Posted on 05/27/2014 6:43:37 PM PDT by deks
PURCELLVILLE, Va. -
The family of a Purcellville teen killed by police want answers. They believe he didn't have to die. Police were called for help Saturday afternoon because 17-year-old Christian Sierra was suicidal. Instead, an officer shot him dead.
His parents say he was crying out for help and that police were too quick to shoot and kill.
His family said Christian was depressed, but not violent. He was at a friend's house and became suicidal. So they called 911 for help.
When Purcellville police arrived, he was armed with a knife. According to a witness, Christian came around the corner followed by a friend begging him to drop the knife. He had already harmed himself.
The witness heard him say, "I don't want to live anymore." Christian collapsed on the ground and then got up and turned toward police. That's when he was shot.
"The four gunshots, it's just too much. Excessive. Excessive. Why four?" asked Christian's mother.
Police say Christian lunged at the officer with the knife. Virginia State Police are investigating.
(Excerpt) Read more at myfoxdc.com ...
"They're supposed to come to help and stop the suicide and they came and killed him," said Natalie Moriarty, Christian's aunt.
And so it goes. Another day another civilian gunned down by those who are supposed to “serve and protect”.
Well, he IS over being suicidal. And, the cop went home unharmed. I’m not seeing the problem. He was a CIVILIAN! Thus, of no importance. He will vote Democrat, tho.
The cops aren’t trained to say, “Aww, you’re suicidal?...you get one free shot.”
If I were a bit more cynical I’d point out that they did stop the suicide. Just not quite in the way they wanted.
Bad cop, no donut.
I don’t blame the cops. Unless the spaces in that house were like Downton Abbey, there was no time for any fancy moves. It was shoot or be stabbed.
RIP Christian.
The young man’s name is Christian Sierra. May he rest in peace.
It seems to me I’ve seen this scenario before.
Moral of the story: if your loved one is suicidal, don’t call the police.
It’s well documented that your loved one will almost certainly be shot in such cases.
“The cops aren’t trained to say, “Aww, you’re suicidal?...you get one free shot.””
They don’t seem to be trained to do anything but piss their pants at the slightest hint of danger. And that assumes the claim of ‘he lunged’ is honest. It wouldn’t exactly be the first time a cop made that lie.
I’m thinking the same thing.
Thought perhaps this was to be a dated story, actually.
The identical story, redux, for sure. Different name, different place— same story.
The cops should have evacuated the house of everyone, surrounded it, but kept their distance until they could get someone to talk to the kid. Or, use a taser...
Cops love a good adrenalin rush. They get overhyped on steroids, caffeine, and adrenalin and they don't think through the situation to deescalate before acting. E.G. They sprayed over 300 rounds throughout the neighborhood at the Boston bombers and made just a couple grazing hits (the older brother was killed by the younger running him over).
It seems to me that I see stories about police murders every day, from one to six a day.
Sure as hell doesn’t make any sense. They could have just let the kid kill himself and saved a bullet. Oh, how I hate cops.
Can someone tell me how to get a nationwide organization started with chapters in ever city to go talk to police chiefs and mayors about all the dog and people killing. Maybe we could get people to volunteer to monitor police radio and show up at the scene as witnesses.
Did he look or act like a dog?
The locals in my area have had way better luck with less than lethal shotgun rounds. Way more separation and safety for all involved. The limiting factor is that you need enough officer on the scene to set up that kind of employment.
Lesson learned: The cops’ involvement will make a bad situation worse.
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