Wii controller fatally mistaken for a gun

[jmra]

According to the Fox News story the officer drew her gun prior to the door opening when she heard the action of a gun. I don't know of any wii remote that has a life like action that could be mistaken for the real thing.
I suspect the door was locked and what she heard was the sound of a slide chain or a cheap dead bolt. The story also states that the teen was getting ready to watch a movie. You don't use a light gun remote to start movies.
Based on the information available the officer grossly overreacted resulting in a tragic death. She heard what she thought was a gun and her mind showed her what she expected to see. Until the investigators show us a wii remote with life like slide action or even a wii remote in the shape of a gun, I am convinced this is the most likely probability.

[Right2Carry]

I haven't seen any Wii controller that looks like a gun that isn't bright orange. There is no way the Wii controllers I have seen could be mistaken for a real gun. My son has the rifle/shotgun controller but you have to put the Wii controller into it. No way to mistake it for a real gun.

[rbwhatever1]

Completely avoidable tragedy. What happened to"drop the gun sir"? Is that outdated? Maybe I watch too many old movies? Do LEO's expect interacting with a completely "Disarmed Citizenry" in a country with the most heavily "Armed Citizens" in the world? It would appear so to some if the first reaction to seeing a firearm is to shoot, since "We Citizens" are all criminals until proven innocent.

The idea that she will have to live with this for the rest of her life is miniscule. The destruction of this young Americans life at the hands of an overreacting LEO is an abomination. Doesn't matter what she thought she heard or what she thought she saw. She was wrong on both counts and she killed an American, opening the front door as one does to welcome someone in their home.

Perhaps all Americans should open front doors armed since one never knows when or by whom the shooting will start. I don't believe it's against the Law to open the front door of your home while bearing arms.

Happy Saturday Armed Americans! Keep your families safe out there!

[Keith B]

I haven't seen any Wii controller that looks like a gun that isn't bright orange. There is no way the Wii controllers I have seen could be mistaken for a real gun. My son has the rifle/shotgun controller but you have to put the Wii controller into it. No way to mistake it for a real gun.

The photo I posted above is for Wii controllers. Totally black, no orange tip even.

[talltex]

According to the Fox News story the officer drew her gun prior to the door opening when she heard the action of a gun. I don't know of any wii remote that has a life like action that could be mistaken for the real thing.
I suspect the door was locked and what she heard was the sound of a slide chain or a cheap dead bolt. The story also states that the teen was getting ready to watch a movie. You don't use a light gun remote to start movies.
Based on the information available the officer grossly overreacted resulting in a tragic death. She heard what she thought was a gun and her mind showed her what she expected to see. Until the investigators show us a wii remote with life like slide action or even a wii remote in the shape of a gun, I am convinced this is the most likely probability.

That certainly seems like the most likely scenario...the fact that she said she had already drawn her weapon before the door was opened indicates she was hyped up with adrenaline, and her mindset already had her expecting someone holding a gun on the other side of the door. If the boy had anything at all in his hand, under those conditions it could easily be perceived as a gun, and her reaction was immediate. The officers version is he pointed a gun at her and pulled the trigger before she fired. The story of the other boys is that as soon as he opened the door she shot him. That may very well be her honest perception of the event whether it's accurate or not, because "perception is reality" to that person, but that's not an excuse if it turns out that it was a panicked reaction.

[SewTexas]

why on earth was her gun drawn just to serve a probation violation? esp if they knew that there were kids in the house? sounds like a death waiting to happen!

[philip964]

http://www.daily-tribune.com/pages/full ... in_article" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Georgia Bureau of Investigation is saying it was a pistol (as in real) that was in his hand.

Seems we will need to wait out the investigation.

[baldeagle]

There is a lot of jumping to conclusions going on in this thread. I suggest we all wait for the outcome of the investigation.

[Right2Carry]

I haven't seen any Wii controller that looks like a gun that isn't bright orange. There is no way the Wii controllers I have seen could be mistaken for a real gun. My son has the rifle/shotgun controller but you have to put the Wii controller into it. No way to mistake it for a real gun.

The photo I posted above is for Wii controllers. Totally black, no orange tip even.

I would like to see the link. Are those sold here in the states or over seas?

[Keith B]

I haven't seen any Wii controller that looks like a gun that isn't bright orange. There is no way the Wii controllers I have seen could be mistaken for a real gun. My son has the rifle/shotgun controller but you have to put the Wii controller into it. No way to mistake it for a real gun.

The photo I posted above is for Wii controllers. Totally black, no orange tip even.

I would like to see the link. Are those sold here in the states or over seas?

I posted the link above http://texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php? ... 13#p895135" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; They are sold here in the states. There is no law that says they have to have an orange tip on them.

EDIT TO ADD: Well, they may fall under the federal law requiring an orange plug, but don't know if it applies to the controllers or not. It should IMO

[Right2Carry]

I haven't seen any Wii controller that looks like a gun that isn't bright orange. There is no way the Wii controllers I have seen could be mistaken for a real gun. My son has the rifle/shotgun controller but you have to put the Wii controller into it. No way to mistake it for a real gun.

The photo I posted above is for Wii controllers. Totally black, no orange tip even.

I would like to see the link. Are those sold here in the states or over seas?

I posted the link above.

I see it now. The controller fits into the pistol but most are some off color like white, pink, blue, ect...

I had never seen a black one before. Unfortunate for sure.

[bigbang]

There is a lot of jumping to conclusions going on in this thread. I suggest we all wait for the outcome of the investigation.

Will there be an independent investigation? Qui custodiet ipsos custodes?

[ddurkof]

why on earth was her gun drawn just to serve a probation violation? esp if they knew that there were kids in the house? sounds like a death waiting to happen!

"Just a probation violation???????"

I am not going to pass judgement yet, but it would be nice to know what the probation violation was for. Murder or a low grade misdemeanor? Sorry, but having run hundreds of warrants, you don't know what the crook or their family is going to do.

That said, I would like to know that the officer's firearms training has been. Most departments spend very little time on training officers in shoot / don't shoot situations. There lies much of the problem.

[VoiceofReason]

A police officer does not have to give anyone a “free shot”. That is in the movies and on TV.

That said, if I thought someone on the other side of the door had a gun, I may have my gun in hand but I would be looking for cover. Does that even run through the minds of police officers any more? Seems like too many are quick on the trigger.

[SewTexas]

why on earth was her gun drawn just to serve a probation violation? esp if they knew that there were kids in the house? sounds like a death waiting to happen!

"Just a probation violation???????"

I am not going to pass judgement yet, but it would be nice to know what the probation violation was for. Murder or a low grade misdemeanor? Sorry, but having run hundreds of warrants, you don't know what the crook or their family is going to do.

That said, I would like to know that the officer's firearms training has been. Most departments spend very little time on training officers in shoot / don't shoot situations. There lies much of the problem.

if she thought the guy was bad enough to have her gun drawn she shouldn't have been at the door by herself.
if she thought she heard a gun on the other side of the door shouldn't she have pulled back, told her partner and possibly called for back-up?