Posted on 07/04/2009 5:00:38 AM PDT by marktwain
DURHAM -- As a Durham officer shot Thursday recovers from a second surgery, relatives of the man charged in the shooting say he acted in self-defense.
Officer D.J. Youmans remained in stable condition at Duke Hospital Friday. His family has arrived from New York to be with him.
"We're just praying a whole lot," Durham Police Chief Jose L. Lopez Sr. said before returning to the hospital Friday afternoon.
Youmans, a Durham officer for less than two months, and his training officer, Cpl. B.D. Schnee, were responding to a shots-fired call at the South Square Townhomes on Shannon Road about 4 a.m. Thursday. Officers at a nearby police substation heard the gunshots and were headed to the area when emergency dispatchers notified them of a burglary in apartment 5-A.
Youmans, 32, a former New York City police officer, was struck just above the waist in an area his bulletproof vest did not protect.
Thomas Rashawn Monroe, 23, who lives in the apartment, has been charged with the shooting. He remained in the Durham County jail Friday in lieu of $250,000 bail.
Monroe's relatives said Friday that police did not identify themselves when they arrived and that, for all the people in the apartment knew, whoever had been shooting earlier was outside the door.
Cynthia Bridges, 47, said she was preparing for work when she heard the first shots. She dropped to the floor and dialed 911. Her sons, ages 23 and 24, 29-year-old daughter and 4-year-old granddaughter were asleep, she said.
More shots can be heard on the 911 call as Bridges frantically speaks to an emergency dispatcher.
Her son Michael Monroe was sleeping on the living room couch when the shooting started. Thomas Monroe came down to check on him and when the shooting stopped, the younger Monroe ran to his brother. They hid from the front door as the shooting resumed. Moments later, when they heard the screen door open, shots were fired from inside, Michael Monroe said.
"They ain't say they were the police," he said. "If they said they were the police, we would have no need to fire."
Bridges said she doesn't know who riddled her apartment with bullets or why. There were three holes on an upstairs bedroom door, another at her bedroom window. Some bullets made it from the front door to the back of the home. She pointed to more than 30 bullet holes.
Investigators didn't leave the residence until about 1 a.m. Friday, said Bridges, who added that the gunshots sounded like machine-gun fire.
"When I see the front door, it lets me know the seriousness of the shooting," said Bridges, who has lived in the apartment for five years.
Preliminary reports indicate that officers announced themselves before shots were fired from inside the apartment, Chief Lopez said. The Police Department's training unit is evaluating the situation. Investigators are also looking into the incident leading to the officer's shooting.
"You don't shoot not knowing who you're shooting at," Lopez said. "I think the violence surrounding that [incident] needs to be addressed, and I hope the community will continue to be outraged and come forward. Someone knows who shot up that house and why."
Michael Monroe said he ran upstairs and told Bridges and the child to get down. Then the two brothers went outside and saw the police officers. He said they would have walked outside sooner had they known police were on the other side.
"My son ain't tryin' to shoot no cop," Bridges said. "That man was an innocent man. We don't know him. Why would we want to shoot him for? I'm praying that nothing happens to this guy."
Were the cops in uniform?
Under such circumstances would you shoot?
Nothing clear here...except that Mother Bridges has a lot of twenty-something pigeons roosting.
Hopefully mama Bridges 'work'"When I see the front door, it lets me know the seriousness of the shooting," said Bridges
"My son ain't tryin' to shoot no cop," Bridges said. "That man was an innocent man. We don't know him. Why would we want to shoot him for?
;-)
> Under such circumstances would you shoot?
Yes !!
> Under such circumstances would you shoot?
Yes !!
But not if they were in uniform.
Through a door at God knows who? No.
Is the line I noticed. I often wonder what folks who speak like this expect their job opportunities to be..PR director for a large corp with a 100k salary and perks??? I will be the first to admit messing up some of our fine language but not due to lack of trying!
Based only on the details we have here? I'd have unloaded through that door, yes sir.
QUOTE: Under such circumstances would you shoot?
Rule 4: Know your target and what’s behind it.
Several questions need answered.
Were the officers in uniform?
Did they or did they not announce that they were police, and if not, then why not?
Who was firing INTO the apartment?
Were the police employing a fully accredited ebonics translator throughout the incident?
I guess I agree with the poster who suggested that the dispatcher should ensured the occupants knew the police had arrived. If the dispatcher did attempt to do that, this might just be one those unfortunate situations where no one was at fault--except, for the bad guy(s) who shot up the door to begin with.
I often wonder what folks who speak like this expect their job opportunities to be..PR director for a large corp with a 100k salary and perks???Exactly. But to critique this 'language' usage (its not even Ebonics) will get you labeled a racist and subject to a Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton tongue lashing.
I will be the first to admit messing up some of our fine language but not due to lack of trying!:-)
But as bad as all that was. It 'ain't' even close to what these people say today. And NO amount of Billions thrown down the Black Hole of 'Publik Skuuls', will correct it.
Not only that, but they have been known to wear shirts/jackets with “Police” or “DEA” or “FBI” on them, and body armor as well. I have seen several cases where that ploy was used. I particularly remember a couple cases in Phoenix and one in Texas.
Abso effing lutely
Very sad all around. It’s entirely likely the police didn’t announce themselves, in which case the resident was entirely right in firing on them. Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to successfully use self defense against a policeman because society is so engrained in the worship of the police culture to where a LEO can do almost anything with impunity but heaven help anyone who acts to defend themselves against a rogue cop.
There are way too many “undercover”, Plainclothed” or Swat uniformed officers going around acting like they are part of a military invasion force. Police officers should have clearly marked UNIFORMS.
At 4 am can one tell the difference in the dark. The article does not read that the lights were on or off.
At 4 am can one tell the difference in the dark. The article does not read that the lights were on or off.
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