Dang, one lucky person!
Two Kansas City police officers who thought they were being shot at from inside a van returned fire Thursday night.
Only later did police realize that the van was actually backfiring and the man inside was not armed. He was not injured by the shots fired by police.
FullStory:
http://www.kansascity.com/2010/11/12/2425221/kc-police-fire-at-backfiring-van.html
Good that no one was hurt!
When I was 19 or so, I had a truck that had a very loud back fire. I’d rev up the engine, let off the throttle and BANG! Used to have fun with it playing “Hi Neighbor!” until I got pulled over by the local PD because they thought I was shooting a firearm from my truck. Fortunately for me, an older officer I’d met before showed up. I explained that the truck had a nasty backfire. He let me try to show him, but I’ll be cussed! No matter how I revved the engine, it just wouldn’t backfire for the nice officer. I started to sweat as the other officer was convinced I was guilty and was going to haul me off to jail. It didn’t help there were spent casings of various calibers littering the floorboards. The older officer talked him out hauling me in and gave me a stern look before letting me go. I took the unspoken warning to heart.
Last time I ever played “Hi Neighbor!”
There has to be an emotional distress lawsuit for this one.
cops shooting at a non-threat?
somebody gotta pay.
Given the current nature of our civil legal system, no doubt he will make millions.
Instant lottery ticket. Cha-Ching
saw this article on another board this morning. pretty crazy set of circumstances. i guess one of the cops shot through the patrol car window, the other cop thought that was incoming fire, and the whole ordeal was basically just an odd mix of shit spinning out of control. for everybody.
and yea… wish i was that guy.
Honestly, he deserves millions. He could have been put in a wheelchair or worse.
He should use that money to buy a better vehicle.
Wonder how the story would read if he shot back defending himself? What if he clipped Barney Fife?
what would you do? you’re being shot at- that’s the first thing made obvious… by shit smacking through your truck. you get as low as you can as quickly as you can while grabbing your rifle or pistol (my rifle rests next to my transfer shifter- it’d be the first thing i’d grab if i’m inside my truck)… maybe you risk a quick peek, and see the its POLICE, and they’re SHOOTING at YOU…
i don’t know what i’d do. i think instinct would be to try to make a show of surrender, so long as it’s clear that it’s police. my confidence in the average street cop’s ability to accurately assess a threat is so infuckingcredibly low (not trying to be anti-cop, just stating a relevant fact), that i think i’d probably think they were simply making a mistake and that i needed to get out in the open with my hands empty.
but the fact of the matter is, regardless of what clothing somebody is wearing- if you, as a law-abiding citizen, find yourself with a gun pointed at you for no apparent reason, and especially if being fired upon- you have a duty to yourself and those you support (sole provider of a family of 6, here) to kill some people, and posthaste.
i mean sonuvabitch… they were TRYING TO KILL HIM. whats the appropriate thing to do? it’s happened now- it’s pretty damn relevant to discuss it.
Not allowed here.
You shoot at me for no reason you bet I’ll sue. It’s not as if I poured soap on the floor and slipped on it… They got shot at, their lives where endangered, how would they not be justified in seeking compensation?
Personally if it was me I’d want criminal charges brought against the officers involved.
LEO acting in good faith are immune from the laws the rest of us are subject to.
That suit would get struck down…
Gimme a break, where’s the criminal intent? No one was hurt, patch the van up and call it good. Good riddance.
I don’t know about lawsuits and all, But, at a bare minimum, these two need some remedial training, and need at least a few months of meter maid duty for punishment…The P.D. should pay for any and all damages done to the van…I know if it were me, I would sit down with a laywer, and explore the possibilitys of a lawsuit…
How about acting in good faith, but negligently? I’m pretty sure there’s a lawsuit there, and probably a successful one. No doubt it will be settled. It would be a tough one to defend.
What a terrible scenario it could have been, though. “SIR, THROW YOUR WEAPON OUT OF THE VAN. THROW IT OUT NOW OR WE WILL OPEN FIRE AGAIN…”
LEO shooting at noises??? Really?
Two dudes who need to never work as LEO again, imo. This is industrial strength clownshoes.
I don’t consider LEO shooting at sounds to be acting in good faith. I wouldn’t have a problem with criminal charges AND a civil suit against both of these jackasses.
Who here hasn’t fired at noises? I know I did after 72 hours without sleep and constantly on the move. I not going to pass judgment on this incident. It is what it is.
I wonder how long this thread will stay open?
Ummm wreckless endangerment comes to mind. LEO aren’t immune to all laws. Perhaps false imprisonment and such, but shooting at cars back firing isn’t something a LEO can just run around doing with out repercussion.
We used to make older cars backfire by turning the ignition on and off when we worked at the dealership as kids… Some little morons followed us in a vehicle thinking we were shooting at them. 
Why would you follow someone armed and shooting at you?
[i]
Both officers are on administrative leave as is customary. If a review panel shows they acted in good faith, they will not be disciplined. [/i]