Accidental Police Shooting in San Francisco

[Excaliber]

A BART transit police officer's gun was fired in what a BART spokesman called an unintentional discharge. The round struck a subject being restrained on the ground in the back. He died of his wound. The news report can be found here.

The investigation is still in its very early stages, and factual information at this point is sparse.

The way it has been initially reported, this may be a tragic case of parasympathetic response (involuntary clenching one hand when the opposite hand is deliberately clenched as during a struggle) combined with a finger inside the trigger guard when there has not been a decision to fire.

[Ace_Inthe_O]

They were saying on the news this morning that there were reports that he was reaching for his tazer and grabbed his gun instead. This really is a tragedy if the person was shot by accident. What really bothered me about this story is that his "family" is suing the city for $30million, now come on $30million? I could maybe see suing for funeral fees and anything else directly related to the shooting but $30 million? This is just someone trying to take advantage of the situation what a shame.

[nitrogen]

They were saying on the news this morning that there were reports that he was reaching for his tazer and grabbed his gun instead. This really is a tragedy if the person was shot by accident. What really bothered me about this story is that his "family" is suing the city for $30million, now come on $30million? I could maybe see suing for funeral fees and anything else directly related to the shooting but $30 million? This is just someone trying to take advantage of the situation what a shame.

I'd totally sue a city for 30 million dollars for killing my child, especially if it was done negligently.
It is a shame, though.

If I killed someone in a neglegent fashion, I'd expect the same.

[TexasComputerDude]

video here:

http://www.ktvu.com/video/18409133/index.html

(I'm not 100% sure its ok to post here so be warned, that it shows a really blurry view of what happened from a distance.)

[Ace_Inthe_O]

They were saying on the news this morning that there were reports that he was reaching for his tazer and grabbed his gun instead. This really is a tragedy if the person was shot by accident. What really bothered me about this story is that his "family" is suing the city for $30million, now come on $30million? I could maybe see suing for funeral fees and anything else directly related to the shooting but $30 million? This is just someone trying to take advantage of the situation what a shame.

I'd totally sue a city for 30 million dollars for killing my child, especially if it was done negligently.
It is a shame, though.

If I killed someone in a neglegent fashion, I'd expect the same.

Why what does $30 million get you? (a lot of things) And where do they come up with the figure $30 mil? Maybe if he has a wife and kids they could sue on the fact that they no longer have his financial support but I think $30mil tax payers dollars is a bit outrageous.

[bdickens]

Yep. Only the police and millitary should be allowed to have guns.

[Luggo1]

Negligence is a charitable term to use for this...

[Frost]

How would one tell the difference between an execution and an "oops i thought it was my taser?"

[Morgan]

Well, if this was an execution, these guys are really good actors. They look totally stunned, including the guy who did it. Doesn't mean it didn't happen that way, but they really do look stunned.

[Liberty]

And the riots begin!!

[nitrogen]

And the riots begin!!

Ehh. Oakland will riot for anything. Look up "The Oakland Sideshows"

Be aware that the videos are probably not friendly. I used to live about 20 miles from there. Not far enough.

[boomerang]

Update

Johannes Mehserle, 27, of Lafayette was taken into custody in Douglas County, Nev., said Deputy Steve Velez of the Douglas County sheriff's office. The arrest was also confirmed by David Chai, chief of staff to Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums.

Mehserle was arrested in the New Year's Day shooting of Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old supermarket worker from Hayward who was lying facedown after being pulled off a BART train by police investigating a fight. An Alameda County judge signed an arrest warrant alleging murder, and Mehserle surrendered without incident, authorities said.

[blackdog8200]

"Mehserle declined to speak to BART criminal investigators after the shooting. Then last Wednesday he resigned rather than answer questions from BART's internal affairs division."

Even the Police do not talk to the police after a shooting. He knew he was in trouble....Murder? Probably not. Negligent Homicide, at the least.

The Four Rules
All guns are always loaded.
Never point the gun at anything you are not willing to destroy.
Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target (and you have made the decision to shoot).
Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.


The man is lucky he didn't shoot one of his other officers too.
Terrible tradgedy and my prayers are with all involved.