eits
Lifer
Here is the whole article, there are a lot of questions.........
Sun Reporter
Originally published August 12, 2006, 8:55 PM EDT
A 14-year-old boy was shot and killed Saturday morning in his Southwest Baltimore home after a visit by a police officer turned into a deadly fight.
Baltimore police defended the shooting as justified, saying the youth had hit the officer and threatened him with a jagged broken broom handle. It was the second fatal shooting by a city officer in a little more than week. But by late afternoon, the family of Kevin Cooper had already hired an attorney, who presented a different account and questioned the officer's decision to fire.
The youth's mother - a state correctional officer - called police to her home in the 300 block of Font Hill Ave. about 9:30 a.m. with a report that her son was assaulting her, according to Lt. Col. Glenn Williams, the department's Area 2 commander.
Two officers responded, and after the situation appeared to be under control, one left, Williams said. But when Officer Roderick Mitter was taking information for a report, Williams said, the youth "became very agitated."
Williams said the boy attacked Mitter with a broom handle. As Cooper's mother - identified by family members as Greta Carter - attempted to step between the two, the officer used Mace on the boy several times.
The Mace "had no effect," Williams said, and the youth hit Mitter over the head with the broom handle, breaking it in two.
At that point, Mitter - who has been on the force for a year - drew his gun, Williams said, and when Cooper moved toward him with a jagged piece of the handle, Mitter shot the boy in the shoulder.
The youth, who police said has no criminal record, was taken to St. Agnes Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police said Mitter was taken to Mercy Medical Center to be treated for a concussion and lacerations, and was released later in the day.
Carter would not speak to reporters Saturday, but her attorney, A. Dwight Pettit, gave a different version of events.
Pettit said that the youth was not assaulting his mother, but that the two were having an argument when he threw a television in his room and tossed some clothes into the alley behind the house.
"She was thinking the police would talk to him, put some apprehension in him," Pettit said outside the family's home Saturday afternoon. "It was a regular teenage disagreement thing. She was a mother raising a teenage son."
Pettit agreed with the police account that by the time the first officer left the house, the situation was under control and the youth had calmed down. But the attorney charged that Mitter followed Cooper up to his room, and then back down to the kitchen, heckling and provoking him.
"It was like two kids bickering," Pettit said. Downstairs, Cooper was holding a long-handled dustpan, the attorney said, but "never touched the police officer."
Pettit said the officer used Mace and then shot the youth, while Carter, holding her granddaughter, stood between them.
"It doesn't get any worse than this," Pettit said. "She's devastated. She's looking for help and it ends in the demise of her son."
In a neighborhood of large brick rowhouses near Southwestern High School, only a few blocks from the nearby police district station, residents remembered Cooper as a nice, respectful youth who always spoke to his neighbors and offered help carrying groceries.
"He was a delightful child. I've known him since he was a baby," said Nita Bellamy, 33. She said she has lived on the block for 15 years and has been close friends with Cooper's mother.
"This woman works hard," Bellamy said. "She's doing the same thing they're doing, trying to protect people, and she has her son murdered. It's immoral."
Cooper's friends described him as a harmless, regular guy who liked to hang out and had just started playing Pop Warner football as a wide receiver on the Harlem Park Bulldogs.
"He was not disrespectful," said Allen Chappell, 17, who took Kevin to the movies and parties and said he thought of the youth as a younger brother.
Cooper's friends were having T-shirts made Saturday in memory of their friend.
Police spokesman Troy Harris said Saturday that there have been 14 shootings this year by Baltimore police officers, but he could not confirm how many were fatal. He said the number of shootings was the same last year at this time.
Just over a week ago, a plainclothes officer on patrol shot and killed a 39-year-old Brooklyn man as he fled a suspected drug deal. In July, an officer fatally shot a 38-year-old man who refused an order to drop a handgun in the 100 block of S. Carey St.
"My heart and the condolences of the whole city go out to the mother and the family of the 14-year-old boy who lost his life today," said Mayor Martin O'Malley. "Police officers do a very dangerous job, and we strive always to give them the equipment, the proper staffing, the backup and the training they need to protect lives, and do that incredibly tough job for all of us."
Having a situation turn deadly is "one of the worst things that can happen to the officer," Williams said.
