FL: Miami police shoot attacker in bizarre assault

[RHenriksen]

I also saw a guy on PCP once flex so hard against the leather wrist restraints that he snapped his own humerus mid-shaft. Made a heck of pop when it broke.

My eyes literally bulged out for a moment at that thought.

[Dave2]

I remember once when I worked in the ER having to contain a guy who was high on PCP and came charging out of his treatment room with a 500 lb gurney strapped to his back like it was a papoose. Didn't even slow him down. I also saw a guy on PCP once flex so hard against the leather wrist restraints that he snapped his own humerus mid-shaft. Made a heck of pop when it broke.

Wow... I didn't know our connective tissue and/or its attachments to our bones and muscles were strong enough for that to happen.

[Heartland Patriot]

I remember once when I worked in the ER having to contain a guy who was high on PCP and came charging out of his treatment room with a 500 lb gurney strapped to his back like it was a papoose. Didn't even slow him down. I also saw a guy on PCP once flex so hard against the leather wrist restraints that he snapped his own humerus mid-shaft. Made a heck of pop when it broke.

Wow... I didn't know our connective tissue and/or its attachments to our bones and muscles were strong enough for that to happen.

The dengue fever is also called "The Bone Break Fever" because the shivers that it causes are so violent that people have broken bones...Marines in WWII in the Central Pacific suffered through it. Not to get too far off topic but just to add something to what you said there. Its insane what the human body can go through.

[seamusTX]

Here are one TV story and one news story with new details:

http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local ... -shooting/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://galvestondailynews.com/ap/d71d1d/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The first link includes an interview with the witness who summoned the police.

Apparently both men were homeless and naked, as someone observed earlier from the video. Police are speculating that both were on drugs.

- Jim

[philip964]

Ok I fully understand the police shooting this guy, that would have been my first reaction too. A head shot, first thing as that is what you do to zombies.

So if I came upon a naked man eating the face of another person (who is still alive by the way) Would I have been justified in drawing and shooting.

He was naked and had no weapon. I was in no danger until he noticed me.

Certainly yelling and getting his attention would have been the first step.

So then he turns his attention to you. I'm afraid him just turning and starting to walk towards me, I would instinctively unload the gun on him, I would be so frightened. No way would I let him get closer than ten feet. Ok twenty feet.

But I don't know if "I thought he was a real zombie defense" would keep you out of jail.

Do Miami police not have tasers, or are they permitted to shoot to save someones life who is being attacked? You know the old "stop eating that man's face or we will shoot" command.

[Purplehood]

Ok I fully understand the police shooting this guy, that would have been my first reaction too. A head shot, first thing as that is what you do to zombies.

So if I came upon a naked man eating the face of another person (who is still alive by the way) Would I have been justified in drawing and shooting.

He was naked and had no weapon. I was in no danger until he noticed me.

Certainly yelling and getting his attention would have been the first step.

So then he turns his attention to you. I'm afraid him just turning and starting to walk towards me, I would instinctively unload the gun on him, I would be so frightened. No way would I let him get closer than ten feet. Ok twenty feet.

But I don't know if "I thought he was a real zombie defense" would keep you out of jail.

Do Miami police not have tasers, or are they permitted to shoot to save someones life who is being attacked? You know the old "stop eating that man's face or we will shoot" command.

As I understand it (and this applies in Texas), is that you can shoot someone in defense of a third-party.

[seamusTX]

If you listen to the interview or read the descriptions, this was not simply a fight. The victim was in critical condition after losing "an eye, his ears and lips." The bleeding alone from that would be life-threatening.

It sounds like the situation had gone far past the point of using non-violent dispute resolution.

Whether or not the cop had a taser is moot. Shooting the attacker once did not stop him. A taser probably would have done nothing more than irritate him.

Also those who have used them can perhaps address how hard it is to hit someone who is moving around.

I can't guess how a non-LEO passer-by who shot the attacker would be treated in this situation. The police officer gets an automatic presumption of acting in an official capacity. The police would have to determine that a non-LEO did not have some criminal liability. I'm pretty sure in the long run no charges would be brought.

- Jim

[Beiruty]

Someone is designing the "Zombie juice". The end is near. Too much zombies movies, no? Others will work on "I am legend" Virus. Scary!

[Jumping Frog]

This triggered a discussion on another forum on the ends and outs of "Bath Salts", new designer hallicinogens. Had not previously heard of them. They're pretty scary. Google them if you're interested.

[baldeagle]

Ok I fully understand the police shooting this guy, that would have been my first reaction too. A head shot, first thing as that is what you do to zombies.

So if I came upon a naked man eating the face of another person (who is still alive by the way) Would I have been justified in drawing and shooting.

Yes. Texas law allows you to use deadly force in defense of a third party.

He was naked and had no weapon. I was in no danger until he noticed me.

Doesn't matter. The other guy's life was in serious danger.

Certainly yelling and getting his attention would have been the first step.

The police tried that. He growled at them.

So then he turns his attention to you. I'm afraid him just turning and starting to walk towards me, I would instinctively unload the gun on him, I would be so frightened. No way would I let him get closer than ten feet. Ok twenty feet.

But I don't know if "I thought he was a real zombie defense" would keep you out of jail.

The shooting would be justified, and you would likely not even be charged.

Do Miami police not have tasers, or are they permitted to shoot to save someones life who is being attacked? You know the old "stop eating that man's face or we will shoot" command.

Both Miami police and armed citizens are allowed to shoot someone in those circumstances. I would not just walk up to him and shoot him. You would need to shout commands and try to get him to stop. But if he continued, you would be justified in shooting him.

[speedsix]

...let's see...he growled at them...did he look like a pit bull? case closed...give the man another bullet...

[jmra]

If you saw a dog eating someone's face, would you shoot the dog? No difference in this case, IMHO.

[seamusTX]

Some more information on this case:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/sto ... =obnetwork" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The deceased attacker apparently tore off the victim's clothes, which would explain why the victim was naked.

Also the attack continued for 18 minutes before a passerby called police and they arrived on the scene.

The attacker apparently had a marginally stable existence with a girlfriend and a job and had been in trouble with the law only for pot possession.

- Jim

[smoothoperator]

Was there any iced tea and skittles found at the scene?

[seamusTX]

Do you people have to drag this garbage into every single thread?

- Jim