Almost Shot a kid.........

[henschman]

What if the kid with the rock was the aggressor, and the other was wielding the knife in lawful self defense?

Making them both drop what they had and securing them was definitely the right thing to do until the situation could be sorted out, but rolling up on a situation that looks like mutual combat, without really knowing what is going on or who started it, I don't think you should be shooting anybody unless one of them stops fighting and the other keeps going after him with deadly force, or one of them starts posing a threat of death/serious bodily injury to you.

 

[Norman]

What if the kid with the rock was the aggressor, and the other was wielding the knife in lawful self defense?

Making them both drop what they had and securing them was definitely the right thing to do until the situation could be sorted out, but rolling up on a situation that looks like mutual combat, without really knowing what is going on or who started it, I don't think you should be shooting anybody unless one of them stops fighting and the other keeps going after him with deadly force, or one of them starts posing a threat of death/serious bodily injury to you.

How about you let him do his job and don't tell him what he "should" be doing. You weren't there, he was. Mojo said nothing about a rock in the other kids hand or mutual combat. One kid was waving a knife at another in close proximity. It doesn't matter who started it. If the knife wielder made even the slightest hint of a move in the other kids direction, he needed to be handled. Mojo did right, and posts like yours are exactly what he doesn't need.

 

[chubbs]

What if the kid with the rock was the aggressor, and the other was wielding the knife in lawful self defense?

Making them both drop what they had and securing them was definitely the right thing to do until the situation could be sorted out, but rolling up on a situation that looks like mutual combat, without really knowing what is going on or who started it, I don't think you should be shooting anybody unless one of them stops fighting and the other keeps going after him with deadly force, or one of them starts posing a threat of death/serious bodily injury to you.

You know he could have dropped the kid with the knife, and it would have been perfectly justified. Luckily I have never been put in a situation like that, but it is always in the back of my mind that one day I might have to use lethal force on a kid. SgtMojo used discretion, taking into consideration that it was a child, and made a commendable decision that not all officers would have made, and it saved the kids life.

Thanks for the good work SgtMojo67, I would be honored to ride with you anyday.

 

[SgtMojo67]

What if the kid with the rock was the aggressor, and the other was wielding the knife in lawful self defense?

Making them both drop what they had and securing them was definitely the right thing to do until the situation could be sorted out, but rolling up on a situation that looks like mutual combat, without really knowing what is going on or who started it, I don't think you should be shooting anybody unless one of them stops fighting and the other keeps going after him with deadly force, or one of them starts posing a threat of death/serious bodily injury to you.

The other boy was holding the bicycle up....The rock comment was what the kid with the knife said. I rolled up to a kid with a knife in his hand and the other standing there holding up a bike. I could have justified shooting the boy no problem, but I DIDN'T. I dealt with the situation how I felt best to handle it. We all walked away, and I potentially saved two boys lives.

I appreciate you Norman and Chubbs for the encouragement. I realize it is hard for a non law enforcement personnel to even begin to think how they would react within seconds of seeing a situation like I was dealt. It is their ignorance for not stepping back and looking at the whole picture before making ridiculous statements. Anyhow, once again thanks.

 

[littlefoot]

Maybe the kid was trying to sell the other kid the knife and they were just haggling over price when said officer shows up and pulls his gun. Point is we haven't heard both sides of the story.

 

[SgtMojo67]

Maybe the kid was trying to sell the other kid the knife and they were just haggling over price when said officer shows up and pulls his gun. Point is we haven't heard both sides of the story.

we can what if all day long....they were arguing when I got out of the car. Kid with knife was shouting "Get off of my property".....The other boy was at the edge of the driveway yelling back. They were about 3 feet apart. That is the WHOLE story.....What are you missing?

 

[SgtMojo67]

Maybe the kid was trying to sell the other kid the knife and they were just haggling over price when said officer shows up and pulls his gun. Point is we haven't heard both sides of the story.

It's not rocket science....I pulled up and observed two kids yelling at each other. One has a knife, the other doesn't. Kid with the knife is waving it around about chest level. What is so hard to understand about that? I probably could have shot him no problem. It is officer perception.....not joe blow who wasn't there. Very easily could have articulated I felt the other boy was in grave danger.

 

[elwoodtrix]

so what did you charge him with?? did you?

 

[SgtMojo67]

I didn't think charging the kid would help his situation. He was educated on what could have happened and the possible recourse of his actions. We don't have a juvenile lock up facility in Creek County. So whether I charged him or not, he wouldn't benefit from it. He was released to his parents. His dad was on his way home from work early and mom said he would be disciplined as soon as we left. I hope the fact that he had a brush with death was all that he needed to not make any more choices like that in the future.

 

[bulbboy]

Maybe the kid was trying to sell the other kid the knife and they were just haggling over price when said officer shows up and pulls his gun. Point is we haven't heard both sides of the story.

How about we take the guy who WAS THERE side of the story? A longtime member here and a respect LEO

I'll take his side of the story and not listen to an internet armchair quarterback