Mitter had recently completed his probationary period. Williams said Mitter will be assigned to desk duty until an investigation into the shooting is complete, in keeping with department policy.
Sun Reporter
Originally published August 12, 2006, 8:55 PM EDT
A 14-year-old boy was shot and killed Saturday morning in his Southwest Baltimore home after a visit by a police officer turned into a deadly fight.
Baltimore police defended the shooting as justified, saying the youth had hit the officer and threatened him with a jagged broken broom handle. It was the second fatal shooting by a city officer in a little more than week. But by late afternoon, the family of Kevin Cooper had already hired an attorney, who presented a different account and questioned the officer's decision to fire.
The youth's mother - a state correctional officer - called police to her home in the 300 block of Font Hill Ave. about 9:30 a.m. with a report that her son was assaulting her, according to Lt. Col. Glenn Williams, the department's Area 2 commander.
Two officers responded, and after the situation appeared to be under control, one left, Williams said. But when Officer Roderick Mitter was taking information for a report, Williams said, the youth "became very agitated."
Williams said the boy attacked Mitter with a broom handle. As Cooper's mother - identified by family members as Greta Carter - attempted to step between the two, the officer used Mace on the boy several times.
The Mace "had no effect," Williams said, and the youth hit Mitter over the head with the broom handle, breaking it in two.
At that point, Mitter - who has been on the force for a year - drew his gun, Williams said, and when Cooper moved toward him with a jagged piece of the handle, Mitter shot the boy in the shoulder.
The youth, who police said has no criminal record, was taken to St. Agnes Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police said Mitter was taken to Mercy Medical Center to be treated for a concussion and lacerations, and was released later in the day.
Carter would not speak to reporters Saturday, but her attorney, A. Dwight Pettit, gave a different version of events.
Pettit said that the youth was not assaulting his mother, but that the two were having an argument when he threw a television in his room and tossed some clothes into the alley behind the house.
"She was thinking the police would talk to him, put some apprehension in him," Pettit said outside the family's home Saturday afternoon. "It was a regular teenage disagreement thing. She was a mother raising a teenage son."
Pettit agreed with the police account that by the time the first officer left the house, the situation was under control and the youth had calmed down. But the attorney charged that Mitter followed Cooper up to his room, and then back down to the kitchen, heckling and provoking him.
"It was like two kids bickering," Pettit said. Downstairs, Cooper was holding a long-handled dustpan, the attorney said, but "never touched the police officer."
Pettit said the officer used Mace and then shot the youth, while Carter, holding her granddaughter, stood between them.
"It doesn't get any worse than this," Pettit said. "She's devastated. She's looking for help and it ends in the demise of her son."
In a neighborhood of large brick rowhouses near Southwestern High School, only a few blocks from the nearby police district station, residents remembered Cooper as a nice, respectful youth who always spoke to his neighbors and offered help carrying groceries.
"He was a delightful child. I've known him since he was a baby," said Nita Bellamy, 33. She said she has lived on the block for 15 years and has been close friends with Cooper's mother.
"This woman works hard," Bellamy said. "She's doing the same thing they're doing, trying to protect people, and she has her son murdered. It's immoral."
Cooper's friends described him as a harmless, regular guy who liked to hang out and had just started playing Pop Warner football as a wide receiver on the Harlem Park Bulldogs.
"He was not disrespectful," said Allen Chappell, 17, who took Kevin to the movies and parties and said he thought of the youth as a younger brother.
Cooper's friends were having T-shirts made Saturday in memory of their friend.
Police spokesman Troy Harris said Saturday that there have been 14 shootings this year by Baltimore police officers, but he could not confirm how many were fatal. He said the number of shootings was the same last year at this time.
Just over a week ago, a plainclothes officer on patrol shot and killed a 39-year-old Brooklyn man as he fled a suspected drug deal. In July, an officer fatally shot a 38-year-old man who refused an order to drop a handgun in the 100 block of S. Carey St.
"My heart and the condolences of the whole city go out to the mother and the family of the 14-year-old boy who lost his life today," said Mayor Martin O'Malley. "Police officers do a very dangerous job, and we strive always to give them the equipment, the proper staffing, the backup and the training they need to protect lives, and do that incredibly tough job for all of us."
Having a situation turn deadly is "one of the worst things that can happen to the officer," Williams said.
