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Lubbock Cops Shoot 90 Year Old Deaf Man

Wyatt EarpWyatt Earp Member Posts: 5,871
edited September 2011 in General Discussion
When you couple this with articles like the one in this month's Rifleman magazine, where robbers wearing "POLICE" ballcaps broken into a man's house, you begin to see how foolish it is to assume the guys busting into your house are cops just because they say they are cops.

http://lubbockonline.com/crime-and-courts/2011-09-26/90-year-old-charged-sunday-morning-shooting

I think cops should factor in that it is a much more serious crime for them to shoot an innocent person, than it is to risk the bad guy getting away when all the facts of the situation aren't clearly understood.

Comments

  • River RatRiver Rat Member Posts: 9,022
    edited November -1
    What a mess. And his "crime" was??? I sincerely hope the charges were dropped, at the very least. Then covering his medical costs might by classy. Then maybe he won't sue the department. Maybe.

    I think ol' Willie might have hit the lottery. If he survives.

    Wyatt, can you keep us posted on how this develops? I'd really like to know how it plays out.
  • Alan RushingAlan Rushing Member Posts: 8,805 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by River Rat
    What a mess. And his "crime" was??? I sincerely hope the charges were dropped, at the very least. Then covering his medical costs might by classy. Then maybe he won't sue the department. Maybe.

    I think ol' Willie might have hit the lottery. If he survives.

    Wyatt, can you keep us posted on how this develops? I'd really like to know how it plays out.
    Wyatt Earp -

    Very bad happening. [:(]

    I'd appreciate being in the loop on this as well. Please do as you had not doubt planned - keep us informed, thanks! [^]
  • TxsTxs Member Posts: 17,809 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Wyatt Earp
    Lubbock Cops Shoot 90 Year Old Deaf Man Not trying to be a smartazz, but where does it say he's deaf?

    90-year-old Charged In Sunday Morning Shooting

    AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
    Authorities have filed felony charges against a 90-year-old man they say fired at least three shots at Lubbock police officers early Sunday morning.

    Willie John Williams was charged with two counts of aggravated assault against a public servant and taken into custody at University Medical Center.

    He was being treated for a gunshot wound to the upper torso after officers shot him during the exchange of gunfire early Sunday at 5301 51st Street.

    His condition was unavailable Monday morning because he is a security patient, a hospital official said.

    Williams is accused of firing at officers Curtis Fish and Jacob Flores while they were responding to a report of a burglary in process at the Parkridge Place apartments.

    A man called 911 just before 3 a.m. Sunday to report people were trying to break into his apartment - which was No. 8 - and for police to hurry.

    When officers arrived on the scene, they said they saw a male walk into apartment No. 8 and close the door, according to the affidavit filed with Williams' arrest warrant.

    Then the same man opened the door.
    Officers said they yelled at him to "come here," but as soon as he noticed police he closed the door and locked it.

    Fish and Flores approached an apartment window that had been shattered and cleared it of glass pieces, believing the window belonged to apartment No. 8, according to court documents.

    However, police later wrote the window actually turned out to belong to apartment No. 9, where Williams lived.

    Windows to both apartments No. 8 and No. 9 had been smashed out prior to police arrival.

    As Flores was pulling the mini blinds out of the window of Williams' apartment, the officers said they heard a "pop" and immediately saw fragments of something coming from inside the apartment outside, according to court documents.

    Officers said it sounded like a shotgun.

    They said they than began to yell "Lubbock Police Department, put the gun down."

    But they heard another shot, they wrote.

    That's when Officer Fish returned fire.

    After that, they heard another shotgun pop.

    Williams was taken to University Medical Center, where he was taken into custody and arraigned. His injuries were considered non-life threatening.

    Neighbors told The Avalanche-Journal they thought Williams was confused and they'd never known him to be aggressive or violent.

    Bail attached to Williams' arrest warrant was $10,000.

    No arrests have been made in connection with the burglary.
  • HavegunJoeHavegunJoe Member Posts: 1,575 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Boy I feel safer now. What a department full of idiots. My father is 89 and believe me it would take nothing to bring him down. No gun required. And I have never heard a shotgun go "pop" before. You can't mistake it's sound.
  • Wyatt EarpWyatt Earp Member Posts: 5,871
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by River Rat
    What a mess. And his "crime" was??? I sincerely hope the charges were dropped, at the very least. Then covering his medical costs might by classy. Then maybe he won't sue the department. Maybe.

    I think ol' Willie might have hit the lottery. If he survives.

    Wyatt, can you keep us posted on how this develops? I'd really like to know how it plays out.


    Yeah, I suspect the charges were filed, only so they'd have leverage to get him to sign a release in exchange.
  • Wyatt EarpWyatt Earp Member Posts: 5,871
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Txs
    quote:Originally posted by Wyatt Earp
    Lubbock Cops Shoot 90 Year Old Deaf Man Not trying to be a smartazz, but where does it say he's deaf?

    90-year-old Charged In Sunday Morning Shooting

    AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
    Authorities have filed felony charges against a 90-year-old man they say fired at least three shots at Lubbock police officers early Sunday morning.

    Willie John Williams was charged with two counts of aggravated assault against a public servant and taken into custody at University Medical Center.

    He was being treated for a gunshot wound to the upper torso after officers shot him during the exchange of gunfire early Sunday at 5301 51st Street.

    His condition was unavailable Monday morning because he is a security patient, a hospital official said.

