Plano: Unarmed man accidentally shot by police

[ELB]

...If I remember correctly, she touched off another round while holstering. If I'm correct, I bet she was so flustered with the first round that she forgot to remove her finger from the trigger before holstering. As silly as it seems, that too has been the cause of a number of AD's.

Chas.

I didn't know that (about the second round). In John Farnam's courses, he stated that the most likely time for an ND is immediately after the first ND. Baiscally for same reason you stated. Startle response and all that.

[cheezit]

sounds like one less drug dealer...

[Excaliber]

So are LEOs trained to not put their finger on the trigger until they're ready to shoot? I know it's what us civilians are trained to do...but all the cops I see on television always have their fingers on the trigger when they draw on the bad guys.

(I'm half-joking and half-serious...I'm genuinely curious about what is considered the "norm" in law-enforcement...)

The standard for competent professionals in law enforcement or military is finger outside the trigger guard until the decision to fire has been made.

Forget what you see on TV - those are actors, not pros.

Look at pics and videos of any SWAT team, most police operations, troops in Afghanistan, etc. - you'll see fingers off triggers unless they're shooting.

Then watch pics of gangbangers, street criminals, Somali pirates, etc. - you'll see fingers inside the trigger guards when they're not yet ready to shoot. They've got the ND frequency to prove it's not something you want to try at home.

[Keith B]

And, if you watch any of the shows where they have a good gun wrangler (trainer for the actors) then you will also see them use this method. I am a BIG fan of NCIS and you will see them handling their firearms correctly. Castle is another one I have noticed they do right.

[philip964]

You know it nice to see some honesty for once. The officer admitted he made a mistake. It happens. I would much rather see this than coming up with a lame reason the officer shot the suspect.

I have started looking at DVD covers featuring pistols recently to see if the finger is pointed or not. Most "action hero's" fingers are on the trigger, and they have their gun pointed down at their co-stars leg or something.

[Excaliber]

You know it nice to see some honesty for once. The officer admitted he made a mistake. It happens. I would much rather see this than coming up with a lame reason the officer shot the suspect.

I have started looking at DVD covers featuring pistols recently to see if the finger is pointed or not. Most "action hero's" fingers are on the trigger, and they have their gun pointed down at their co-stars leg or something.

That's one of the reasons even the studios don't trust these guys with live rounds.

[maxlib]

That's one of the reasons even the studios don't trust these guys with live rounds.

But even blanks up close can be deadly and at the very least cause some injury. Remember the dumb actor in the eighties, John Eric hexum or something like that? Fooling around with a .44 mag acting like he was going to shoot himself in the head? He shot and killed himself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon-Erik_Hexum" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Excaliber]

That's one of the reasons even the studios don't trust these guys with live rounds.

But even blanks up close can be deadly and at the very least cause some injury. Remember the dumb actor in the eighties, John Eric hexum or something like that? Fooling around with a .44 mag acting like he was going to shoot himself in the head? He shot and killed himself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon-Erik_Hexum" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The high pressure gas discharge is very destructive to tissue close up and most certainly can be deadly. I've seen some very serious injuries from them.

The reason the movie folks use them anyway despite their actors' and actresses' ignorance of safe weapon handling is that cap guns and water pistols just don't resonate quite the same with the audience.

[KD5NRH]

I have started looking at DVD covers featuring pistols recently to see if the finger is pointed or not. Most "action hero's" fingers are on the trigger, and they have their gun pointed down at their co-stars leg or something.

...and yet, when Patrick Stewart played a paranoid ex-spy, his trigger discipline was excellent.

[seamusTX]

...and yet, when Patrick Stewart played a paranoid ex-spy, his trigger discipline was excellent.

Patrick Stewart is one of the best actors currently working. He probably does his research.

- Jim

[Medic218]

Here is an update on the story.
The family is suing SureFire claiming the gun-mounted light was of poor design and is the reason the officer accidentally pulled the trigger instead of what he was trying to do which was turn on the light.

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/suit-b ... ath-010912" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think the best way not to get shot by the cops is to not be involved in illicit activities that are going to make the police want to draw down on you in the first place....but thats just me

[Heartland Patriot]

So the LEO blamed the gunlight and the now family of the deceased heroin addict (oh, did I say that out-loud?) is going to use that statement to get a settlement from Surefire...did I get that about right?

[Thomas]

The high pressure gas discharge is very destructive to tissue close up and most certainly can be deadly. I've seen some very serious injuries from them.

Even cheap starting guns can have high pressure gas discharges. I was on the receiving end of one as a part of a high school play. From three feet away it can knock you off balance.

[Keith B]

I guess the family figured they need more money. They already got a $245,000 settlement from the city of Plano http://www.dallasnews.com/news/communit ... -sting.ece" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Must not have been enough of a windfall to offset their son's death because he was dealing drugs in the first place.

[RoyGBiv]

There's not a law providing civil immunity if someone is injured during the commission of a felony?
Maybe it doesn't apply to product liability??