Story: http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/10/us/maryland-shooting-deputies-killed/
This happened yesterday in the next County over from me. One of the Sheriffs for Harford is the cousing of my Ex-Wife. It's really sad that two deputies lost their lives in in this incident. I saw Brian with an ear piece in his ear yesterday on WJZ and know he wasn't one of the first responders.
It seems most of the story and details have been figured out and yet it still has me wondering if the procedure was all wrong. When the call was received for service from the Ex-Wife of the shooter the first deputy arrived on the scene and entered the Panera. Supposedly the main thing was he had two outstanding warrants for his arrest anyway, plus the Wife feared for her life. I realize this was peak lunch and they might have taken this approach to talk him outside. Would a plain clothes officer have been a better choice? Would sitting outside of view with plenty of officers until he come out have been a better approach? The deputy went in and must have been really close to the guy on initial contact. Reports said he didn't even have a chance as the guy fired a shot and hit the deputy right in the temple. Another deputy outside chased at some point and was also shot. That deputy was transported and died in transit. One of the other deputies on the scene killed the shooter at that point.
This article gives some details that indicate a failure, at least based on training that i received.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/02/10/deputies-wounded-gunman-killed-after-shooting-at-maryland-panera.html
QuoteThe deputy sat down beside him, asked how he was doing and the man shot him in the head.
When you sit down, especially beside the suspect, you give up needed overall view of the situation, ability to move defensively, and access to tools you may need to respond to force. The office should have stood, or possibly sat opposite in a chair. Definitely should not sit down in a booth.
My guess is the officer felt he could pin or corner the suspect by sitting next to him, not really thinking through all the advantages he lost.
I haven't found details about the incident with the second deputy beyond they exchange shots which were ultimately fatal to both.
I think in this situation everything should have taken place outside and more planned. He wasn't threatening anyone inside and was a frequent visitor there. They knew about the warrants going in and could have waited possibly until he was on the road.
You have read information I didn't. The reports I read were the officer was responding to a call about a man "causing a problem". Given that information the officer needed to engage and attempt to de-escalate a situation before a citizen was hurt.
I do think there are situations that are better dealt with by backing off, marshaling a measured response and then engaging. But based on what limited information I have read, I don't think this is one.
Routine call that went bad.
I think the only thing that should have been done was a quick pat search before sitting down with the suspect. But we dont know if the cop knew the guy or not. Lots of things at play.
Couple of videos that might explain it better. The Ex dimed him out basically:
Jeremy Evans is the estranged son of David Evans, who the Harford County Sheriff's Office fatally shot two deputies on Wednesday in Abingdon. Jeremy Evans said it was his mother that called police to warn them of his father, who had a warrant out.
So they responded and things went downhill quickly.
World is just full of batshit crazy people. Maybe that's just the way it's always been??
Not enough info in the article IMHO to even contemplate or speculate about superior tactics.
Does give pause to consider and appreciate the sheepdogs that stand guard and willingly face the wolfs of the world.
God Bless them one and all.
Today's article has a good summation of information:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/harford/abingdon/bs-md-harford-shooting-thursday-20160211-story.html
Another case of a bad guy that should have had charges pressed or filed against him years ago, where he would not have been able to legally buy the gun in the first place. But, the "solution" here will be another law against carrying guns in food establishments. Oh wait, MD already has that covered. Probably should add another 8hrs of training to the curriculum to even buy a gun in MD.
He shot the Ex in the neck back in 1996. The way I read into it they never caught up with him until this week. I don't think he could have gotten away with that way back then unless he was on the run. It seems he was setting up for something like this if he frequented the Panera as much as he did.