Jump to content

Police kill college kid armed w/ Playstation controller


Immac

Recommended Posts

Suspect in PlayStation 3 Robbery Killed

The Associated Press

Monday, December 4, 2006; 9:52 AM

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- A teenager accused of robbing a student of two new Playstation 3s on the day the popular game consoles were introduced was killed by police who had been sent to arrest him.

Peyton Strickland, 18, was killed Friday at a house he shared with three roommates, New Hanover County Sheriff Sid Causey said.

"If this boy would've come to the door, opened the door, we probably wouldn't be talking," the sheriff said Sunday.

Roommate Mike Rhoton said Strickland was unarmed, but may have been holding a video game controller when he went to the door as it was bashed in by officers.

Arrest warrants alleged that Strickland, a student at Cape Fear Community College, and a University of North Carolina-Wilmington student stole two PlayStation units from another UNC-Wilmington student that day.

The sheriff said the robbery victim had waited three days in line to buy two Playstation 3 units for $641 each at a Wal-Mart. He was unloading the units at his campus apartment when one man beat him to the ground while another took the PlayStations, Causey said.

The sheriff said Strickland was shot by members of a a special police unit who went to help university officers serve warrants. He would not say why the special team was assisting.

Strickland's dog, a German shepherd, also was shot to death.

The State Bureau of Investigation is examining the case and three deputies on the team were placed on paid leave, Causey said.

The second man named in the warrants was arrested at another address and was released on bail on Saturday, authorities said.

The nationwide introduction of the Sony game system on Nov. 17 was marked by rowdy crowds and store stampedes. One buyer waiting in line at a Connecticut store was shot by armed robbers.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2006-1...htm?POE=TECISVA

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You burst through a door knowing that you have to make a decision to use deadly force in a split second...you see an object in the perps hand...if you hesitate for half a second you may die. Think about it. I'm surprised that things like this don't happen more often.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You burst through a door knowing that you have to make a decision to use deadly force in a split second...you see an object in the perps hand...if you hesitate for half a second you may die. Think about it. I'm surprised that things like this don't happen more often.

Why are they bashing in the door in the first place? This isn't a murder investigation. It's a Playstation theft.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The police wouldn't have acted with such force unless they were fairly sure that this suspect was indeed guilty of the crime he stood to be charged with. However it still seems excessive. Im not sure why they felt he may be armed. From what I understand no firearm was used in theft itself. This probably shouldn't have happened, set aside the fact that this kid, if he was guilty, wasn't a good person, but like the officer said if the guy had just answered his door, instead of forcing them to break it down. . .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What color is the sky on your planet?

"The deputies were helping police for the University of North Carolina at Wilmington serve an arrest warrant that charged Strickland with armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and breaking and entering a vehicle."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes but in this case the "deadly weapon" in question doesnt appear to be a firearm, and the difference between a handgun and a baseball bat is vast.

I was responding to immac. We were typing at the same time.

You probably wouldn't think so if someone came at you unexpectedly, from the side, with a baseball bat. And where did it say that it didn't appear to be a firearm?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes they should have just gone away and waitied until he left.

You're saying the cops should have just left if the kid didn't want to answer the door? Maybe the next time they can call and make an appointment to talk to him about the crime he committed.

All he had to do was answer the door and he'd be alive right now at the police station this very minute trying to lie his way out of it. And I was in Target yesterday looking at this PS3 and I remember the controller for it was black. I can see how they confused it for a gun. It's a terrible situation, but it could have been avoided.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cops always go over the line. Not once do they ever do anything reasonable or fair.

Well, I hope something happens to you to where you'll need 'em....because hopefully they won't help you, which sounds quite reasonable and fair. You don't deserve help, as much as you need it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cops always go over the line. Not once do they ever do anything reasonable or fair.

You must've just lost your mind. Half my family is law enforcement (Chicago and New York City police), and my uncle was Illinois State Trooper before he died (not duty related).

Always go over the line? Not once do anything reasonable or fair?

Get a friggin' life. They do a dangerous and poorly paid job, they do it every day, and they do it even though jackasses like you just think they are pieces of crap.

I don't agree with Cubsfaninfla very often, but I do this time. I hope you end up needing the police some day... but I hope they ARE there to help you. Then maybe your childish, idiotic view of them will change.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...