Hofstra student shot in head by cop while being used as human shield during home invasion

NY Post.com ^ | May 18, 2013 | KIERAN CROWLEY, KENNETH GARGER and KATHIANNE BONIELLO

[KeyLargo]

Hofstra student shot in head by cop while being used as human shield during home invasion

By KIERAN CROWLEY, KENNETH GARGER and KATHIANNE BONIELLO

Last Updated: 11:13 PM, May 18, 2013

Andrea Rebello (r.), here with her twin Jessica in an Instagram photo, was killed by the friendly fire of a police officer during a shootout with home invader Dalton Smith.

The Hofstra University student killed during a home invasion robbery was the victim of friendly fire from a veteran cop who unleashed a barrage of bullets when the armed intruder pointed a gun at him, Nassau County police announced tonight.

Andrea Rebello was accidentally shot in the head while career criminal Dalton Smith had her in a headlock and used her as a human shield while trying to escape out the back door, Det. Lt. John Azzata said.

The unidentified cop fired eight rounds, seven of which struck and killed Smith, and one of which hit Rebello, he said.

[GeronL]

Cop must have seen too many movies

Will the cops be charged?

[presently no screen name]

The officer wrongly put himself and the hostage in a deadly position where the officer could not then retreat when the perpetrator pointed a gun at him resulting in the death of the hostage.

There's no question about that now. I doubt if he was the only cop on the scene - yet, no cop to get him from the back door? I agree. Poor training and/or perhaps being over zealous to 'get him' and 'not get her' seems to be the problem and/or protect himself first.

I was wondering why he went to the burbs and left NYC - too dangerous for him? It's all so horrible and if someone had/allowed protection in the house this wouldn't have happened. He let a girl go to the ATM - he wanted money but the criminal, himself, had protection. This needs to be smeared in Cuomo's face - and the cop would gain some grace if he did it himself. But trained to 'protect himself' - I can forget that.

[arthurus]

Obviously he needed to shoot her first in order to get an open field of fire. A victim should know better than to get between a cop and a criminal.

[arthurus]

What’s the over/under that the uLEO’s first shot was purposely to the head of the girl,

My first thought here.

[arthurus]

Consider that they practice now with targets that look like women and children in order to properly desensitize them. A deliberate shoot to “clear the field of fire” makes sense.

[logi_cal869]

Just an observation: Notice there’s no question as to how a convicted felon got a handgun...in NY of all places.