Parenting, what happened to it?

[10Toes]

I would of blown that kids head off too.

[Ryan...]

Sort of, only because there is such a large grey area with so much missing details in the article itself. I know the area very well and from where the front doors of the McDonalds is to where the kid was shot is no more than 30yards.

Thinking about it now, I think the suspicious behavior may have been him showing off the gun to his friend and when the cop asked him to stop he bolted with gun in hand. He turns back and cop thinks he will shoot and fires single shot. Where ever the cop car stopped to where the kid died as is probably around 10-30ft. So it was pretty close range. The death is the result of the kids stupidity but I still would blame the parents for the death.

Fact: police do not ask questions to people carrying guns. If a gun is pulled/pointed anywhere a cop or civilian can be injured, the kid gets shot. Period. That's how it works. If the kid had run away and shot an innocent bystander you'd be crying about how the police did nothing to stop that gruesome murder. When people realize the police aren't babysitters, there will be less of these instances happening daily.

Also, you have no idea of knowing what exactly happened, so no use speculating. Parents cant hold their children's hands 24/7, at some point they need to grow the fuck up. That kid didn't use his head, and now he wont grow up.

[ohthejosh]

You aren't implying police should first try to determine if the kid actually intends to shoot before firing?

Sort of, only because there is such a large grey area with so much missing details in the article itself. I know the area very well and from where the front doors of the McDonalds is to where the kid was shot is no more than 30yards.

Thinking about it now, I think the suspicious behavior may have been him showing off the gun to his friend and when the cop asked him to stop he bolted with gun in hand. He turns back and cop thinks he will shoot and fires single shot. Where ever the cop car stopped to where the kid died as is probably around 10-30ft. So it was pretty close range. The death is the result of the kids stupidity but I still would blame the parents for the death.

Remember, I love you Josh! <3

I understand, but not enough details to be conclusive of whether the cop really had to shoot or not. Was the gun really brandished or was it a fabricated story after seeing a gun? Who knows.


Either way, if the cop did shoot him when his life was if fact not in danger. The kid wouldve been killed anyways for carrying a gun and getting into trouble. This is why I don't like getting into any altercations anymore. To many idiots with guns that have no reason to have one in the first place.

[JA1991]

"It's bull-- that the cop thought his life was in danger," said Jose Diaz, 23. "Come on, it's a 15-year-old kid with a handgun. He's a cop."

This made me laugh. The kid had a gun, why wouldn't he feel as if his life was in danger. There are kids in Africa who are far younger that kill people everyday. Why wouldn't this "Street Smart" kid not be able to do the same?

[Thizzelle]

these kids are hella dumb! and all the comments from the peanut gallery in the article. like slammin said always assume worst case, if he didn't shoot news could have been 15 year old shoots cop dead. 15 year old shouldn't have gun on street period.....

[Xat1cZ]

Derrick carried a gun with him for protection "on the streets" but was too "street smart" to pull it on a police officer, said a friend, 16-year-old Lorne Burnham

I'm sorry for being a terrible person but that made me chuckle...

[slammin.e28]

I agree the police probably shot first asked question later but no gun no death period. Worse comes to worse kid wouldve been tackled by a cop instead of being shot at.

There is certain protocol in place to protect the lives of the officers. Example: If someone brandishing a knife comes within 20 feet of an officer, he is to shoot/taser them. Why? Because 20 feet is enough time that if the attacker were to lunge at the officer, even if he is shot within the 20 ft, that he can still reach the officer and inflict harm on him/her.

I would expect a more, open set of rules governing the use of a firearm against and officer. Remember, treat every firearm as if it is a loaded firearm. Sure, there are non-lethal ways to disarm a person, but things such as tasers only reach so far, and are only so accurate at a distance. Fight or flight took over. I'm sure the officer didn't WANT to shoot a kid, but when a gun is pointed at you, again, treat every firearm as if it is loaded.

That officer probably had in the back of his mind, his coworker being shot at a regular traffic stop last week. They always have to assume the worst can happen because too often it does.

Doesn't change that a young life was taken too early, but seriously, what kind of 14 y/o runs around with a gun? I mean, really, parents to blame or not.

Remember, I love you Josh! <3

[M-technik-3]

either no dad involved in the kids life or parents are also criminals.

Way to blanket of a statement.

[Ryan...]

You cant blame the parents for everything here, at some point, kids need to learn not to be fucking retarded. I was raised very well, yet I did some stupid shit growing up. No, I didn't pull a gun on a cop then run, but still. This kid obviously didn't learn to not be fucking retarded, and he's now dead.

I agree the police probably shot first asked question later but no gun no death period. Worse comes to worse kid wouldve been tackled by a cop instead of being shot at.

You aren't implying police should first try to determine if the kid actually intends to shoot before firing?

[ohthejosh]

I agree the police probably shot first asked question later but no gun no death period. Worse comes to worse kid wouldve been tackled by a cop instead of being shot at.

[gp.plus]

I live in an average middle class neighborhood, and my children attend public schools. Last year there were 2 children expelled from his kindergarten class! It all came down to these kids just had no discipline whatsoever, at that stage in life I would have to put the blame solely on the parents. These kids are being raised by tv and video games, while the parents do their own thing, it's just out of control. I also coach my sons little league team, I have had to explain to 3 different parents that we are not running a babysitting service, and that they should be staying for the duration of the game/practice. I attribute alot of these problems to people having kids at such an early age, so many parents are still kids themselves. As for the story referenced above, I'm interested in more details as they surface, while that kid had no business carrying a gun, i'm not convinced the police were completely justified in their actions either.

[VANOS714]

either no dad involved in the kids life or parents are also criminals.

[Nick_S]

I had a 12yr old kid pull a knife on me at a public skatepark that was AT A POLICE station. I knocked it out of his hand before he knew what he was doing and grabbed him by the neck and drug him into the police station. Kids are stupid these days. It's unfortunate that some have to learn the hard way.

[ohthejosh]

Still, this is a neighborhood that doesn't have very much criminal activity at all, to say he needs a gun for the streets?? Really? I used to walk around at all times of the night when I was younger never needed to worry about gang members of people up to no good hanging on the corner.

I know exactly where this happened, it's at the corner of the busiest intersection of the area with lights everywhere and at 9pm people are still out doing errands or walking their dogs.

Even if the kid didn't point the gun at the cop, he never should have had it in his possession in the first place. At 15 they dont know how to handle the weapon and would be unpredictable. We shall see what happens.

[M-technik-3]

Ever think it might not be kept in the house? Well Off neighborhood so houses are about 3800 sq feet average, I think as a kid I could find many places to hid a weapon.

Parents are partially to blame but the ink is not dry on the paperwork, IA normally does an investigation on shootings so as the details are vague maybe there was a witness and so forth and more details will come.

I do agree that most parents these days don't discipline their kids in public or at home. They want to be their kids friends which is not helping them at all. So as a result of this what will happen? Nothing people will quickly forget.