Slaying of Army veteran shocks friends (Man gunned down at Costco over Concealed Carry)

Las Vegas Review-Journal ^ | 6/12/2010 | Lawrence Mower

[conimbricenses]

The man shot by police outside a Summerlin Costco store on Saturday was a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a master's degree from Duke University, friends said.

Army veteran Erik Scott, 39, was at the store near Charleston Boulevard and the Las Vegas Beltway with his girlfriend before three officers fatally shot him in a confrontation.

[lonevoice]

Scott apparently had a Concealed Carry License and was legally carrying. Some liberal Costco employee reportedly saw he had a gun, freaked out, and called the cops reporting a gunman loose in the store. He seems to have been attempting to surrender his handgun, which the cops interpreted as him pulling out his weapon and opened fire.

[faucetman]

I don’t think he did, but is “shoot on sight” if you smash stuff in a store?

[KTM rider]

"A second anonymous witness said Sunday he saw Scott pull up his shirt and turn toward the shouting officer. Then he saw the man get shot, drop to his knees and fall face-first in front of the entrance.

"There wasn't even time for someone to react," the second witness said. "The guy didn't pull a gun. There was no gun in his hand, there was no gun on the ground."

The second witness said he was interviewed by homicide detectives and gave them the same account.

The first anonymous witness also didn't see Scott make a threat.

"I certainly did not see the guy do anything with a gun that would threaten anybody," the first witness said Sunday. "It appeared to me that if he had guns on him, that they were literally in his pocket or in his waist."

sounds like a cut and dry case of "murder by chickenshit cops", afraid to take a risk and make a clean arrest. I have personally witnessed a lot of those "chikenshit cop" scenarios in my lifetime

shoot first, make the arrest later, punch out and go home nice and safe without a scratch

[Jack Hydrazine]

Could the Costco Leftist or even the police officers who murdered him go to jail? How about lawsuits? Who should be sued and for how much?

[Pontiac]

Oh, it will be. “ARMED MAN VETERAN SHOT AT COSTCO”

“EXPERTS SUSPECT POST TRAUMATIC SYNDROM WAS A FACTOR".

Press will want to spin the veteran angle.

[MrB]

“We will not be investigating civil rights cases with black defendents and white victims.”

[Ultra Sonic 007]

From your link:

Those are state police?

[ichabod1]

No, they just showed why concealed carry is NOT A GOOD IDEA. It can GET YOU KILLED people.

/s

[ichabod1]

I’m sorry for your loss. Despicable.

[cpdiii]

I grew up in West Texas and South Louisiana, in the 60s. Often I would take my shotgun to school in my pickup as we could hunt after school was out. I was not an exception and this was normal amongst the kids that hunted. The thought of using a weapon in an illegal manner never even crossed our minds. I did not even lock the door of my pickup.

HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED.

[cpdiii]

I grew up in West Texas and South Louisiana, in the 60s. Often I would take my shotgun to school in my pickup as we could hunt after school was out. I was not an exception and this was normal amongst the kids that hunted. The thought of using a weapon in an illegal manner never even crossed our minds. I did not even lock the door of my pickup.

HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED.

[Texan Tory]

“If you get challenged by the police when you’re carrying, don’t follow any order that requires you to put your hands on or anywhere near your weapon.”

Good advice. Something else that might be helpful, shout out “No hablo ingles!” and the cops will probably be more careful, as they wouldn’t want to be accused of harassing a minority. Sure, they’ll be mad later when you’re speaking english, but at least you’ll be alive.

[Envisioning]

The cops need to fry if this went down like it sounds like it did.

I don't think any CHL'r would reach for their weapon with 3 cops already drawn down on them.

Be careful out there ping!

[jagusafr]

“The other report I heard from a witness of the event, was he just walked out, got shouted at to “drop it” and when he made a move to get the gun out of the holster so he could drop it they opened up on him.”

My CHL instructor told us (and it’s firmly embedded in my muscle memory) never to “surrender the weapon” to LE, but to put hands on head and say, “it’s in a holster on my right hip (or wherever). You may retrieve it.” If in a vehicle (we have to show CHL whenever asked for ID in Texas) and LE asks us to give up the weapon, we’re to say, “No, but I’ll step out of the vehicle and you may retrieve it”, since the partner is likely behind the vehicle and may misinterpret our picking up the weapon.

Colonel, USAFR

[Jack Hydrazine]

"When cops attack.

Just more proof of my theory that there are people who would make exceptional policemen; whose senses of judgement, discretion, comportment, maturity, responsibility, are well-honed and reliable.

The problem is that very, very few of them are drawn to "The Job." Which leaves us with the trigger happy, social misfit Barney Fifes, Buford Pussers and Marquis de Sades. At least half of them should be locked up for years just for applying for "The Job" for the wrong reasons.

Ticking time bombs with little, twisted brains, no moral compass, but with a gun that will kill you if somebody doesn't get them first. Scarey."

Think of it more like robot cops from THX 1138.

[faucetman]

Freedom of speech can get you killed. Exercise your rights or LOSE THEM.

[rellimpank]

---haven't seen a writeup on it recently, but several years ago Metro had a record of over a hundred shootings without a "mistake"--including the guy dribbling a basketball (whose pregnant girlfriend became a near millionaire).

--only officer I recall who got in serious trouble over a shooting incident was the one who got all messed up and went out with a buddy and did a drive-by shooting--he is still serving time, I suppose---

[Tijeras_Slim]

Heck in the 70’s I shot on the rifle team in the High School. The range was in the basement.

[DoughtyOne]

LOL, who knows, it might just work.

[ntmxx]

I am also deeply saddened by this and the family’s loss.

“…another dimension to the libtard mindset…”

I believe this has more to do with Government’s position that the killing of Cracka`s is à la mode; and not the other way around. See: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2548261/posts