Deputies mistook cellphone for gun in fatal Athens shooting

Two deputies apparently mistook a cellphone for a gun when they fatally shot an unarmed 22-year-old man in Athens, authorities said.

A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman said Woodrow Player Jr. twice pointed a "dark object" at deputies during a foot chase Friday, causing them to believe that he was armed with a handgun. The second time he pointed the object at deputies, they opened fire.

Read the complete story about the Athens shooting.

-- Richard Winton

Comments

[eric]

Do Police Officers actually get training anymore? Or is it just point and shoot?

[bigpicture]

What a tragic event. I can't even begin to imagine the pain, hurt and anger the Player family must be experiencing. In addition, I can't even begin to imagine the pain the deputies are feeling. They must have felt that the young man was indeed armed, especially since he was running away and appeared to be pointing something at them. That is a tough call (shoot or don't shoot). I'm interested to see what the investigation will reveal. For instance, was the origianl details of the call a person with a gun and did the young man match the description?

[Warren]

Honestly... cops pretty much just "shoot and point". And how do they justify it? They claim the "feared for theis lives"... It's pretty much a joke, and then one wonders why cops are hated soo much too!
I'm a white indvidual and have never had an encounter with a cop, but I've personally seen it many times the way they treat individuals (especially minorities). Many, if not most of these cops are racist loosers with badges that aren't here to "protect and to serve". They're here to basically do what they want.

[Paul]

I, like most Angelinos are against all these gang bangers and criminals, but how does one mistake a cell phone for a gun? Three shots to the back? Give me a break.... these cops are much dumber and ruthless than I previously thought. My Heart goes out to this poor guy's family.

[kooo]

Why did he run, then turn around and point a cell phone back at the officers? Suicide by cop.

[Frank]

First of all, this guy was a gang member, nuff said. Second he ran from the cops, anyone should know if you run they may shoot you. Cops are like gangsters but the good kind were they only kill bad people. He had a gun in the car, Hello people? LA is to nice to criminials and gang members. It's sad of course that this person died, but it would have been avoided if he just put his arms up and didn't not run.

[Sam]

Wow! LAPD's finest at work. Shoot to kill and ask questions later! Unfortunately these Police Officers are like Animals out to kill whomever they think possess a threat to them. VERY UNCOOL LAPD!

[David]

Of Course these actions by the LAPD are going to be justified... I mean, hey... the guy was Black, so in the LAPD's eyes, he's guilty of something!!
Whether he was a Blood, Terrorist, etc.. nobody should be shot in the back. Nobody!!!!
Police Officers will always claim they felt a threat, which is why they are always shooting people. The truth is, many of them are Racist Gang bangers themselves with badges.

[TN]

Sam,

Please read the article before posting ignorrant comments. This incident involved the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Dept., not the LAPD.

And to all the other cop-bashers out there, we're talking about a convicted felon gangmember, on parole with a loaded handgun in his car, who had just been in an altercation with a young woman and child, fleeing deputies and pointing a dark object at them.

This man posed a real threat to both the deputies and the community, and he is the only one to blame for the way it played out.

[Melanie]

I agree with what TN has to say about all you cop haters out there. Unfortuntely there has been so much Police Brutality and excessive use of force that it was brought our confidence in our Officers to an all time low.
But, the fact that this Indivudual was a convicted Felon does not justify the Police shooting him in the back..... and lets be realistic here, how stupid does ine have to be to mistake a cell phone for a gun? I used to have respect for Pilice Officers but too many of them, if not most of them have become corrupt and unfortuntely most are racisct.

[Mark]

Police Officers in this country have become criminals themselves with badges. I think that's why we see many of them getting shot at. Revenge!!