Officer says he feared for his life when he shot teen

how did the officer know that this kid was a career criminal? did he personally know the kid? and if so i don't think he would shoot him if he did know him. the cops actions were far from appropriate.

It wouldn't be the first time something like this is covered up nor the last.

Sure hope the department doesn't try to cover this up. Hope there were other witnesses around that can tell what really happened since the junior high kid was not given that opportunity.

You sound so sure of yourself but you still don't want to admit there were other options. We shall see.

Eltoro - I have answered your questions, you just won't accept the answer... When somebody is hiding in a building, you don't know who they are, if they are armed, what they are capable of, or what they are planning. Say what you want. The officer will be exonerated.

My comments are based on this story and what the cop's statement was. He couldn't even say he fired in self defense. A cop with 17 years experience says he fired because he feared for his life from a 14 year old. This kid did not charge at the officer with any weapon. Where is your statement, "you don't grab a tazer when someone is coming at you with a machete, or even another gun." coming from? Why would you even say this if there wasn't a machete involved? So why again did you say the cop didn't pull out a tazer? And you again ignored why he didn't wait for back up. You say he might have called for back up but why didn't he wait AT A SAFE DISTANCE if he feared for his life? Lastly you are saying that the cop had absolutely no other option than to kill this teen? If the cop's actions were appropriate, stop making up excuses for weapons that weren't even there and answer the questions. The comment about an adult criminal is irrelevant here. This kid could have paid for his mistakes through the courts and confinement and he would have also had the opportunity to turn his life around and maybe not, but he would still be alive. Given the circumstances in this case, it is not up to you nor I nor the cops to take that opportunity away from him. Are you avoiding these questions because you are afraid to admit the cop (possibly a friend or relative of yours) was wrong? You know there were other options, as I said before, another cop commented on this already. You know this cop screwed up. Look at the situation clearly and admit the truth otherwise, answer my questions.

@ eltoro - I wasn't there... apparently you were since you seem to know all of what happened and what should have happened. How do you know he didn't call for backup? How long was the kid hiding in the shed, and how long did it take him to come out? Do we even know that he knew it was this particular kid that was hiding in the building? Why did the officer pull his gun? Because he didn't know if the suspect was armed, and if so what he was armed with. Simple as that. You don't grab a taser when somebody is coming at you with a knife or machete, or even another gun. Yes, the officer is responsible for his actions, and in this case, his actions were appropriate. Nobody was "murdered" here as you say. I'm not saying the kid "got what he deserved because he was a bad kid" - I'm saying respect the laws of society, and those that enforce them and protect us. It makes NO difference that he was 14. It doesn't even make a real difference that he had a police record. It doesn't make a difference that in the end he turned out to be unarmed. What does matter is that a police officer told him to come out of the building, and the kid STUPIDLY ATTACKED A POLICE OFFICER! Live like a thug, die like a thug! This officer WILL be cleared of any wrongdoing, and nothing will bring this kid back. Instead of blaming the officer, why don't you blame those that let him think this kind of behavior was a good thing? I wonder if you would be crying so much if this had been an adult criminal?

Jimkata, you said it yourself, "As a police officer, you don't have the luxury of hindsight, and you assume the worst until you know otherwise. Period." I agree with this statement 100 percent! So why don't you answer any of the questions I asked previously? If the cop assumed the worst why didn't he keep a safe distance and wait for back up? Cops call for back up when they assume the worst isn't this true?! This is common sense. If he feared for his life why did he try to be a hero? THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL! He knew this kid was 14 years old and was involved in a fist fight not with a knife nor a gun. So the only place he could have gotten a weapon would have been from the shed. So why did this cop choose the deadliest weapon at his disposal when he could have used mace, a baton, a tazer? Why are you avoiding these questions? You know very well the cop is responsible for his actions. You know very well the cop had other options and he chose the deadliest one against an unarmed 14 year old. THIS COP SERIOUSLY SCREWED UP AND YOU KNOW IT! You say you value the life of a police officer more than this 14 year old when this kid didn't even have a weapon. A TEENAGER WAS MURDERED and all you can say is he deserved what he got because he was a bad kid . Jimkata, your defense over this cop is pathetic! Like felontracker said, it is what it is.

@ urdaddy - so you too are one of those that if others don't see things your way, then they are morons? Saying that I don't care about human life is idiotic. I'll tell you what though, I value the lives of those that are sworn to protect us over those that break the law and cause trouble! Was the kid unarmed? YES. Thank you to the "Captain Hindsights" out there for pointing that out. That fact was not known however until it was too late! As a police officer, you don't have the luxury of hindsight, and you assume the worst until you know otherwise. Period. This city is riddled with 14 year old criminals, gang members, and otherwise, who have no respect for authority, the law, or anybody else other than themselves. Did he have to die? NO, but he made that choice, took that chance, when he rushed the police officer!

It's not hard to believe we have alot of morons on earth that show no compassion for human life and make idiotic comments regarding such a tragedy. If the officer was in fear for his life he could of called in for back up. He could of also used an asp or taser to take the teen into custody. If an officer cannot subdue an 8th grader, he should not be in that line of business. What gets me are all the "WHAT IF" comments. Like, "what if" he had a machete, "what if" he had a rake. The reality is the teen had no weapon and was shot. I think alot agree the teen should of not ran and made a bad judgement call. However, we are talking about a teen, the officer was an adult. You would expect the officer to use better judgement. So "what if" the officer used better judgement? The teen would be alive. It's plain in simple, the teen was murdered. I hope the DA files charges against the officer and the family sues. And for all the comments about him becoming a career criminal. I'm shocked to know so many San Antonians are psychic. Since ya'll can predict the future, please provide me with lotto numbers so I can win the lottery. Oh, arguing with Jimkata, DunoNuthin, raisenofool does not good. It's not good to argue with morons because they drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.