Mitter had recently completed his probationary period. Williams said Mitter will be assigned to desk duty until an investigation into the shooting is complete, in keeping with department policy.
DrPizza
Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
It would probably be more accurate to state "mobs of lawyers practically beat down their door to get the family as a client, so they would be assured that they would get 30% of any possible settlements."
UDT89
Diamond Member
- Jul 31, 2001
- 4,529
- 0
- 76
let me hit you over the head with a broom handle, then come at you with a now splintered broom handle and see how you react.
i didnt know it was in the rules that the kid had to stab him in the chest
i didnt know his face or his head is off limits............
Wait, the mum called the police after her kid stole her boyfriend's bicycle?
Am I the only one who finds this retarded and even staged to begin with?
Edit: the DA if doing his/her job right will be able to get this thrown out of court.
Am I the only one who finds this retarded and even staged to begin with?
Edit: the DA if doing his/her job right will be able to get this thrown out of court.
I agree the OP may need more information, but if you had read the thread you would have your questions answered as this has been brought up multiple times
eits
Lifer
the last article posted (on this page) makes it seem like the cop's AND the mother's story of what happened are a crock of bvllshit.
think about it....
1, everyone says that the 14 year old was a respectful, normal kid
2, if the mom WAS being assaulted by the kid, wouldn't she have marks? if the kid was so violent and the mom was getting hit by her son, wouldn't there be some kind of evidence of it? besides, it's not like cops just apperate out of thin air whenever you call them... there'd be TONS of time for this "crazy" kid to go nuts on his mom.
3, if the kid was such a threat to the mom or if he was disruptive and disorderly, why would the other cop leave? the other cop wouldn't leave unless he thought everything was cool and he had no reason to be there.
4, the kid has no marks against his personality according to neighbors, the school, the state, or anything.... i know, that doesn't mean he couldn't have just snapped and gone nuts, but still...
5, the mom's a correctional officer... do you honestly think she's going to lie about what happened because she's some "ghetto black woman who hates cops" or whatever stereotype you wish to assign her? if she works with cops day in and day out and deals with deadly criminals all the time, why would a) try to mess with the police department by suing, b) call the cops IF she was getting assaulted? don't you think she'd be able to kinda handle herself a little better? the kid plays pop warner football as a wide receiver... he's no the ray lewis.
now, the reason why the mom's story sounds like bvllshit, too....
1, if she was standing in between the officer and the kid when he sprayed the kid, wouldn't some of the spray have gotten her, or her granddaughter?
2, what happened to the cop's head? did he do that to himself?
3, why would the cop shoot if she was in the way?
from personal experience, i can say that it's very likely that the kid went off on the cop. when i was a kid, i'd get into yelling matches with my parents from time to time and i'd throw things out of anger and my mom would call the cops... not because she was afraid i'd hurt my parents or anything, but because she wanted to scare me into straightening up (apparently, she thought that was written somewhere in a good parenting book or something?). anyways, whenever the cops showed up, they lectured me and i sassed back at them and soon enough, we started jawing at each other and the cops threatened me by trying to bluff me into thinking i would go to jail for arguing with them and making donut jokes so they'd leave my house. it was pretty obvious that the cops were really pissed off at me just like i was pissed off at them... i know that, deep down, i wished i could severely hurt the cops for being assholes and i know they wished the same thing for me for the same reason.
based on this experience, it seems likely to me that the cop and the kid got in a fight verbally and the kid hit the cop with the handle of something (whether it be a broom or dustpan). i would imagine that the kid had the broken end in his hand and the cop told him to drop it, but he didn't.... he was probably too busy yelling and crying at the cop (which is probably why the mace didn't do too much to the kid's eyes... because he was crying.... or maybe he missed his face and got his shirt instead or something.... i doubt any mild-mannered kid not high on pcp can shrug off pepper spray just like that). then, i would imagine, the cop shot the kid because the kid still had the stick in his hand, even though he probably wasn't planning on attacking him with it or anything... just the fact that he had it in his hand was reason enough to the cop to shoot him. that story seems to make more sense than both the cop's story and the mom's story...
think about it....
