Fatal end to pursuit (15 year old boy, dead)

[asdjrocky]

15-year-old driving allegedly stolen vehicle shot and killed by Stockton police

STOCKTON - Police officers shot and killed a teenage boy after a vehicle chase through north Stockton neighborhoods Thursday morning.

Family members and witnesses identified the teen as James Rivera, a 15-year-old who was once enrolled at Bear Creek High School. Law enforcement officials had not confirmed his identification or age.

The late-morning incident, which ended at Bancroft Way and Salters Drive, drew dozens of neighbors out of their homes and onto sidewalks.

Tension mounted at times, and tempers flared, although the scene had calmed down by late Thursday.

The rest, with video at link-
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100723/A_NEWS/7230316

[uncommon]

1. The van was stolen at gunpoint, the driver attempted to hit police with the van.

It sounds like they acted appropriately.

[asdjrocky]

4. What gun?

The police said something about a gun, but so far, no gun has turned up.

[Dr. Strange]

5. In the article.

The van matched the description of one that had been stolen at gunpoint around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday from Gateway Court, about six miles away.

[asdjrocky]

11. I read the article.

I want to see the gun. I want to see the evidence.

[uncommon]

12. Even if there was no gun, he attempted to strike the officers with the vehicle.

That is enough right there. They have a right to protect themselves from deadly force.

[Dr. Strange]

14. I'd like to see it too.

That's usually accomplished by the police going after it. They saw a van matching the description, so they pursued. The driver of the van, for some reason, did not pull over.

[dmallind]

17. Since when?

There is obviously no implied need to publicly display evidence in such a case. I do however suspect the report of that initial crime has been logged as they all are.

[Warpy]

7. The original report was of a carjacking at gunpoint

and relied on the victim's testimony.

Accelerating a vehicle toward a line of police officers is also attacking with a deadly weapon.

They acted appropriately even if the original report was in error. They had no way of knowing if he was still armed of if he'd tossed the gun during the pursuit or if there was ever a gun. Their imminent danger was from the van accelerating toward them.

[uncommon]

9. It's sad, but it doesn't sound like the police did the wrong thing at all.

[dmallind]

2. Is a van used as a weapon by a 15yr old less lethal than by a 35 yr old?

If not what should the response be to being attacked by a criminal using a van as a deadly weapon?

[TexasObserver]

3. Killing apprehended citizens used to be against the law.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. Burning down your house for the insurance money also used to be against the law.

In fact, both are still illegal.

What either of those have to do with this case, I haven't the foggiest.

[Warpy]

8. He hadn't been apprehended

and was accelerating the van right at the police. They had a right to protect themselves and the public.

[uncommon]

10. He was still in control of the van. He had not been apprehended. He attempted

to hit the officers with the van.

Imminent danger to life.

[Taitertots]

13. Sounds like a dangerous maniac tried to hit the police with a van

And got shot to protect the lives of numerous police officers.

[LeftinOH]

15. Perhaps the police should have asked for his ID to verify his age before they chased him-

:sarcasm:
Wannabe leads police through streets on his first -and last- high speed chase.

[flvegan]

16. Wow, 13 brothers and sisters.

I feel for his family. There's a lot of pain in that home right now.