Friend questions police shooting

**Standard Dave** · 06-12-07, 06:45 PM

A friend of a woman shot dead by police in Kent has questioned whether it was necessary for her to be killed.

Ann Sanderson, 37, was shot in the car park of a department store in Sevenoaks after armed officers were called out to reports of a woman seen with a gun.

Her next-door neighbour, Vivian Bain, of Bethel Road, Sevenoaks, described her as a "kind and lovely" person.

"How could they kill her outright? Couldn't they have shot her arm... rather than kill her?" she asked.

Another neighbour, Victor Mayes, said he knew Ms Sanderson as "Tosh".

"When she first came here about nine years ago she was a little reclusive and a little guarded and in time she started to loosen up."

He said her death had left local residents extremely shocked.

Ms Sanderson, who worked at a guitar string factory in Sevenoaks, died in the early hours of Monday.

It is thought she was the first woman to have been shot dead by UK police for nearly 27 years.

Witnesses described hearing a single gunshot at about 0300 BST in the rear car park of a department store based in Sevenoaks High Street.

An investigation into the shooting is being carried out by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

The IPCC said a firearm was recovered at the scene, but would not comment further on exactly what it was.

A post-mortem examination was being carried out on Ms Sanderson on Tuesday.

A single, anonymous floral tribute has been left at the spot where she died.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/6746121.stm

This news just in :- The gun toting womans neighbour Vivian Bain is a moronic idiot who has obviously never spoken to a Police officer or soldier about shooting or life and death situations. Tell you what love next time theres a firearms incident we'll give you a gun and you go shoot the loon in the arm

**smokey703** · 06-12-07, 06:50 PM

[QUOTE]How could they kill her outright? Couldn't they have shot her arm... rather than kill her?" she asked.[QUOTE]

I don't know about anyone else, but I am not trained to fire a warning shot in the arm. I am trained to shot center mass to eleminate a threat.

**iso607** · 06-12-07, 06:58 PM

[QUOTE=smokey703;209645][QUOTE]How could they kill her outright? Couldn't they have shot her arm... rather than kill her?" she asked.

I don't know about anyone else, but I am not trained to fire a warning shot in the arm. I am trained to shot center mass to eleminate a threat.

My thoughts excactly.

**Lo523** · 06-12-07, 07:21 PM

[quote How could they kill her outright? Couldn't they have shot her arm... rather than kill her?" she asked.[quote]

No! It's scary how some people can't see the "bigger picture!"

**phantasm** · 06-12-07, 08:28 PM

"How could they kill her outright? Couldn't they have shot her arm... rather than kill her?" she asked.

I agree with her 100% I'm SHOCKED and APPALED that they didn't attempt this first. The poor poor lady.

**Rhino** · 06-12-07, 08:56 PM

Some people watch way too much TV and fail to live in this plane of reality.

**countybear** · 06-12-07, 09:16 PM

That's why they call it 'deadly force' lady. You don't use it unless you have to, but when you do, its too late to ask 'what if...'

**BEB** · 06-12-07, 09:23 PM

Days after a friend of mine is killed I'd be wondering why the sky is blue along with every "what if" that I can think of.

Anyone sticking a mic in my face during that time...

**Trojan 42** · 06-13-07, 03:18 AM

They don't mention the fact that the woman was a convicted arsonist with a history of mental illness, who also regularly damaged police cars. It is being suggested that this was a Suicide by Cop.

She was the first woman to be intentionally shot and killed in the UK.

**Hawk1** · 06-13-07, 05:38 AM

[QUOTE=smokey703;209645][QUOTE]How could they kill her outright? Couldn't they have shot her arm... rather than kill her?" she asked.

I don't know about anyone else, but I am not trained to fire a warning shot in the arm. I am trained to shot center mass to eleminate a threat.

+1

**Dinosaur32** · 06-13-07, 08:54 AM

Personally I think we should move from targeting center mass to the old naval tradition of a shot across the bow...anything to keep the BG from harm.

**Kpdpipes** · 06-13-07, 09:13 AM

Reminds me of a news item about a shooting in NYC.. BG shoots off-duty cop in the foot. Bad guy subsequently gets 5 center-mass, revoking his Birth Certificate. Bad Guys Cousin "Why they shoot him Fi' time?? He only shot that cop once!!!!"

**MemphisCop** · 06-14-07, 12:02 AM

In the words of the county sheriff in Florida when asked "Why did they shoot my son 68 times?" His response...."Because we ran out of bullets...."

Now THAT's reality!!!!!!!!

**Illiy** · 06-14-07, 12:17 AM

Originally Posted by MemphisCop

In the words of the county sheriff in Florida when asked "Why did they shoot my son 68 times?" His response...."Because we ran out of bullets...."

Now THAT's reality!!!!!!!!

I just had this convo at work the other day... someone said when you are on the streets, if you have to shoot someone go for their arm or leg or something... I told her "Ok, you call my mom and let her know I was killed but the suspect only has a leg wound" she didn't think it was funny...

**Tony** · 06-14-07, 12:41 AM

Originally Posted by Illiy

I just had this convo at work the other day... someone said when you are on the streets, if you have to shoot someone go for their arm or leg or something... I told her "Ok, you call my mom and let her know I was killed but the suspect only has a leg wound" she didn't think it was funny...

. . . . and yes, she's correct, it's not funny. You put it in perfect perspective for her and no doubt opened her eyes to the peril that is out there, it's not a TV show, it's the real deal. It is a matter of life or death and if you have to squeeze that trigger, well, I think we all hope that day doesn't come.

**k-9max** · 06-14-07, 01:01 AM

Unreal,
are people really that stupid, we are trained to eliminate the threat, not , umm, argg, nevermind.......

Illiy, that is a very good perspective!

**conalabu** · 06-14-07, 01:13 AM

Sure. Shoot 'em in the arm, maim 'em and get sued. And of course, we are all crack shots that can take the time to aim for an arm. And it is no problem for us to not worry about the whole idea of them being able to harm us after being wounded. We like being abused. That's why we are cops.

**countybear** · 06-14-07, 01:27 AM

Anyone who's ever been in deep doodoo can tell you, when its time to shoot, you shoot at whatever in the hell you can hit, as quickly and as accurately as you can. Most of all, your more intricate faculties are compromised as the body responds to the stress of the situation, and the manner in which you trained and have practiced takes over.

Center mass is always preferable for a number of reasons, not the least of which is its the easiest and most expedient target to hit, with the highest probability of ending the confrontation by disabling the attacker. That's why the training is designed to focus upon that area of an attacker. All of this "arm' or 'leg' crap is for television and movies.

Let Segal or Stallone aim for the pinkie finger on the non-gun hand, I'm fighting for my very life if I elect to fire on someone, and its real, not some multi-million dollar two-hour venture into fantasy.