1, everyone says that the 14 year old was a respectful, normal kid
2, if the mom WAS being assaulted by the kid, wouldn't she have marks? if the kid was so violent and the mom was getting hit by her son, wouldn't there be some kind of evidence of it? besides, it's not like cops just apperate out of thin air whenever you call them... there'd be TONS of time for this "crazy" kid to go nuts on his mom.
3, if the kid was such a threat to the mom or if he was disruptive and disorderly, why would the other cop leave? the other cop wouldn't leave unless he thought everything was cool and he had no reason to be there.
4, the kid has no marks against his personality according to neighbors, the school, the state, or anything.... i know, that doesn't mean he couldn't have just snapped and gone nuts, but still...
5, the mom's a correctional officer... do you honestly think she's going to lie about what happened because she's some "ghetto black woman who hates cops" or whatever stereotype you wish to assign her? if she works with cops day in and day out and deals with deadly criminals all the time, why would a) try to mess with the police department by suing, b) call the cops IF she was getting assaulted? don't you think she'd be able to kinda handle herself a little better? the kid plays pop warner football as a wide receiver... he's no the ray lewis.
now, the reason why the mom's story sounds like bvllshit, too....
1, if she was standing in between the officer and the kid when he sprayed the kid, wouldn't some of the spray have gotten her, or her granddaughter?
2, what happened to the cop's head? did he do that to himself?
3, why would the cop shoot if she was in the way?
from personal experience, i can say that it's very likely that the kid went off on the cop. when i was a kid, i'd get into yelling matches with my parents from time to time and i'd throw things out of anger and my mom would call the cops... not because she was afraid i'd hurt my parents or anything, but because she wanted to scare me into straightening up (apparently, she thought that was written somewhere in a good parenting book or something?). anyways, whenever the cops showed up, they lectured me and i sassed back at them and soon enough, we started jawing at each other and the cops threatened me by trying to bluff me into thinking i would go to jail for arguing with them and making donut jokes so they'd leave my house. it was pretty obvious that the cops were really pissed off at me just like i was pissed off at them... i know that, deep down, i wished i could severely hurt the cops for being assholes and i know they wished the same thing for me for the same reason.
based on this experience, it seems likely to me that the cop and the kid got in a fight verbally and the kid hit the cop with the handle of something (whether it be a broom or dustpan). i would imagine that the kid had the broken end in his hand and the cop told him to drop it, but he didn't.... he was probably too busy yelling and crying at the cop (which is probably why the mace didn't do too much to the kid's eyes... because he was crying.... or maybe he missed his face and got his shirt instead or something.... i doubt any mild-mannered kid not high on pcp can shrug off pepper spray just like that). then, i would imagine, the cop shot the kid because the kid still had the stick in his hand, even though he probably wasn't planning on attacking him with it or anything... just the fact that he had it in his hand was reason enough to the cop to shoot him. that story seems to make more sense than both the cop's story and the mom's story...
eits,
For 1 and 4, what the neighbors say/what there is a history of doesn't mean sh!t. My next-door neighbor was a pedo scamming on 11 year old boys, and everyone thought he was a great neighbor with no priors.
For 2 and 3, any LEO knows that there is a wide variety of physical altercations that land under assault. Hell, in some instances, assault doesn't even have to be physical. A simple shoving match could've been reported to the police and they could've classified it as assault. If the situation is under control, and especially if the officer is just wrapping things up, it's anything but unheard of for one of the officers on the scene to respond to another call.
For 5, money does strange things to people.
As for your story, it still doesn't account for the cops concussion or lacerations. If you're beating on someone enough to cut them up, give them a concussion, and snap a broomstick in half, it's not some half assed attempt. On top of that, tears are not going to stop mace, and just getting it in the general facial area can do some damage and slow down the progess of normal people.
For 1 and 4, what the neighbors say/what there is a history of doesn't mean sh!t. My next-door neighbor was a pedo scamming on 11 year old boys, and everyone thought he was a great neighbor with no priors.
For 2 and 3, any LEO knows that there is a wide variety of physical altercations that land under assault. Hell, in some instances, assault doesn't even have to be physical. A simple shoving match could've been reported to the police and they could've classified it as assault. If the situation is under control, and especially if the officer is just wrapping things up, it's anything but unheard of for one of the officers on the scene to respond to another call.
For 5, money does strange things to people.
