Here about a week ago I read in the newspaper about something that happened in Jacksonville. See, Jacksonville is one of the biggest cities in Florida so it has a really high crime rate! Well, a 23 year old man broke into a jewlery store, when the alarm went off he ran. Police chased him down and shot him to death! And he did not harm any of the officers all he did was run! Well, the family of the criminal is attempting to sue the state for the death of their family member b/c the police were in the wrong for shooting an unarmed person for no real reason...eyewitnesses even stated that the criminal in no way posed a threat! I think the family should win this one...b/c it just wasn't right what happened...sure he was in the wrong for breaking into an establishment but he didn't deserve what he got!

The death sentence, without a trial, conviction by jury of your peers, for B and E?
Being a police officer is a tough job but by what you say the police responded with deadly force to a situation that didn't require it. They chose law enforcement over life. That's wrong.
The officers should be punished and compensation should be given but maybe not to the family. The guy was committing a criminal act and during any criminal act there is a great risk that an innocent person may suffer, hurt or die.
Maybe the settlement should go to a charitable organization. Like for victims of crimes who can't get compensation.

I like Nakis' idea. I don't think it would be right to compensate or reward these folks -- I'm not holding them in any way accountable, but, if we start a precedent with that, we would have every bozo criminal's family suing for compensation. We have enough frivolous law suits already. The money from the suit would be better put to use by a worthy charity, as Nakis suggested.
I hate that the fellow lost his life and I certainly sympathize with his family's loss. However, anyone who engages in criminal activity should know that when you do things like that, you are likely to be met with the wrong side of a gun. Criminals know the risks involved in their chosen field and the dope money he would have gotten from that jewelry must have looked better to him than his own life. I'm not excusing what the police did, but I just think most criminals realize the price they will eventually pay.

You guys have a point about the family...but the police were still in the wrong for taking law enforcement over life...the criminal should be punished, but not the way the law did it...but like I said you guys have a point!

I'm not saying that the police never make mistakes or use poor judgement, but we also have to remember that they sometimes have to make split second decisions during a time of extremely high stress (confronting the bad guys). That's not an easy task! If it was dark out and this guy made a move that even hinted at being aggressive (and looked as if he had a weapon) toward them, they really had no other choice but to shoot.

It is unfortunate that this person was killed, but as Nakis and Carrie said, if he weren't in the middle of a criminal act, he'd not have been put in that position. I like your idea too, Nakis.

Kell

Good point Kell. Maybe the guy turned on the cops during the chase and had something in his hand that looked like a gun.
Did the article say he was unarmed?
In that split decision where you believe your life is in danger you have to make that choice in a fraction of a second.
It was also possible that it may have been one shot only. And that shot may not have been meant to kill but to only wound. But even one shot can kill. There are a few viens/arteries in the body that once you cut them open a person can bleed to death in under a minute. One is in the abdomen near the spine. It's impossible to get to without surgery.
It's clear that we don't know all the circumstances of the crime.

That's one of the reasons why the police are supposed to not use deadly force unless absolutely necessary or engage in high speed pursuits. Our justice system generally supports life over all else.
That's why if you engage in any kind of violence except for self protection or to protect another life you go to jail.
That's why if you have a dangerous weapon on you or in your vehicle when you commit a crime you go to jail for even longer.