Teen shot while reaching for cell phone

**MacLean** · 10-16-07, 01:03 PM

http://www.komotv.com/news/10536417.html

SEATTLE -- A 13-year-old boy was shot early Sunday morning after refusing to obey an officer and reaching into his pocket for a phone, which the officer mistook for a weapon.

Seattle Police Sgt. Deanna Nollette said the boy was shot in the leg. The teen was taken to Harborview Medical Center where he was expected to recover.

The shooting occurred just after 3 a.m. near the intersection of 26th and South Washington.

Nollette said the officer was on routine patrol when he encountered two teens who he thought were behaving suspiciously. When he approached, the two ran off.

He found them again a short time later and ordered both to stop. One of the boys complied, but Nollette said the other threw off his jacket and refused to show the officer his hands.

The teen allegedly walked toward the officer and reached into his pocket and began to pull out a black cell phone, at which point the officer fired twice.

Nollette said the officer did not know it was a phone and thought it was a weapon.

"It's a horrible situation to put an officer or anybody, an officer in this particular case who's in a full uniform, marked patrol car, he's making a reasonable demand for someone to just show their hands," said Deputy Chief John Diaz.

"And then you have one person comply and one being very agitated and unwilling to follow instructions. They don't have a lot of time to make a decision."

The father of a 13-year-old boy who was wounded said his son was complying with the officer when he was shot.

George Trotman told the Seattle P-I that he intends to hire a lawyer to investigate seeking compensation.

The officer, a 3-year veteran of the department, was placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure any time an officer fires a weapon in the line of duty.

The other boy, who Nollette said is 14 years old, was interviewed and released to his parents.

Officials said the boy admitted to investigators that he and the wounded boy had been spraying graffiti on buildings in the area.

Nollette said the department's shooting review board would be investigating the incident.

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As usual, the Seattle press misses all the details. The guild president was on talk radio this morning with the rest of the story.

According to Sgt. Oneill, the Seattle Police Guild President, not only did the young man refuse to show his hands, he acted aggressively and after throwing off his jacket made challenging statements to the officer and made an exaggerated movement, lifting his t-shirt and reaching for the cell phone as if it were a gun.

**Rhino** · 10-16-07, 01:22 PM

I bet he won't do it again.

**Virginian** · 10-16-07, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by Rhino

I bet he won't do it again.

**MacLean** · 10-16-07, 01:23 PM

Any time soon, anyhow.

**depusm12** · 10-16-07, 01:41 PM

I just bet he won't.

**Wolven** · 10-16-07, 01:49 PM

The father of a 13-year-old boy who was wounded said his son was complying with the officer when he was shot.

Of course, his son is an

and would never do anything wrong. It was the BIG BAD OFFICER who was wrong.

Sorry...feeling a little bitter today...LOL

**ex401mp** · 10-16-07, 02:11 PM

Ok, first of all, why the hell were they out running around at 3am anyway? I hope the oficer fares well on that shooting review, next will bne the father of that "angel" suing the agency for shooting that little dumbass.

**MacLean** · 10-16-07, 02:12 PM

In Seattle, the lawsuit is a given. The local NAACP chapter is already chiming in.

The kids were out tagging, according to their statements.

**armsmaster270** · 10-16-07, 02:14 PM

I just hate those BIG BAD officers pickin on the poor innocent children. The only problem is there are now 4 shot .22 cell phones out there that can kill you. I hope the officer goes to the range, 2 shots, 1 leg hit. Should be at least 1 10x.

**MacLean** · 10-16-07, 02:19 PM

Depending on who tells the story, he was shooting out of a draw or from low ready.

Common problem.

**armsmaster270** · 10-16-07, 02:31 PM

If you practice it you can do it under stress, I've done it, while running backwards to avoid being stabbed.

**MacLean** · 10-16-07, 02:32 PM

Nod.

**lewisipso** · 10-16-07, 02:59 PM

Arrest the dumbass father for improper supervision and principle to the crime since allegedly he was there and can testify that his angle was complying.

**Jks9199** · 10-16-07, 03:03 PM

OK... what's confusing about this? Cops chase you, draw down on you... You do what they say! It ain't rocket science to know that a gun beats a cell phone. (Of course, it ain't rocket science to say that middle-school kids should be home, in bed, at 3 AM without a damn good reason to be out!)

**Rhino** · 10-16-07, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by maclean

In Seattle, the lawsuit is a given.

Same here. I suspect it's probably about anywhere you go in this country. Family doesn't care about right or wrong- they are just seeing dollar signs.

I think the cop should counter-sue for emotional distress.

**Pudge** · 10-16-07, 07:05 PM

The sad thing is, this kid won't learn a thing. His parents, friends, the NAACP, Rev. Al, and everybody else will have this spun and drilled into his head that he did no wrong. He will then obtain a gun for "protection" from the PO-LEESE and end up taking a shot at someone on down the line.

Badge212 · 10-16-07, 07:48 PM

Boy what a idiotic kid. When a police officer tells you to do A, you don't go and do B.

**deputy29** · 10-17-07, 03:13 AM

Last I heard the father was claiming his son was shot because he was black. I don't care what color you are if I think your pointing a gun at me I'm going to shoot you.

**Wolven** · 10-17-07, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by deputy29

Last I heard the father was claiming his son was shot because he was black. I don't care what color you are if I think your pointing a gun at me I'm going to shoot you.

Are you for real? Damn stupid people....