As for your story, it still doesn't account for the cops concussion or lacerations. If you're beating on someone enough to cut them up, give them a concussion, and snap a broomstick in half, it's not some half assed attempt. On top of that, tears are not going to stop mace, and just getting it in the general facial area can do some damage and slow down the progess of normal people.
eits
Lifer
*shrug*
i'm just trying to make sense of this story... i honestly just don't think that the kid went buck wild on the cop and was gonna try to kill him. it's not because i just don't want to... it's because it just doesn't seem to make sense to me. there had to be some kind of verbal episode going on between the kid and the cop for the kid to hit break the stick over the cop's head.... maybe he called him the n-word or something? i dunno... but something had to do it. the 2nd cop wouldn't have left if the kid wasn't calmed down and the situation was under control enough for the cop to just finish taking his report from the mom....
know what i'm saying?
I'd like to see a toxicology test come back on the boy. It says he was on some sort of medication.
I am extremely apprehensive about believing anything the mother says, especially when what she's saying (that her kid never even struck the officer) doesn't mesh at all with what there is proof of (the cop's lacerations and concussion).
Hell, even if there is something going on verbally between the cop and the boy (which there probabyl was, because the mother supposedly called the cops to have them talk some sense into him), that never gives you the right to hit an LEO, or anyone else.
eits
Lifer
agreed, but he's a 14 year old... not saying it's ok, but you gotta consider the testosterone charge of a kid who's already hyped up.
i dunno.... i'm starting to think that the cop panicked, but i don't think that the kid was gonna try killing him or come at him with the broken stick.... i just don't think a kid with his reputation would shrug off pepper spray and potential death by charging at a cop over a an argument... if he would have, then don't you think it would have happened earlier with kids at school or teachers, even (considering he had problems with authority figures arguing with him)?
i just pray the mom finds comfort in whatever the outcome is. it's gotta suck to lose a son in front of you like that.... she must feel SO guilty.... she called the cops and they came over and shot her son.
conversely, i pray the cop gets over any guilt he's got for killing the kid and isn't haunted by the incident for the rest of his life... that's gotta be rough.
Yea. The cop had to do what he needed to do, However I would not shoot the kid in the chest I would go for a leg or arm just to stop him in pain. If that does not work than either pull out the nightstick or equip a tazer If I had it.
No offense, but you really need to read up on self-defense. Also, I really hope you don't own a firearm.
If push comes to shove, you're going to wind up getting yourself or a loved one seriously injured or killed.
Yes it is very sad indeed... but perhaps the officer did have no other alternative.
I agree, and was very put off by that comment. And also the comment about evolution weeding out the kid's mother... definately some very disturbing comments being thrown around in here.
eits
Lifer
um... you mean night stick or taser FIRST?
wtf... why would you shoot the guy first and THEN pull out the taser?
#1 mmm Chances of a broken Broom to b a lethal weapon vs a loaded gun to b a lethal weapon..
hummm~~ Processing, analyzing, ---> conclusion. Gun has a much higher tendency TO become a lethal weapon than a broken broom.
#2
"Trained" Cop vs 14 yr old kid w/ Demeanor Issues.
1 on 1 duel
Determinant factors for COP to pin the kid down.
....... THEY GET PAID FOR PROTECT THEMSELVES while USING guns ass last resource.
14 yr old mad kid + Broken Broom = EXTREME DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT CANNOT BE HANDLED Physically??? mmmmmmmmmmmmm...
Conclusion: Fire the Cop! not saying that the psycho kid is right, but .. the cop defenitely had better options than Shooting.
hummm~~ Processing, analyzing, ---> conclusion. Gun has a much higher tendency TO become a lethal weapon than a broken broom.
#2
"Trained" Cop vs 14 yr old kid w/ Demeanor Issues.
1 on 1 duel
Determinant factors for COP to pin the kid down.
....... THEY GET PAID FOR PROTECT THEMSELVES while USING guns ass last resource.
14 yr old mad kid + Broken Broom = EXTREME DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT CANNOT BE HANDLED Physically??? mmmmmmmmmmmmm...
Conclusion: Fire the Cop! not saying that the psycho kid is right, but .. the cop defenitely had better options than Shooting.
FallenHero
Diamond Member
- Jan 2, 2006
- 5,659
- 0
- 0
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