19 month girl used as human shield during shootout
A 19-month-old girl who was used by her gun-toting father as human shield during a shootout in Los Angeles was killed by a policeman's bullet, officials said.
An autopsy has revealed that the girl died after being hit in the head with a shot from a police rifle during the gun battle that followed a siege on Sunday.
Los Angeles police chief William Bratton held firm that, no matter what the autopsy results, it was the girl's father who got her and himself shot dead.
The father, identified as 34-year-old Jose Raul Pena, appeared to use the girl as "a shield" as he opened fire on officers after he barricaded himself in a house.
Pena and his daughter were killed and a special tactics officer wounded, police said.
"It's just a very sad day in a country where a child is killed at the hands of a police bullet," said Luis Carrillo, a lawyer representing the girl's family.
"This was an innocent child who had nothing to do with any of the events surrounding her."
The girl's mother and Pena's brother held a press conference to condemn the way police handled the confrontation and said officers ignored pleas to be patient for the child's sake.
Police rebuffed requests to be allowed to reason with the gunman and Pena was "a good person," family members said.
The police chief defended his officers, saying he refused to allow his department to "be maligned" by people "trying to portray an individual who held his own daughter as a human shield as somehow a hero."
"This guy is not a hero," police chief Bratton said of Pena. "This father is not a father of the year, as the family is now attempting to portray him."
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called for patience from the community while the investigation continues.
Police called Pena a "cold-blooded killer," and said the girl's mother, Lorena Lopez, filed a police report just hours before the shooting, claiming Pena had threatened to kill her and her family.
Pena ended a two and a half hour standoff by stepping from an apartment building holding a pistol and his daughter and opening fire, according to police.
Officers returned fire an estimated 90 shots and Pena squeezed off up to 40 rounds in the lethal exchange, according to officials.
"It's clear that this is a tragedy. There's nobody that refutes that," Mr Villaraigosa told reporters. "But, what we need to do is get to the bottom of it. Right now what we need is to calm the waters."
Read is here
posted by: RedTigress (reply)
post date: 07.14.05 (9:27 am)
That's very sad. The whole thing a shame. :(
posted by: GoddessOfSouls (reply)
post date: 07.14.05 (9:34 am)
what a sick feel this leaves in ones soul such sadness
posted by: Rand (reply)
post date: 07.14.05 (10:04 am)
Such a sad situation. Goes back to my post and about respect and how people influence other peoples world! Think about that.
posted by: Cherry (reply)
post date: 07.14.05 (11:11 am)
what a sad predictment but i guess the guy deserved it for putting his child in adangerous situation and she shouldn't have been there to begin with....but anyways thanks for sharing ...its sad but a great post.
posted by: Kupov (reply)
post date: 07.14.05 (11:57 am)
Yes it is for the best that he dies and did not have to face his actions
posted by: seagrass (reply)
post date: 07.15.05 (8:15 am)
Reply to: Kupov
The more you pour over this story (thanks, because you made me pat attention, I missed it in the papers), the more the complexity is quite apparent. However, not that I know enough about how the police are supposed to defend themselves according to protocol...but doesn't the fact that an infant was implicated as a human shield, wouldn't that dramatically cause a police cease-fire order??
posted by: Kupov (reply)
post date: 07.15.05 (9:48 am)
Im not sure they saw the child. And if they allow the police to cease fire every criminal will simply grab a kid
posted by: Kupov (reply)
post date: 07.15.05 (10:06 am)
quick tip criminals while on the run grab a baby, works better then kevlar
posted by: SweetDiva (reply)
post date: 07.15.05 (10:13 am)
Personally I don't agree with the police continuing to shoot ... with the child in the picture. This is very sad, many prayers go out to the family. May the baby RIP .... and the father ... well he will answer for his actions...I'll leave my words of him at that.
posted by: Kupov (reply)
post date: 07.15.05 (11:27 am)
You'r faith disgusts me, he will answer for his actions....unless he was a Christian then that baby killer gets to go to Heaven, Ha that a laugh
posted by: SweetDiva (reply)
post date: 07.15.05 (1:44 pm)
Reply to: Kupov
my faith disgust you?
wow ... now that is funny.
in the end ... we all will answer for our actions reguardless of what ones faith is.
posted by: Kupov (reply)
post date: 07.16.05 (10:48 am)
Not Christianity persay simply you'r beleif disgusts me
posted by: Kupov (reply)
post date: 07.17.05 (5:58 pm)
your beleif that even if this person was a terible chuild killer a long as he prayed to God he goes to heaven. This is a terrible thing to beleive becasue it produces the mindset that killing id okay because you will still go to heaven. when in reality it is of course not.
posted by: graceshaker (reply)
post date: 07.20.05 (8:50 am)
Reply to: Kupov
Kupov said: "unless he was a Christian then that baby killer gets to go to Heaven"
indeed. this is whats called grace. most of humanity has no real concept of it but a God who can be impressed by human actions is the result and all the world seems to accept that version. the problem is thats not the version scripture reveals. it reveals the God of grace who will accept anyone based on faith. this nullifies the prideful idea that God bases favor on accomplishment.
posted by: graceshaker (reply)
post date: 07.20.05 (8:55 am)
something else in the article that caught my eye and relates to the discussion is that his family members considered him "a good person".
this is just as arbitrary and subjectively wrong as any of us saying we are good people. we all do wrong. every last one of us.
this is why we need a God who doesnt favor based on accomplishment.
posted by: Kupov (reply)
post date: 07.24.05 (1:30 am)
so you think such a God would be better to simply base it on being a Christian?
posted by: Boomster (reply)
post date: 07.25.05 (5:26 pm)
This just further reinforces the fact that some people just don't need/deserve to breed. Period...they just shouldn't do it.
posted by: Kupov (reply)
post date: 07.26.05 (3:06 am)
I do not think Religious people should be allowed to breed or racists but that would not stop them from being born
posted by: graceshaker (reply)
post date: 08.05.05 (4:51 pm)
Reply to: Kupov
God does not show favor based on someone being a part of a religion.
he shows favor based on Christ.