Washita County, Oklahoma is prepared to test the bounds of the rights to keep and bear a gun.. and of course, maybe we just have a bit more forgiveness in our hearts if we do a bit of race reversal.
http://thegrio.com/...
Chief Ross arrived at Horton’s house Thursday morning after Wishita County 911 received two calls saying that there was a bomb inside a nearby head start school. The 911 caller identified himself as Horton. Ross went inside the school and found no evidence of a bomb. He then decided to go into Horton’s home but not before getting backup.
Breaking down the front door, Ross entered Horton’s house. According to reports, he cleared one room and entered a second bedroom when Horton opened fire. In a press release Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations said, “Facts surrounding the case lead agents to believe the man was unaware it was officers who made entry.”
However, according to statements made by Chief Ross to a local news outlet, that may not be the case.
“Don’t know what he heard or didn’t hear screaming from five officers of the law announcing our presence, requesting to see hands,” Ross said to News9.
So, a bomb threat is called into a pre-school. No bomb is found. The number is linked back to a home and officers believe that there may be a risk here, so with backup they seek out the bomber.
Chief Ross was hit three times in the chest - which fortunately was protected with a bullet proof vest, and once in a through and through in his arm, which should heal.
With a bomb threat in hand, Police officers believed the resident may have been intending to conduct harm to the pre-school that was targetted in the 911 phone messages left from his house. With backup on hand, and five officers, the police began demanding the resident exit the building with hands up, upon entering however, shots were quickly fired.
http://www.news9.com/...
>Up to this point, Horton claimed he never knew any officers were in his home.
“Don't know what he heard or didn't hear screaming from five officers of the law announcing our presence, requesting to see hands,” said Chief Ross.
“He thought he was protecting his home and his wife. He didn't know what was going on until the door was busted down. And you have a right to protect your family and that's what he was doing,” said a family member of the Horton's.
According to Chief Ross, the five police officers began announcing "Hands Up" and "Show Your Hands" (more in video at the link) in order to request Horton peacefully exit the building.
Horton, however, proclaims that he had no idea they were officers, and assuming it was a home invasion by 5 men who happened to have police cars parked outside, opening fire seemed like the right idea.
http://thegrio.com/...
A relative of Horton countered that saying, “He thought he was protecting his home and his wife. He didn’t know what was going on until the door was busted down. And you have a right to protect your family and that’s what he was doing.”
While there is still a pending investigation over the false bomb threats made by the resident against a pre-school, the shooting at this point is not currently expected to be charged.
http://www.kswo.com/...
"We are all stunned by this. Lewis has been here about a year and he has done an exceptional job. He is well liked in the community. People love him and we just pray that he will get better," said Mayor Dlugonski.
The man and his wife were taken into custody and questioned for several hours by the OSBI, but right now they are not under arrest. Investigators believe he may have been unaware it was officers who entered his home.
It is an amazing benefit of the doubt that may call into question the preference given to the resident. Would an African American man firing 4 shots at police officers be allowed to say "I didn't realize it was a police officer" as a valid defense?