Calif. man killed by police in mistaken identity

[Ghost in the Machine]

Calif. man killed by police in mistaken identity
Published: 10/29/08, 1:45 AM EDT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - A newlywed killed by police after he stepped outside his home to confront suspected burglars was shot in a case of mistaken identity, police said.

Julian Alexander died after being shot twice in the chest by a police officer who was chasing four burglary suspects early Tuesday morning.

Police Chief John Welter said the officer ran into Alexander, mistook him for one of the four juvenile suspects and shot him.

"The last thing we ever want to do, No. 1, (is) take somebody's life," he said. "And we certainly don't want to take the life of someone who is mistakenly believed to be involved in some criminal activity."


"He was a good kid, trying to protect his house," said Alexander's mother-in-law Michelle Mooney. "And the police, instead of asking questions, they just shot first. Somebody has to be held responsible for this."

http://my.att.net/s/editorial.dll?bfromind=2728&eeid=6178059&_sitecat=1522&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=0&ck=&ch=ne

[cabluedem]

1. "The last thing we ever want to do, No. 1, (is) take somebody's life,". Really?

Then WHY did your officer KILL this man?

I really hope someone in the PD goes to prison over this tragedy.

[Ghost in the Machine]

5. "I really hope someone in the PD goes to prison over this tragedy"

I hope so, too... but somehow I feel the 'blue shield' will protect him..

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[TahitiNut]

2. "Oops!"

:grr:

So, deadly force is authorized for a non-capital crime? Were any of the alleged burglars armed? (Or did the "blue team" provide a throw-down?)

When did California designate burglary as a death penalty crime?

I just LOVE this little snippet: "... no arrests were made." :wtf:

So, even after they caught the suspected juveniles, NOBODY WAS ARRESTED?

The Cheney/Bush bacterium has infected this country. Killers.

[angstlessk]

3. I would love to see the stats on people killed by police when

Clinton was in office and since boosh has been in office...since boosh killed Clinton's 100,000 copa program. :grr: and I include criminials who deserved to be killed because they were actually a threat to the life of another! count them all and see where we have come in 8 years! did I say :grr:?

[ColbertWatcher]

10. I would love to see stats for the rise in violent crime since we invaded Iraq. n/t

[Indenturedebtor]

4. Come on guys you know that being brown at night in a poor part of town

is punishable by death.

Lets give this guy a slap on the wrist and get him back out there terrorizing the public as soon as possible!

[Incitatus]

6. Killed because of mistaken identity?

So if it was a suspect it would have been okay?

[BlooInBloo]

7. Cops kill another black man. Fucking pieces of shit.

[ColbertWatcher]

8. Precisely why they "accidentally" shot him ... twice. n/t

[fizzgig]

9. why did the cops even fucking shoot?

:grr:

[Swede]

11. Who shoots "suspected juvenile burglary suspects"?

This is so wrong,on so many levels.