So when is it a good idea to shoot someone in a wheelchair in the back?

[never_retreat]

If you listen the first shot is from the shotgun O(supposed bean bag)the second two were from a pistol. It looks like the perp was turned for the second shot.
http://newsone.com/nation/casey-gane-mccalla/video-surfaces-of-san-francisco-police-shooting-man-in-wheelchair/

[seeker_two]

You forgot the detcord option.... 

[AZRedhawk44]

I think it's well known here and elsewhere that I don't have a lot of love for the modern Police State, but this guy in the wheelchair was just stoopid.

I don't know what precipitated this confrontation, but 4 cops had the drop on him and were 15+ feet away from him (outside of the physical range of a handicapped person in a wheelchair)... so he draws... a knife?

1.  Lose the draw contest
2.  Be a cripple
3.  Draw a knife
4.  
5.  Profit

Nah... doesn't add up.

Shooting:  not necessary for officer safety in this case, but perhaps for society's safety.

The wheelchair fella appeared to be nucking futs.

[Phantom Warrior]

What's to keep them from knocking the crap out of his arm with a baton?  He's not exactly going to be moving fast in a wheel chair.  Especially if they can come up from the side.  Or yeah, mace him and then baton him.

It just doesn't seem like a slow moving guy in a wheel chair with a knife is a problem that couldn't be resolved without shooting him right off the bat. 

[AJ Dual]

Maybe I'd throw a broomstick in his wheels. 

[Jamisjockey]

Really?  Because he's just going to run around stabbing people from his wheelchair?  Taser much? Pepper spray much? 

[zxcvbob]

It just doesn't seem like a slow moving guy in a wheel chair with a knife is a problem that couldn't be resolved without shooting him right off the bat.

What's the fun in that?   

[Tallpine]

Ya think he'll be crippled from the gunshot wound ?  

[never_retreat]

Ya think he'll be crippled from the gunshot wound ?  

One of the guys I work with thought the radio said he was dead.

Really?  Because he's just going to run around stabbing people from his wheelchair?  Taser much? Pepper spray much? 

I think the problem with the taser is that its reserved for the elderly and little kids.

[Tallpine]

One of the guys I work with thought the radio said he was dead.

Article said he was expected to survive.

[never_retreat]

Article said he was expected to survive.

Which is worse for the cops? Dead? or alive? I guess that depends if he has family.

[zxcvbob]

Why can't I vote for more than one choice in the poll?   

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

the comment 2:40 or so in was good

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

now you wanna get angry?  try this
http://newsone.com/nation/associatedpress3/dna-clears-man-jailed-for-31-years-prison-cornelius-dupree-jr/

[roo_ster]

I think the problem with the taser is that its reserved for the elderly and little kids.

Luckily, I have already finished my coffee.

Wheelie McSharps was not exactly a threat at that point, especially as he was boxed in against the auto grill.

I could make some snarky comment about San Francisco LEOs, but I'll just remark that nobody there was putting their noodles to use.

[geronimotwo]

you left out the "throw him a joint and let him sleep it off" option.

[MechAg94]

now you wanna get angry?  try this
http://newsone.com/nation/associatedpress3/dna-clears-man-jailed-for-31-years-prison-cornelius-dupree-jr/

I am torn between:
1) what the hell was going on around Dallas 20 to 30 years ago that they have so many bad cases? 
2) I'm amazed they actually preserved the evidence for 30 years so that it they were still able to test it.

[MechAg94]

On the wheel chair guy, why couldn't they just hit him with tasers and bean bags until he gives up the knife? 

[Jamisjockey]

On the wheel chair guy, why couldn't they just hit him with tasers and bean bags until he gives up the knife? 

The man was in a wheel chair....they could have used a garden hose and some harsh language on him. What the hell was he going to do about it? 

[Racehorse]

From what I read, San Francisco Police are not given or allowed to use Tasers. The guy also stood up at one point, which may have made them think he could come at them. He had also already stabbed an officer.

I still think they made the wrong call. They didn't need to shoot him. But he wasn't quite as harmless as it sounds at first.

[MicroBalrog]

We tend to assume that wheelchair = harmless. Clearly not the case with this bright individual.

[AZRedhawk44]

We tend to assume that wheelchair = harmless.

Dangerous assumption to make.  The wheelchair could theoretically be a disguise of some sort.

I gotta say, I can't find fault with a police shooting where the criminal brandished a knife at the police, and wouldn't drop the knife even after being shot with a bean-bag round from a shotgun at 10-15 feet.

[Racehorse]

Forgot to add, he threw the knife at them, which is when they shot him. While I would think once he had thrown the knife, they could subdue him rather easily, if someone's throwing a knife at me while I have a gun trained on him, it's going be hard not to pull the trigger.

I still think the shooting was unnecessary, but it's also easy for me to armchair quarterback the situation.

[roo_ster]

Dangerous assumption to make.  The wheelchair could theoretically be a disguise of some sort.

I gotta say, I can't find fault with a police shooting where the criminal brandished a knife at the police, and wouldn't drop the knife even after being shot with a bean-bag round from a shotgun at 10-15 feet.

When this sort of thing happens, I try to think about if it was my butt in the deadly force situation and ask a couple questions:
1. What would I do were I a CCW-ing citizen facing the threat?
2. How would local LEOs and DAs treat me if I did what the LEOs just did?

1. If I wouldn't shoot, I start to wonder about the LEO.
2. If I would be treated like a murderer/criminal for doing what  LEO did, the LEO ought not have done it.

[Tallpine]

When this sort of thing happens, I try to think about if it was my butt in the deadly force situation and ask a couple questions:
1. What would I do were I a CCW-ing citizen facing the threat?
2. How would local LEOs and DAs treat me if I did what the LEOs just did?

1. If I wouldn't shoot, I start to wonder about the LEO.
2. If I would be treated like a murderer/criminal for doing what  LEO did, the LEO ought not have done it.

Well, it was just a property crime which doesn't justify deadly force.

The police escalated the situation.  They should have called 911 and been good witnesses.