W. Memphis Family Say Police Shot Child With Soft Drink & Chips in Hand

Why are police shooting first?

Isnt it supposed to be 'dont shoot unless fired upon'?

If they have the right to shoot us for no reason other than they felt threatened, doesnt that give us the right to shoot them for the same reason?

the police will not get in trouble. citizens' life is cheap

Geez, a lot of cops are trigger happy these days. What's that all about? Are they being told, day after day, that someone's out to kill 'em and they gotta shoot first? Are they being brain-washed? Are they target-practicing for martial law? Is this some kind of initiation? A blood rite?

What is going on???

No, only the military in a war zone are not allowed to fire unless fired upon. Police can shoot or taser anytime they feel threatened.

It is certainly difficult being a police officer, and they deserve the utmost respect for placing their lives on the line to protect the rest of us. The JOB, however, is to not kill innocent people! There is no "shoot first, ask questions later" when it comes to proper law enforcement. Obviously the recruitment and training at this precinct is flawed, and the entire administration should be evaluated. Yes, it's a tough job, but you don't cut corners by zapping innocents. Someone is preaching the wrong priorities to these recruits.

they shoot first because the blacks and the mexicans tend to be packing and/or run and/or lie. then when they get shot or get beaten down by the po-po's they act like they didn't do anything wrong and it was police brutality.

put yourself in their shoes and just try to realize that everytime you respond to a situation your life may be in danger. i've always been kind when i've been pulled over or in a police situation and i've never been shot or beaten.

here's the latest from our local paper

[link to www.commercialappeal.com]


Family looks for truth behind child's killing

June 25, 2007
The family of a 12-year-old killed by West Memphis Police wondered Sunday how the officer who shot him could have mistaken their baby-faced boy for an armed robber.

Even if DeAuntae Farrow had a toy gun in his hand. And they don't believe he did.

"If you are not able to tell the difference between a child and a grown person, you shouldn't be on the police force," said the boy's father, Robin Perkins.

"And I have never known him to play with toy guns," he said.

Because of conflicting stories about what happened Friday night at the Steeplechase apartments at Goodwin and 24th in West Memphis, the family was reluctant to speculate on the facts.

However, Perkins said the boy was carrying a CD player and a soft drink in his hands when he was shot, and was no more than 15 feet away from the officer who shot him. "I don't see how he could be holding a toy gun, unless he grew a third hand," Perkins said.

West Memphis Asst. Chief Mike Allen, reached Sunday night, recalled the 1998 Jonesboro school shootings in which boys aged 11 and 13 killed five.

"The sad reality of life is that children do possess and use firearms," Allen said. "I don't think the officers are going to be able to say, split second, 'We're not going to react to this because this person looks younger than someone who could kill someone.'"

Police said two officers were on surveillance Friday night on an unrelated matter when they saw the child.

Chief Bob Paudert said Saturday that the child had a toy pistol that looked like the real thing. "And the officer saw it and fired two shots."

The case has been referred to the Arkansas State Police for investigation. The officer, a 10-year veteran, has been placed on routine suspension with pay, and has not been identified.

"They are supposed to be here to serve and protect, not to kill," said City Councilman Marco McClendon, who represents the area where the shooting happened about one block south of Interstate 40 at Ingram.

"I was not here, and there are conflicting stories," he said. "But my opinion is it was a rush-to-judgment shooting."

The officers were in street clothes, and did not identify themselves, McClendon said.

"We need justice," said DeAuntae's cousin, Cordell Williams. "They're trying to cover up something. We'll get to the bottom of it."

Allen met with the boy's family on Saturday.

"It was just to give our condolences to the family," he said. "It is a tragedy, what occurred. There's no other way to describe it."

The child's family said they were hopeful, but not optimistic, that the truth would come out.

Between periods of silence Sunday, Perkins described his son as a quiet and shy.

"He knows not to be disrespectful to police," he said.

The boy's aunt, Katherine Townsend, said DeAuntae was killed by the very people he wanted to emulate.

"He said he wanted to be a police officer. Unfortunately, the police took him out," Townsend said.

