When the employee informed Scott of this, he made a scene, and withdrew the weapon (although did not brandish it at anyone in particular). This incited the call to police, accompanied with his erratic behavior. Logically, if the guy is armed, and hostile, the employee has an obligation to notify police.

When law enforcement arrived, Scott refused to put down his weapon, and waved it around in agitation. At one point, in his rage the weapon was carelessly aimed at law enforcement, prompting the shooting that ensued.

After the reports from eyewitnesses, and several different attempts to find a legitimate case to sue, the Scotts withdrew the case, because frankly, they had none.

This guy was responsible every step of the way, and had multiple opportunities to avoid such a fate. It was entirely his own doing, which is the real tragedy in all of this.

This report is terribly, terribly misinformed, and not at all in line with accounts from Costco, law enforcement, or the several eye witnesses that were interviewed. Where did you come up with such a fabrication??

What EXACTLY did the COSTCO employee report to 9-1-1? That should be the baseline for analyzing whatever action the police subsequently launched.

It also might be the basis for a civil suit by the family against the INSTIGATOR of the series of actions that ultimately took the life of their son.

If 9-1-1 got a panicked call that a man carrying a gun was acting irrationally, when in fact that isn’t what actually happened in the store, then I would think that potentially the store chain just might have some liability. That might be an avenue worth pursuing, and also one having deep pockets.

In reality, nobody ever looks for a violent solution to these problems. That’s a terrible solution and you’re absolutely right about the police response.

But what can be done?

- People in general are very stupid. They support awful behavior by police. We can throw out “mass support” for reform. We’ll be the minority until the whole system collapses, because that’s what it takes.
- Police have the system setup to acquire perpetual power. They’ve rigged review boards and have tons of influence over all form of local and national politics.
- Today, the constitution is exclusively a courtroom prospect. It doesn’t exist on the streets at all. With qualified immunity, our “courtroom prospect” is in a very weakened state.

You know what I see standing between us and a future Orwellian police state? Nothing.

Citizens won’t win this way, but I certainly understand the sentiment.

The word in Vegas is that Scott’s dad is pretty well-connected

I don’t know of a more powerful organization than the thugs in blue. Their mob controls politicians, determines elections, operates outside the legal system as it suits them, and laughs as peasants line up to praise them…while also accumulating a lifetime of wealth for short careers.

You could be the president of the USA and you still aren’t connected enough to hold the police accountable. Ask Obama how it felt when he tried to get a cop to just apologize to Henry Gates. Instead, the cop said “fuck you”, drank the beer, and I think belched in their faces.

The day will come when a wronged family won’t bother with Section 1983.

They’ll just shoot the cops in the back from long range with a scoped deer rifle and be done with it.

This is the end game, yes. I really REALLY hope it doesn’t get this far*… but I am honestly surprised that it hasn’t yet.

*The innocent body count would certainly go UP in such a situation, on both sides of the badge. However, if that’s the only way left to punish the guilty on one particular side, that is what will eventually happen.

Heron, a sad case but I’m not convinced its so bad as the media reports. I want to hear the 911 tapes and read any reports from the police/hospital on injuries.

Although I’d never EVER agree to what #6 said in his post, because that would be – you know – would be WRONG (as well as recorded for posterity by our friends the NSA), it could be that Metro is in for an education in asymmetrical tactics and unconventional retaliatory moves.

One can always hope. We’ll see.

imo, that day is not far off…

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/17/opinion/blow-the-curious-case-of-trayvon-martin.html?_r=3