14 votes

Former ‘ER’ actress Vanessa Marquez shot and killed by police

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10 comments

  1. [9]
    Petril
    (edited )
    Link
    This is so sad. I feel bad for her, her family, the officers, even the landlord who called them to check on her. I have no idea what went down there, but I have a lot of sadness. It does make me...

    This is so sad. I feel bad for her, her family, the officers, even the landlord who called them to check on her. I have no idea what went down there, but I have a lot of sadness.

    It does make me wonder what the situation was like that the police felt the need to shoot her. I know she was pointing a gun (BB gun) at them- did they not know she was unstable? Did they think she was a danger to the community? Why didn't they just stand to the side and talk to her rather than shoot back?

    Not criticizing- just wondering. Anyone have more insight into this?

    Edit:

    LA Times article going more in-depth.

    "Officers and a county mental health clinician spoke with Marquez for more than 90 minutes in an effort to persuade her to accept medical help. Police said she was “uncooperative,” may have been suffering from mental health issues and appeared to be unable to care for herself."

    While they were talking, she lunged for "what they thought was a semi-automatic handgun and pointed it at them."

    http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-marquez-20180831-story.html

    6 votes
    1. [8]
      Gaywallet
      Link Parent
      It's very difficult to train someone to not fire when someone is pointing a gun at them. I'm sure we'll learn more over the coming days. I'm hoping this was an honest mistake. I know I'd get...

      I know she was pointing a gun (BB gun) at them- did they not know she was unstable?

      It's very difficult to train someone to not fire when someone is pointing a gun at them. I'm sure we'll learn more over the coming days. I'm hoping this was an honest mistake. I know I'd get pretty jumpy if someone pointed a gun at me, especially if I thought they were mentally unstable.

      7 votes
      1. [2]
        burkaman
        Link Parent
        I mean, every other developed country manages to do it. I'm sure it is difficult, but it's worth it.

        I mean, every other developed country manages to do it. I'm sure it is difficult, but it's worth it.

        6 votes
      2. [5]
        Petril
        Link Parent
        Me too, I think.

        I know I'd get pretty jumpy if someone pointed a gun at me, especially if I thought they were mentally unstable.

        Me too, I think.

        4 votes
        1. [4]
          Diet_Coke
          Link Parent
          Have either of you gone through police academy? I'd hope there is some training on dealing with that adrenaline rush and not immediately opening fire. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan had AK-47s...

          Have either of you gone through police academy? I'd hope there is some training on dealing with that adrenaline rush and not immediately opening fire. Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan had AK-47s pointed their way and weren't allowed to fire until fired upon. It is possible. If you're going to have the power to be judge, jury, and executioner with almost no oversight, there should be a lot of training to prevent this kind of situation.

          4 votes
          1. sublime_aenima
            Link Parent
            Based on how often cops kill unarmed people, I would have to think that police academy either does not train for non-lethal encounters where a gun is present, or does a very shitty job.

            Based on how often cops kill unarmed people, I would have to think that police academy either does not train for non-lethal encounters where a gun is present, or does a very shitty job.

            3 votes
          2. Petril
            Link Parent
            I would agree. I'm 100% behind American police forces having more training, better training, de-escalation training, and accountability for their actions. But since, as you so rightly pointed out,...

            I would agree. I'm 100% behind American police forces having more training, better training, de-escalation training, and accountability for their actions.

            But since, as you so rightly pointed out, I have not gone through police academy, when someone says they'd get jumpy if someone pointed a gun at them, I'm going to say:

            Me too, I think.

            1 vote
          3. Gaywallet
            (edited )
            Link Parent
            The US police force does not have a protocol for escalation of force in the same way that the military does. In fact, most US police forces do not have any protocols at all for this. I know it's...

            The US police force does not have a protocol for escalation of force in the same way that the military does. In fact, most US police forces do not have any protocols at all for this.

            I know it's possible, and I would agree with you that it should be trained, but it's not currently being done with US police and I'm just acknowledging that it's not easy to train it either.

            EDIT: specified US police force

            1 vote
  2. Ellimist
    Link
    Given what we know about this, I can’t really fault the officers response. A lot of BB guns are made to look enough like the real deal, or close enough, that the officers likely had no way to know...

    Given what we know about this, I can’t really fault the officers response.

    A lot of BB guns are made to look enough like the real deal, or close enough, that the officers likely had no way to know if it was real or not prior to the shooting taking place.

    Sounds like the woman had decided on a “suicide by cop” approach

    It’s tragic that she reached a point where she felt she could not, or would not, seek treatment

    1 vote