Deputies have executed 13 year old Andy Lopez in Santa Rosa, California.
His crime? Carrying a toy gun.
The penalty? Death, without a trial.
Northern California sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a 13-year-old boy who was carrying a replica assault rifle after repeatedly telling him to drop it, sheriff’s officials and family members said.
Two Sonoma County deputies on patrol saw the boy walking with what appeared to be a rifle around 3 p.m. Tuesday in Santa Rosa, Sheriff’s Lt. Dennis O’Leary said. The replica gun resembled an AK-47 with a black magazine cartridge and brown butt, according to a photograph released by the sheriff’s office.
Rodrigo Lopez identified the victim as his son, Andy, to a newspaper and said the boy was carrying a toy gun that belonged to a friend. Deputies would only learn after the shooting that it was a replica, according to O’Leary.
After spotting the boy, the deputies called for backup and repeatedly ordered him to drop the weapon, O’Leary said in a news release. They fired several rounds from their handguns immediately afterward, according to O’Leary.
A neighbor in the area, Brian Zastrow, told the Santa Rosa Press Democrat (http://bit.ly/1eJymxx) he heard seven shots.
“First I heard a single siren and within seconds I heard seven shots go off, sounded like a nail gun, is what I thought it was,” he said.
The boy fell to the ground on top of the rifle, according to O’Leary. O’Leary said the deputies ordered him to move away from the weapon before approaching him and putting him in handcuffs.
They began administering first aid and called for paramedics, who pronounced him dead at the scene. Deputies also found a plastic handgun in the boy’s waistband, O’Leary said. (source)
The trigger-happy deputies have not been identified, but Sonoma County Sheriff’s Dept. spokesperson Lt. Dennis O’Leary says that they have been placed on administrative leave, pending review of their actions.
I have an AK and that Effing “TOY GUN” looks so damned much like it that I would have been hard pressed not to shoot. I have been to WAR 5 wars. I have witnessed CHILDREN carrying actual AK-47s. The picture above gives me the willies. Hell 20 feet away it would be difficult to tell that it is a toy.
THAT is unacceptable. With all of the effing Media fear hype regarding children killing children is it so hard to reason that these police acted out of irrational fear?
Who should be held responsible? The US Government for allowing “TOYS” like these to be sold on the market. Schools for their stupid Zero Tolerance policies that make children “want” even more to carry these stupid violent toys. Video game companies for glorifying war games that desensitize children.
This is a FAILURE OF SOCIETY!!!
Should the police be penalized? Well . . . to a certain point for a lack of sensible thinking. Should the parents be held responsible? To a point as well because they were not thinking about what such a realistic toy could cause in the wrong situation.
This is a horrendously sad situation and a very expensive learning experience for all….
i don’t know you 5 war,you might be a deceint guy.that said ,one “war”should have been enough for you to see the evil insanity of murdering people for lies from your gov. which would have made it easy to change/renounce all war and refuse to ever again murder for lies or anything else!! the cops murdered that kid,end of conversation!!!!!!!!!
Truly a very sad situation. Cops could have used a stun gun. Even though the teen did not obey, other solutions could have used. Another child, gone to soon.