Staff reporter Jody Callahan contributed to this story.

Bbbbut... He lunged at me!

Shoot first, ask questions later, right?

Lets just hope that the murderer ends up in federal ass-pounding prison.

He'll have plenty of 'guns' to play with there.

Of all the thousands of cases where police have killed unarmed people...how many "POLICE" have been indited, gone to jail and/or been executed for their crime?

In a lot of places other than Police State USA they call that murder.

In a lot of places other than Police State USA they call that murder.

Well, I suppose we should get ready for rioting in Memphis now. I wonder if they'll tear Graceland down?

It is the job of the police to apprehend and bring the criminal to justice. The police are becoming judge and jury, no need for courts.

I hope they do.
They should start at the police station and not let up until the murderer is in the hands of the mob.

I live in rockford, illinois. We've had 3 people killed by the police since january--not one cop convicted.

Also, we are about 80 miles from chicago, where there have been 3 incidents since december of off duty cops beating up people in bars.

so much for "protect and serve".

My daughter lives 3 blocks from a bar and grill where 5 cops beat the crap out of 3 businessmen --in suits--no guns, no weapons on them. The patrons of the bar called 911 and when police arrived, the off duty cops told them everything was under control. The police left, and the off duty cops started pummeling the guys again. One was in hospital and is suing the city.

These guys are gonna destroy law and order in our cities. Also, neighborhoods. Not to mention taxes that will go up cause of million dollar law suits--there will be many of them, especially now that we all have camera phones and video phones.

I don't think any ex-iraqi national guard troops should be allowed on our police forces--guys in chicago were ex-iraqi troops. That war is hitting home in more ways than one.

My "favorite" Denver police shooting story is this one, where a senior citizen was shot in his bed while reaching for a soda.

Link first, then story:

[link to pages.sbcglobal.net]

Story about Denver shooting in previous link:

Police Kill Wrong Man

The Denver Police killed the wrong man because not only did they misidentify the victim the mistook a soda can for a weapon. This family has learned the hard way that we have more to fear from our own goverment than we do the terrorist.

A Denver police officer likely mistook a soda can for a weapon before shooting and killing a 63-year-old man in his bed, Police Chief Gerry Whitman said Monday.

Frank Lobato was shot once in the chest Sunday night during a police search for a domestic-violence suspect. Lobato, a career criminal and formerly homeless man whom neighbors said was disabled, was not involved in the domestic dispute.

Instead, officers were searching the home at 1234 W. 10th Ave. for Lobato's nephew Vincent Martinez, who was wanted on suspicion of domestic violence, assault and false imprisonment. Martinez, 42, was captured Monday evening.

Some neighbors and community members called the shooting questionable - and worse.

"I think it is disgraceful," neighbor Rose Salaz said. "I don't see how they can just go into people's houses shooting people. ... They are supposed to protect us."

The shooting comes weeks after the city and police announced reforms to the department's use-of-force policy in the wake of controversy surrounding police shootings.

Whitman and District Attorney Bill Ritter took the unusual step of calling a news conference to lay out some of the facts about the incident, the third fatal police shooting this year. But they answered few questions.

"It has now been determined that the party who was shot was not armed at the time of the shooting," a subdued Whitman said, reading from a prepared statement. "The officer stated that after he fired the shot, he heard an object fall to the floor on the other side of the bed. A beverage can was recovered from the floor in the area of the bedroom."

Ritter, standing next to Whitman, promised a full investigation to determine whether Officer Ranjan Ford Jr. broke any laws when he fired the fatal shot. No criminal charges have been filed against a Denver police officer for an on-the-job shooting during Ritter's 11-year tenure.

Ford, 33, came to the department in 2001. He has no prior shootings and no discipline problems, police said.

Before his hiring in Denver, Ford had been an officer in Jasper, Texas. Jasper Police Chief Stanley Christopher said Ford was a model officer there.

"I wish I had a dozen like him," Christopher said. "I'm telling you, he was a great officer. We really hated to see him go."

So where is the public outrage ?

Ohh thats right, everyone is an apathetic fuck.