    Williams is accused of firing at officers Curtis Fish and Jacob Flores while they were responding to a report of a burglary in process at the Parkridge Place apartments.

    A man called 911 just before 3 a.m. Sunday to report people were trying to break into his apartment - which was No. 8 - and for police to hurry.

    When officers arrived on the scene, they said they saw a male walk into apartment No. 8 and close the door, according to the affidavit filed with Williams' arrest warrant.

    Then the same man opened the door.
    Officers said they yelled at him to "come here," but as soon as he noticed police he closed the door and locked it.

    Fish and Flores approached an apartment window that had been shattered and cleared it of glass pieces, believing the window belonged to apartment No. 8, according to court documents.

    However, police later wrote the window actually turned out to belong to apartment No. 9, where Williams lived.

    Windows to both apartments No. 8 and No. 9 had been smashed out prior to police arrival.

    As Flores was pulling the mini blinds out of the window of Williams' apartment, the officers said they heard a "pop" and immediately saw fragments of something coming from inside the apartment outside, according to court documents.

    Officers said it sounded like a shotgun.

    They said they than began to yell "Lubbock Police Department, put the gun down."

    But they heard another shot, they wrote.

    That's when Officer Fish returned fire.

    After that, they heard another shotgun pop.

    Williams was taken to University Medical Center, where he was taken into custody and arraigned. His injuries were considered non-life threatening.

    Neighbors told The Avalanche-Journal they thought Williams was confused and they'd never known him to be aggressive or violent.

    Bail attached to Williams' arrest warrant was $10,000.

    No arrests have been made in connection with the burglary.


    Several other media said he's legally deaf.

    Our local newspaper is always reluctant to tell the whole story when it involves possible police misconduct.
  • Wyatt EarpWyatt Earp Member Posts: 5,871
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by HavegunJoe
    Boy I feel safer now. What a department full of idiots. My father is 89 and believe me it would take nothing to bring him down. No gun required. And I have never heard a shotgun go "pop" before. You can't mistake it's sound.


    Yeah there are a lot of inconsistencies in the cops' stories.

    Reminds me of the time a Lubbock SWAT officer accidently shot his fellow cop dead, then falsified his report and was willing to let an innocent man face a likely death penalty to cover up his own mistake.

    Luckily they discovered the mistake and fire the cop and asked his chief to resign.
  • onepopperonepopper Member Posts: 1,825 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
  • eastbankeastbank Member Posts: 4,052 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    he may be on vacation, i believe nunn to be a honest police officer.but he has to be tired sticking up for the low lifes in his trade. every one knows not all officers are dirt bags,but it sure seems their are more than there should be and they have to go. watch commanders, unions, and the blue line and others who watch over officers actions need to take care of bad officers instead of covering up for them. there needs to be zero tolerence for bad conduct. eastbank.
  • TxsTxs Member Posts: 17,809 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Wyatt Earp
    quote:Originally posted by Txs
    quote:Originally posted by Wyatt Earp
    Lubbock Cops Shoot 90 Year Old Deaf Man Not trying to be a smartazz, but where does it say he's deaf?

    Several other media said he's legally deaf.

    Our local newspaper is always reluctant to tell the whole story when it involves possible police misconduct.
    Seeing as how you included this information in your post title, wouldn't it have made more sense to post a link to one of those several which give the full story rather than the one that's covering it up?
  • Wyatt EarpWyatt Earp Member Posts: 5,871
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Txs
    quote:Originally posted by Wyatt Earp
    quote:Originally posted by Txs
    quote:Originally posted by Wyatt Earp
    Lubbock Cops Shoot 90 Year Old Deaf Man Not trying to be a smartazz, but where does it say he's deaf?

    Several other media said he's legally deaf.

    Our local newspaper is always reluctant to tell the whole story when it involves possible police misconduct.
    Seeing as how you included this information in your post title, wouldn't it have made more sense to post a link to one of those several which give the full story rather than the one that's covering it up?


    Had it not been radio, I would have given links.
  • skicatskicat Member Posts: 14,431
    edited November -1
    I think the police should put the 90 year old on paid administrative leave for a few months while this is sorted out.
  • Wyatt EarpWyatt Earp Member Posts: 5,871
    edited November -1
    I have looked for stories that are still saying the man is legally deaf and I can't find any. Those came from 2-3 different radio stations and I don't know if they've backpedalled from that part of the story or not.

    Still, it stinks to high heaven.
  • Waco WaltzWaco Waltz Member Posts: 10,836 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Totally confused as to what went down. Was the old man's apartment #8? Who called the cops? Was he "SWATTED"?
  • wittynbearwittynbear Member Posts: 4,518
    edited November -1
    The officers were attempting to do their job, so they shouldn't be prosecuted, but they didn't do their homework to find out the man they shot was deaf, didn't call the police and didn't live where they had been called, and was the person who lived in the apartment they were attempting to enter, instead they filed felony charges against him. Meanwhile they let the guy who was trying to get into the other apartment get away, For that they should be fired.

    I hope that the old man sues the living hell out of the police dept.
  • nemesisenforcernemesisenforcer Member Posts: 10,513 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    But . . .but . . . . but . . . . but . .. .


    Cops NEVER do anything WRONG or STUPID or ILLEGAL or that would VIOLATE SOMEONE'S CIVIL RIGHTS . .. .
  • River RatRiver Rat Member Posts: 9,022
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by skicat
    I think the police should put the 90 year old on paid administrative leave for a few months while this is sorted out.


    [:0][:D][;)]
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