on 08/15/2007 6:25:14 PM PDT by the anti-liberal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walkerk

All right class... How many of the 4 cardinal rules of safe firearms handling were violated in this incident?


8 posted on 08/15/2007 6:25:25 PM PDT by Freedom_Is_Not_Free
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walkerk

Typical broke-diche press. A ‘clip’ is used in a rifle such as the M-1 Garand. And the poor officer that killed himself is another casualty of departments that do not stress realistic training in the handling of firearms.

It did happen in the emerald city...

ruefully


9 posted on 08/15/2007 6:25:44 PM PDT by petro45acp (NO good endeavor survives an excess of "adult supervision" (read bureaucracy)!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walkerk
This may be the same reason that DEA shot himself in the leg during a "gun safety" demonstration.

On semi-autos you have to remove the magazine, then cycle the action to clear the chamber.


10 posted on 08/15/2007 6:27:18 PM PDT by Disambiguator (What's the temperature, Albert?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walkerk

Oh Good Lord. Young guy impressing a girl. Probably alcohol, forgot to check the chamber. What a waste. Prayers for his loved ones.


11 posted on 08/15/2007 6:28:14 PM PDT by RDTF (Republicans believe every day is July 4th, but Democrats believe every day is April 15th. - Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walkerk

It’s scary how little firearms training some LEOs receive. He should not have been graduated without knowing better than to pull a stunt like that. He probably thought he was well trained.


12 posted on 08/15/2007 6:29:05 PM PDT by BykrBayb (In memory of my Friend T'wit. ~ Þ)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ASA Vet

Well, at least they said “rounds” instead of bullets.


13 posted on 08/15/2007 6:29:19 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo (Political Correctness Is Going To Get Us All Killed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: walkerk

14 posted on 08/15/2007 6:29:39 PM PDT by elkfersupper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walkerk

I for one would feel much safer if our noble legislators would condescend to provide the public with more restrictive gun control laws! /s


15 posted on 08/15/2007 6:31:04 PM PDT by jimmyray
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walkerk

I would guess that the guy was never around guns before he became a cop. Having grown up in a house full of guns and been taught the basics from the time I could walk, I can’t even imagine doing this. I could take the magazine out, check the chamber 10 times, and I would still probably be mentally unable to force myself to point a gun at my neck and pull the trigger


16 posted on 08/15/2007 6:31:07 PM PDT by tickmeister (tickmeister)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ASA Vet

Of course, they used “bullet” in the headline.


17 posted on 08/15/2007 6:32:13 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo (Political Correctness Is Going To Get Us All Killed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: walkerk
"Gustafson pointed the weapon at his neck and pulled the trigger"

Ooops!

18 posted on 08/15/2007 6:34:44 PM PDT by Orange1998
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KevinDavis

Oh my Barney, had a jailhouse
Had a key but couldn’t lock it
Had a bullet for his pistol
Had to keep it in his pocket!


19 posted on 08/15/2007 6:35:30 PM PDT by The Lumster (USA - where the innocent have nothing to fear!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: ButThreeLeftsDo

Yep, good thing it didn’t have a case, primer, and powder. It could have been thrown at a house in Irag.


20 posted on 08/15/2007 6:36:32 PM PDT by ASA Vet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-150 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson