Have you seen this - Video Shows Confrontation That Left Local Veteran Mortally Wounded?

2015-09-23T17:06:49-04:00

Have you seen this - Video Shows Confrontation That Left Local Veteran Mortally Wounded?

RP Members was this handled correctly by the Police in Killeen, TX? Your thoughts?

THERE IS NOTHING GRAPHIC IN THIS VIDEO - JUST WANT YOUR FEEDBACK ON DIALOGUE LEADING UP TO THE SHOOTING, WHICH IS NOT ON CAMERA!

You need to watch the entire video.

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/Video-Shows-Confrontation-That-Left-Local-Veteran-Mortally-Wounded---328869081.html

Video Shows Confrontation That Left Local Veteran Mortally Wounded

More than 17 months after officers shot and mortally wounded a veteran in a confrontation at a home in a local neighborhood, police have released dash-cam videos of the incident.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Sep 23 at 2015 5:09 PM

2015-09-23T17:09:36-04:00

No I had not seen the video COL Mikel J. Burroughs and I am not sure I want to watch it.

Response by CPO Andy Carrillo, MS made Sep 23 at 2015 5:31 PM

2015-09-23T17:31:52-04:00

As a former deputy sheriff I see this incident as another tragic example of 'suicide by cop'. The article indicates the perpetrator was shot and critically wounded once before, recovered, then was shot and mortally wounded 5 months later under similar circumstances. Suicidals are also homicidal.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Sep 23 at 2015 5:32 PM

2015-09-23T17:32:43-04:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs Seems the officers did exactly what they should do in this type situation.They seemed to offer him every opportunity and even backed away.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2015 5:52 PM

2015-09-23T17:52:55-04:00

The police officers were attempting to disengage by retreating as he was advancing. I believe Titus Latchison wanted to commit suicide by cop. You can clearly hear him encouraging the officer to shoot him on the tape, you clearly hear the police officer telling him to drop the knife as he is advancing, but he does not. At the time the shots are fired he and the officers are no longer in the frame. Were multiple shots necessary? and did they need to be all placed center of mass?

Did the police handle it correctly? It looked like a Full Response Team arrived to a suicide threat from what can be seen and heard in the video.
*Ambulance on scene prior to shooting
*Single Officer trying to engage and talk to Titus.
*Single Officer calling out instructions to Titus.
*Observer in place, we know someone has eyes on because he's telling the engaging officer Titus' location.

As an officer, the principal question you're trying to answer is this: Is this person an imminent threat to themselves or others? That answer will inform what you do next as an officer. If the answer is no, there isn't a whole lot more to be done. If the answer is yes, then how can the threat be stopped what/how much force is necessary to do that?

Given this situation I think the Police acted within the limits and general policy for handling a suicide threat. I don't think any officer ever believes someone will try to commit suicide by cop or that he or she will be the police officer involved in this situation, but it does happen.

I found the following posted by his family regarding his injuries and service. "Titus Latchison is a wonderful son and father of three beautiful children. He has served in the US Army for twelve years and deployed to Iraq three times. Unfortunately, on April 4th, 2014, Titus Latchison was shot several times. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and has had several surgeries. He was also in a comma for over two weeks. Titus lost a lung and his intestines are severly damaged. On May 18, 2014 he was transfered from the Intensive Care Unit to a recovery room. He has to go through a long recovery including learning how to walk and talk again."

COL Mikel J. Burroughs I hope this helps. I'm sorry for his family for their loss.

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Sep 23 at 2015 7:19 PM

2015-09-23T19:19:30-04:00

Why can't officers shoot people in their leg and incapacitate them...why do they shoot to kill? Why are they trained to shoot to kill or shoot the chest? Why didn't he have a taser? Or why can't they use rubber bullets?

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Sep 23 at 2015 8:39 PM

2015-09-23T20:39:11-04:00

Typical suicide by cop incident. I saw a few of them back in the 70-80s with Viet Vets. Considering the time frame and the number of units that arrived, did not one of them have a Taser or shotgun with rubber shot in the trunk. That said you can only back up so far before you have to shoot someone intent on getting shot.

Response by SGT Scott Bell made Sep 23 at 2015 8:43 PM

2015-09-23T20:43:22-04:00

No i have not

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Sep 23 at 2015 9:01 PM

2015-09-23T21:01:48-04:00

We only have this video to go by and in this video the Veteran was uncooperative, and clearly looking for an altercation (video indicated he was throwing knives at the officers) and approached them in an aggressive manner. Whether his intent or not, his life was ended as a direct reaction to his failure to obey the commands given. It looks to me like the decisions he made assisted him in his desire to end his own life - he wanted to die and accomplished just that with the help of these professionals that gave him many chances to comply. Clearly a case for some non-lethal means to be used here.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Sep 23 at 2015 11:35 PM

2015-09-23T23:35:11-04:00

Looks like a legitimate shooting to me.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2015 8:10 AM

2015-09-24T08:10:54-04:00

Always so much we don't know beforehand...but this officer seemed to have gone to great lengths before being forced to fire. Also, from the assailant's overall bearing and demeanor...I'd say he was wanting to be shot. Very sad.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Sep 24 at 2015 11:09 AM

2015-09-24T11:09:54-04:00

It's possible they could have used less lethal shotguns to disable him, but once he lunged at the officer with his knife, the officer had no choice.

The fact that he was throwing knives at the officers is clearly ADW or attempted murder of a LEO, so deadly force was warranted...

The bigger question, is why was this veteran so deranged as to do this in the first place. Did the system fail him?

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Sep 25 at 2015 2:45 PM

2015-09-25T14:45:16-04:00

This occurrence reminds me of the death of Eula Love in an encounter with Los Angeles police officers in 1979. She too tossed a knife at them and was shot to death. It always seemed to me that it was an overreaction on their part. Hadn't she effectively disarmed herself when she threw it? Now it seems in this case that the veteran had more than one knife, but with each one he too was disarming himself. Couldn't the police have waited until he threw the last one and then taken him into custody. He could then have received the treatment that he apparently needed. Of course, I don't know the whole story and am only dwelling on a possibility. There is plenty of other avenues of fantasy that I could take to reach some other conclusion. Hopefully those in authority will consider the facts and reach a just conclusion. Or else we could simply accept that "suicide by cop" is no excuse for second-guessing those who protect and serve...