Woman trying to hide in closet shot and killed

dws1117 · Post by **dws1117** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:07 am

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?secti ... 2&ft=print

Woman trying to hide in closet shot and killed

(10/16/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON) - A woman was gunned down in her west Houston home and police say a relative may have pulled the trigger.

It happened around 11pm Sunday at a home on Bellfair near Wilcrest. Police say the woman was hiding in a closet when she was shot multiple times with an automatic weapon. Investigators say it may have been her son or stepson who pulled the trigger.

She was pronounced dead at the scene. He has been taken into custody for questioning.
(Copyright Â© 2006, KTRK-TV)

Was it really a machine gun? Does anyone know anymore about this?

KinnyLee · Post by **KinnyLee** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:20 am

Uhhh. How do the police know it's from an automatic weapon?

Mithras61 · Post by **Mithras61** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:25 am

I would expect that if an "automatic" weapon was used, the shots would form a line, or the number of rounds would be quite high, depending on things like rate of fire, caliber of weapon involved, etc., but I tend to think about what I was taught when I learned to shoot an M-60 (use sweeping fire, don't target a single person, etc).

I suspect that the reality is that the author of this story doesn't know the difference between semi-automatic and automatic. Besides, "automatic" is more sensational than "semi-automatic"...

Diode · Post by **Diode** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:31 am

KinnyLee wrote:Uhhh. How do the police know it's from an automatic weapon?

The automatic bullets of course!

KinnyLee · Post by **KinnyLee** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:44 am

Diode wrote:
KinnyLee wrote:Uhhh. How do the police know it's from an automatic weapon?
The automatic bullets of course!

You've solved the mystery! That's it! Hehe.

Diode · Post by **Diode** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:49 am

KinnyLee wrote:
Diode wrote:
KinnyLee wrote:Uhhh. How do the police know it's from an automatic weapon?
The automatic bullets of course!
You've solved the mystery! That's it! Hehe.

That's why I'm here.

Still like to know whay they think it was an automatic weapon.

HighVelocity · Post by **HighVelocity** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 10:34 am

The reporter probably just doesn't know the difference between semi auto and auto. Typical media screw up. About the same as when the call the perp a victim.

Anyway, condolences to the family of the victim in this case. We all know how this could have easily been prevented.

G.C.Montgomery · Post by **G.C.Montgomery** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 11:35 am

Some police don't know the difference between automatic and semi-automatic weapons. That or they just play ignorant to harass people.

I once had an ATF agent demand to see a copy of my Form 4 and tax stamp while I was running drills with my FAL. The guy really thought the gun was full-auto because he'd heard me doing triple-taps. After going back and forth for a few minutes and deciding he was an idiot, I started playing the dozens with him. I said some pretty bad things, ticked the guy off and made him lose his cool. Luckily, there was also a Customs guy on the scene who seperated us and got us to see that no good would come from things being pursued any further.

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 12:46 pm

I'm not sure how true it is statistically, but seeing various stories on crime, it appears that hiding is a bad strategy if someone is trying to kill you. If you had to choose between running or hiding... running seems to work better. Just a thought.

G.C.Montgomery · Post by **G.C.Montgomery** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 2:34 pm

Running might have worked better but I can see how a person might resort to hiding. Many people don't have a combative bone in their body and can become so consumed by fear that not only don't they run away from danger, all they can think of doing is hiding.

We see this in fires all the time. How many times have people been found, roasted in a fetal position, after a blaze guts a building? Kids tend to do this more often than adults but we do see it. Much the same thing happens in school shootings and robberies. People huddle in corners hoping the threat never funds them. The idea of running or fighting just isn't an option.

jbirds1210 · Post by **jbirds1210** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 3:45 pm

I do not think that hiding is a bad thing to teach children. A secret space in the closet if a fire fight breaks out sounds like a good option. Practicing the scenario a few times would make it automatic.

I would love to know what a few more of you guys and gals think about this and what you teach your kiddos! Take care.
Jason

Mike1951 · Post by **Mike1951** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 4:39 pm

I'm thinking kids should not be expected to remember too many different responses to different scenarios.

If you teach your kid to hide from a fire fight, couldn't he also be expected to hide from the fireman trying to rescue him from your burning house?

Venus Pax · Post by **Venus Pax** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 6:23 pm

I certainly don't want any of my children (ofcourse, all my current children have fur) running around while a BG is shooting randomly.

If it's my family, I want them behind me so I can fire at the BG without the risk of hitting one of them. (Knowing Mom, she'd probably try to get between us.)

When someone is searching you out personally, it is a bad decision to hide. This isn't the first case where someone has been shot hiding in a closet.

Boma · Post by **Boma** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 10:56 pm

Yeah you're a sitting duck. They don't even have to aim at a moving target. They get to shoot you point blank while you are stationary. Sorry to hear about that woman.

KBCraig · Post by **KBCraig** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 3:28 am

G.C.Montgomery wrote:I can see how a person might resort to hiding.

I want to see the closet you can hide in.