California cops shoot kid with toy gun aka Replica Assault Weapon

[StuckInTheP.R.O.Ca]

In the end a cop shot a kid holding a toy, cop has to deal with being a kid killer and will lose his house and wife will ditch him for a basketball star when hes sued, at least he'll have his dog and some cardboard to sleep on..

They won't go after the Officer. Unless he has an excess of assets, they will go after the one with deep pockets, his agency. Even if this was an unjust shoot the long established precedent is it will be determined justified and the only thing that will happen is paid time on the beach.

[baffomet]

Sure. You get a report that there is someone walking down the street with a rifle. You are told that backup is on its way. There is no report of anyone dead, injured, shots fired or even of a threat made.

You block off the street, wait for backup and now have several minutes to confront the "gun man".

Why make a split second decision when you don't have to?

Heck, the LEO didn't even wait for his partner to get out of car before shooting.

[malfunction]

Sure. You get a report that there is someone walking down the street with a rifle. You are told that backup is on its way. There is no report of anyone dead, injured, shots fired or even of a threat made.

You block off the street, wait for backup and now have several minutes to confront the "gun man".

Why make a split second decision when you don't have to?

Exactly, there's no crime been committed and no reasonable suspicion that one might be committed. Since when was it OK to go around lighting up citizens who are legally wandering about with rifles, just minding their own business?

[StuckInTheP.R.O.Ca]

Exactly, there's no crime been committed and no reasonable suspicion that one might be committed. Since when was it OK to go around lighting up citizens who are legally wandering about with rifles, just minding their own business?

The crime would be brandishing a deadly weapon at a Peace Officer. At least thats what I would call it if someone exhibited what I thought was a firearm in a rude or threatening manner and I feared for my immediate safety. I am not saying that the kid met the technical elements of brandishing a replica or real firearm though. Obviously the Deputy will say he did. Who knows? IMO they probably did catch the kid by surprise and didn't give him adequate time to comply to their commands.

[mag360]

Gelhaus is nothing more than an ego trip tyrant. He got all psyched out over the whole "go to war" mentality he writes about and let his mind get to the kill zone without recognizing reality. A dude with a rifle does not condone murder. Sit back, wait for back up, see what he is doing. Oh just walking? Let him go and eat a sandwich.

Gelhaus is the same guy that loves trying to bust gun owners for assault weapons because he wanted to call a muzzle brake a flash hider, doj expert overturned his testimony. I hope he loses his job and more. Sonoma county deserves so much better.

[SactoDoug]

This does not inspire any confidence:

Gelhaus pull his gun twice on driver during a routine traffic stop

That happened just a couple months ago. Combine that with some of the things he wrote about not hesitation to shoot someone dead and it is starting to paint a picture of someone a bit too quick to pull his gun.

"Today is the day you may need to kill someone in order to go home," he wrote. "If you cannot turn on the 'mean gene' for yourself, who will? If you find yourself in an ambush, in the kill zone, you need to turn on that mean gene."

He added, "Taking some kind of action - any kind of action - is critical. If you shut down (physically, psychologically, or both) and stay in the kill zone, bad things will happen to you. You must take some kind of action."

Also, he shot himself in 95 while putting his pistol back in its holster.

What else is going to come to light as this gets more scrutiny?

[Edwood]

I'm really sick and tired of Law Enforcement Officers being held to such low standards and getting away with it.

If it wasn't a cop that shot the kid, they'd be guilty and in jail in no time. But then again, it would be that way by default because we're in Kalifornia.

[Artema]

Seems like he did not identify himself. Could have been anyone yelling at the child as far as he was concerned.

http://www.christophercantwell.com/2013/10/31/deputy-did-not-identify-himself-before-gunning-down-13-year-old/

[StuckInTheP.R.O.Ca]

This does not inspire any confidence:

Gelhaus pull his gun twice on driver during a routine traffic stop

That happened just a couple months ago. Combine that with some of the things he wrote about not hesitation to shoot someone dead and it is starting to paint a picture of someone a bit too quick to pull his gun.



Also, he shot himself in 95 while putting his pistol back in its holster.

What else is going to come to light as this gets more scrutiny?

He is starting to appear as a Tackleberry type.

[mag360]

This could hinge on the rookies testimony. Very interesting. If he doesn't fall on his sword for gelhaus I can't imagine his future will be bright. Then he has to live with for the rest of his life tbat he covered up a murder.

[empty the mag]

Okay, who wants to try this?

You have two seconds to decide if that gun pointing in your direction from 15 feet away is real or fake. And if you're wrong, you will die.

Anyone interested in giving it a whirl?

Yes it's very sad to kill a teenager. It was not, however, in cold blood.

See above.

I feel the officer is justified.

Your position is you have two seconds to decide ,if you are wrong you die. If that's the criteria then maybe it's time for a new job. If officers are running around out there SCARED this is not the job for them. Making decisions out of fear will always result in over reaction. If all we need from an officer with a gun is over reaction then we can just hire civilians with no training. We need some cool heads that don't over react. When they do react hastily they usually end up paying out large some of money that could possibly bankrupt a city. Let me put it another way. As a LEO everyday you go to work could be the last day. If that plays heavy on you and over rides your training than it's time for a different more calm profession.

[SVT-40]

Seems like he did not identify himself. Could have been anyone yelling at the child as far as he was concerned.

http://www.christophercantwell.com/2...n-13-year-old/

The deputy was in full uniform driving a marked police car...It's not like he was a detective wearing a suit, and driving a un-marked car....

The author of that story is less than credible....

Just one quote...

"Perhaps it was his multiple deployments to war zones that made him so fond of murdering brown children… Gelhaus served as an infantry squad leader in Iraq in 2005. Records show that he served in the Army from 1983 to 1987, the Army Reserve from 1987 to 1995 and the Army National Guard of California from 2003 to 2010. All times during which numerous US military conflicts took place. If this is how Gelhaus behaves here at home, imagine how many innocent lives he snuffed out as an unaccountable mercenary in a foreign country. How many fishing poles did this monster “mistake” for rifles as he roamed around poor villages looking for trouble? How many children had to mop up the blood of their parents after Gelhaus and his friends decided they were “insurgents”?

The author, who describes himself as a "Anarchist, Atheist, azzhole", and believes or US service men are:

" unaccountable mercenary in a foreign country"...

[Ninety]

Bias author no doubt..

but would you concede that the kid probably didn't have enough time to see the marked car or full uniform before he was shot?

[SVT-40]

Bias author no doubt..

but would you concede that the kid probably didn't have enough time to see the marked car or full uniform before he was shot?

Don't know..That would be guessing...

You could also guess that the kid saw the deputies drive up and saw the deputy exit his car...

The police car did not magically appear... The deputies drove up....

I don't think it's been established exactly what happened, and in what sequence...and from what direction the deputies drove up to the kid from... Or at what distance the deputies first saw the kid and recognized the kid was carrying what to them, appeared to be a rifle...

So speculation is really fruitless....

[APV]

http://www.christophercantwell.com/2...n-13-year-old/

The article makes accusations in all possible sins just based on the twisted imagination of the writer and of course whatever happens there is always somebody trying to play the race card. After reading recent posts I tend to agree with the point made by a number of posters that it makes sense to wait until the results of the investigation with all further conclusions.