http://www.hlntv.com/article/2014/0...olice-mistaken-identity-tv-producer?hpt=hp_t2 That really sucks.
So, they thought Winkler was the suspect and the victim was fleeing, so they proceeded to shoot both.
The best part is after shooting two of the victims and killing one when they were running, unarmed, they then managed to subdue the ACTUAL suspect who was in the process of trying to kill someone without using their weapons. Good grief.
This is a PR nightmare for LAPD. The sensationalist in me wouldn't be surprised if Tosh wore a "F*** LAPD" shirt for the rest of the season, but I know a lot of good cops, and that would be wrong. This really does suck though, for everyone involved. A few officers should probably lose their jobs over this.
So three victims being held at knifepoint. One escapes when deputies arrive, Winkler escapes and lunges at the first one to run out. Suspect is fighting with third victim, so doesn't that mean the first one to run out was a victim, too, and why would Winkler lunge at him? It's a really sad case. I wonder who called dispatch and gave them the suspects info. I find it really hard to blame the deputies, too. If you have two people, covered in blood, running towards you when you are aware of an armed suspect and one of them fits the description, you don't have much time to determine if he's the suspect or victim when he fits the exact description of the suspect. I wonder if they called for help as they ran out the apartment as that could have helped identify who the actual victims were. @justtxyank: Deputies did a good job breaking up the victim and suspect because they were wrestling and could see that nobody was in an imminent life or death situation (the knife was on the floor). Cops don't always shoot first, ask questions later. Give them enough time to properly assess everything and they'll do the right thing.
The key points are clear for all to see. 1. An "elite" and "professional" entry team had three members fire at someone who was unarmed, they believed to be a threat to their life. Only one of the multiple rounds the three of them fired hit it's target. At close range. The law requires 25 feet or less. That is horrible, horrible shooting. 2. When a helpless victim was found to be under attack, no firearms were needed to save his life and subdue the attacker. If the police force didn't use these militarized tactics, no one would have died and the suspect would be in custody.
