serena_114
07-12-2005, 11:16 AM
Tell me what you think of this one.
LA police shoot baby dead
Associated Press, Los Angeles
Tuesday July 12, 2005
The Guardian
Los Angeles police officers shot and killed a toddler as she was being used as a human shield on Sunday, officials said.
The suspect also died and an officer was wounded.
The suspect was named as Jose Raul Lemos, and the girl, about 17 months old, was related to him. The officer was shot in the shoulder and expected to recover.
"He was using the baby as a shield," said assistant police chief Jim McDonnell. "We showed a tremendous amount of restraint, but unfortunately the suspect's actions dictated this. It's a true tragedy."
"The officers are taking it very hard," McDonnell said. "Anytime you have a baby killed, it takes its toll."
The standoff began at around 3.50pm when officers responded to an area in south Los Angeles after residents reported an armed man standing near an intersection with a toddler and behaving erratically.
There were three exchanges of gunfire between police and Lemos. In the final exchange, Lemos held the girl as he shot. "We did everything we could to hold our fire," McDonnell said. Under police regulations, officers may only fire "when it reasonably appears necessary" to protect themselves or others from death or serious injury.
The man had a handgun and a shotgun and was intoxicated on drugs and alcohol, police said.
LA police shoot baby dead
Associated Press, Los Angeles
Tuesday July 12, 2005
The Guardian
Los Angeles police officers shot and killed a toddler as she was being used as a human shield on Sunday, officials said.
The suspect also died and an officer was wounded.
The suspect was named as Jose Raul Lemos, and the girl, about 17 months old, was related to him. The officer was shot in the shoulder and expected to recover.
"He was using the baby as a shield," said assistant police chief Jim McDonnell. "We showed a tremendous amount of restraint, but unfortunately the suspect's actions dictated this. It's a true tragedy."
"The officers are taking it very hard," McDonnell said. "Anytime you have a baby killed, it takes its toll."
The standoff began at around 3.50pm when officers responded to an area in south Los Angeles after residents reported an armed man standing near an intersection with a toddler and behaving erratically.
There were three exchanges of gunfire between police and Lemos. In the final exchange, Lemos held the girl as he shot. "We did everything we could to hold our fire," McDonnell said. Under police regulations, officers may only fire "when it reasonably appears necessary" to protect themselves or others from death or serious injury.
The man had a handgun and a shotgun and was intoxicated on drugs and alcohol, police said.