Police shoot unarmed man

[insidious_calm]

"Unarmed man shot by police appeared threatening"

By Tim Richardson
CJOnline.com
A man who proclaimed he wanted to confront police outside his father's Topeka home was shot Thursday evening after taking a "shooting stance" that suggested he was armed, police said.

On Friday, police spokeswoman Kristi Pankratz said an investigation revealed that Fred McConnell IV, 26, wasn't armed when two police officers shot him at about 7:20 p.m. at 1746 S.W. Seabrook. Four officers who witnessed the shooting, including the two who fired shots, were placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure in such cases.

McConnell's father reported to police that his son was "acting strange" after forcing his way into the house -- information that was relayed to officers as they arrived, police said.

McConnell indicated he had a weapon, saying he was going to hide in the bushes and confront officers as they arrived, Pankratz said. When officers arrived at the home, McConnell ran from the bushes and took a "shooting stance toward officers" that suggested he was armed, police said.

Police later learned McConnell hadn't been armed. He underwent surgery late Thursday at a Topeka hospital and was under police guard Friday at the hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries, Pankratz said. His condition had been considered critical Thursday evening.
Police said officer Lance Green, a six-year Topeka police officer, and officer Justin Broxterman, a two-year veteran, fired the shots. Officers Mitch Soden and Gray Bothwell, who were at the scene, also were put on paid leave. None of the four officers was injured.

Pankratz said the two officers fired a total of five shots -- one officer fired four shots and the other fired one. At least three shots struck McConnell, she said.

As with all officer-involved shootings, an internal police review board is investigating and will check for compliance of police procedures. The investigation will be reviewed with the Shawnee County district attorney's office after completion by detectives.

Pankratz said police will work with the district attorney's office regarding the possible filing of charges against McConnell. More information is expected to be released next week after an initial investigation is complete, she said.

Tim Richardson can be reached at (785) 295-1282 or [email protected].

Related story...

By Cait Purinton
The Capital-Journal
Two Topeka police officers were involved in a shooting late Thursday in which a man was critically injured.

Kristi Pankratz, police spokeswoman, said a man called dispatchers at 7:13 p.m. and reported a man he knew forced his way into the residence at 1746 S.W. Seabrook and was "acting strange."

"While the caller was on the phone with dispatch, the subject went outside the residence, saying he was going to wait for police and confront them," Pankratz said. "He also indicated he had a weapon."

She said a call over the police radio at 7:21 p.m. indicated an officer was in danger and shots had been fired.

The man's injuries were considered critical Thursday night. No officers were injured in the incident, Pankratz said.

The shooting is under investigation, and it appears two officers fired shots at the man, Pankratz said. The officers' names will be released today.

More information will be released after the initial investigation has been completed, Pankratz said. She said an administrative review board will investigate the shooting to check for compliance with the police department's procedures, which is standard when an officer uses his or her weapon.

In addition, the case will be investigated by detectives and reviewed by the Shawnee County district attorney's office.

Police in Topeka are issued the Taser but I do not know if these officers had one or not.


I.C.

 

[artherd]

A hot-burglery suspect you have been TOLD is probally armed makes a move like he's pointing a gun at you...

Not taser time in any event.

Clean shoot. Now, what I'm PO'd about is when a cop shoots somebody, they get paid leave.

Were it an other armed citizen who legitimately shot an unarmed man, they'd probally be up on charges and MAYBE escape jail a year later after $50k in legal fees and having had their life ruined in the process. Whatever happened to "Equal Protection?"

 

[VARifleman]

I totally agree artherd, the police were justified in this, just as anyone else would be, but what would happen if it was an armed citizen?

 

[DMF]

Sounds like an attempted "suicide by cop."

 

[beerslurpy]

It depends where the armed citizen lives I think and how the police view him as a citizen (is he an upstanding homeowner, a local businessman, or a known drunk or a known felon?).

Such a situation in the rural south wouldnt be treated in anything approaching the manner that it might in say SF or NYC.

 

[parpat]

I have to agree with DMF ... seems like a lot more dudes are getting the cops to kill them .. "Suicide by COPS'

 

[Coronach]

Were it an other armed citizen who legitimately shot an unarmed man, they'd probally be up on charges and MAYBE escape jail a year later after $50k in legal fees and having had their life ruined in the process. Whatever happened to "Equal Protection?"

The problem is that in any shoot you are subject to criminal and civil court action. The cops are no exception. There are a lot of instances where a private citizen shoots a person (armed, unarmed-with-justification) where charges are not proferred, just as there are instances where cops shoot people and are charged. I daresay that in nearly EVERY instance when a cop shoots someone, he is sued. I can think of ONE instance in which a cop from my PD shot someone and was not sued. And the clock hasn't run out on that one, yet.

As to the paid leave thing...its not like a vacation- or if it is, its a pretty damned expensive one.

Mike

 

[griz]

Four officers who witnessed the shooting, including the two who fired shots, were placed on paid administrative leave

The WITNESSES go on leave? Why?

 

[patentnonsense]

Sounds like a clean shoot, and what's the problem with admin leave? Give them a little space to destress, and keep the news vultures from getting in their faces.

 

[Nazirite]

Moral of this story, don’t be stupid. I bet the moron who got shot will sue the cops and the city, probably will win.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Never show up for a gun fight without a gun.

 

[Bear Gulch]

Gee did he never stop to think that provokeing folks with guns might not be a good plan?

 

[Car Knocker]

Coronach,

Would you explain this statement you made:

As to the paid leave thing...its not like a vacation- or if it is, its a pretty damned expensive one.

Does one receive less pay while on paid administrative leave? Thanks.

 

[Bear Gulch]

It is also very difficult on the officers. First they take your weapon, then you cannot talk to anyone about what happened. I worked for a rural SO where 4 of the 8 officer were involved in a shoot. I was not one of them. But the crap they were put through (over someone we all knew was gonna get shot some day) unreal.

 

[carebear]

Quote:
Four officers who witnessed the shooting, including the two who fired shots, were placed on paid administrative leave

The WITNESSES go on leave? Why?

They were witnesses to a traumatic event, obviously their tender psychies need a rest.

Or, they probably need to be available to the investigation without pulling them away in the middle of a shift.

 

[garyk/nm]

Any one else place any significance on this:

Pankratz said the two officers fired a total of five shots -- one officer fired four shots and the other fired one. At least three shots struck McConnell, she said.

I guess the question would be: at what range? 3 out of 5, in the heat of the moment? That's pretty good shootin! Seems like with that kind of accuracy, they might have been fairly close? Close enough to see whether or not the guy was armed? Could be a reason why the 2 witnesses were also put on leave.

Thoughts?

 

[carebear]

If I have solid reason (like a family member report) that you are armed and dangerous, that you intend to ambush me and you then leap out of the bushes, take a stance and reach behind your hip, even as a non-LEO I'm going to ventilate you.

If it was as described it sure seems righteous. It's reasonable belief, not "definitely saw a weapon".

My first thought was Pacino and the baker on the hospital steps in Godfather I.

 

[mbs357]

When police have guns pointed at you, it's generally a good idea to not hide your hands...and especially a bad idea to move like you're reaching for a gun.
I don't blame them.

 

[griz]

Or, they probably need to be available to the investigation without pulling them away in the middle of a shift.

If that's the case you could have them report to the station so they could be available to the investigation. My point is the witnesses (officers) would not fall under the same liability problems as the ones that actually shot. And witnesses (citizens) are expected to go on with their lives after seeing a shooting.