19 Year Old Carrying Gun Killed by Police

Last night, the police killed Timur Person, who was found with a semi-automatic weapon. A police squad car drove by a building in Mount Eden, the Bronx, when Person and his friends "scattered." Person was chased into the foyer and then shot by the police four times, three times in the chest, once in the face. A witness told WABC 7 what he saw:

"I turned around, and he was already running," eyewitness Hector Suarez said. "When he was running, the two officers in the back seat got out of the car. When they got out of the car, the two officers in the back seat started chasing him. They got into the building, and they were wrestling with him."

Witnesses say the officers saw that Person had a gun, a .38-caliber semiautomatic with two clips. They say the cops ordered him to drop it.

"The cops told him, 'Let go of the weapon, let go of the weapon,'" Suarez said. "He was holding his waist. At no time did he grab the gun. He was just holding the waist, holding the gun to stay in his belt line. And right there when he fell to the floor, the officer told him let go of the gun."

Another person said Person was trying to surrender. Clearly, an investigation will be conducted, but in this case, unlike the Queens shooting, there was actually a gun on the scene. What is not clear is why the police stopped in front of the building and what Person and the others were doing to attract their attention.

Person is the first person killed since Sean Bell's death. He had been arrested a few times before (the Post described Person as a "career criminal"), but his friends and family say he was turning his life around. According to the NY Times, a crowd reportedly taunted the police; the Times also had a quote from Person's mother: "I can't cry. I can't get the tears. I'm too angry."

Person would have turned 20 this weekend.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on December 14, 2006 4:43 PM

Comments [rss]

Dirty Harry

#4, thanks for the advice! I know for certain that a lot of gun-toting thugs are regular Gothamist readers. Good thing!

ed_Extinct

from todays NYT: One of the men who was in the group with Mr. Person Wednesday night told the police that the group had planned to rob drug dealers in the area.

Yes of course... this is exactly how someone turns their life around from a life of criminal convictions, robbing drug dealers... I'm sorry, while I feel sympathy for Bell and his family, I feel no sympathy for this [deceased] murderer in the making.

Tom

Good riddance to bad rubbish. How long until the family files their lawsuit?

mdowning

wonderful news

Doctorted

he Times also had a quote from Person's mother: "I can't cry. I can't get the tears. I'm too angry."

Angry about what?

That your little homie wont be able to commit any more hold-ups at KFC and you wont be able to order Chinese food again?

Chris

Its always one of two things with these types of people:

(1) he's been a criminal, but he's turning his life around; or

(2) this just isn't him, he wouldn't do something like that.

Turning your life around definitely involves carrying an illegal firearm at all times....jackasses.

desk sgt

"the Times also had a quote from Person's mother: "I can't cry. I can't get the tears. I'm too angry.""

I am too. I'm angry that this 'mom' didn't give the little brat a better education and a better upbringing in order to avoid getting his li'l criminal ass shot to death.

Please don't pop-out anymore little craps like that, will ya, 'mom'?. Get on the pill, I bet welfare covers it.

poor man's ccw

NOT everyone who want's to protect themselves can afford a Sig. Too bad the supply of quality east german makarovs will be drying up. There's bulgarian maks a plenty.

A quality quality gun that still packs a punch in the 9x18 cal.

Maks are great commie guns. Just like the Croatian HS2000 before Springfield started distributing them.

another tip

I like your tips, otomboy, here's some more

don't throw rocks at people with guns

don't stand in front of bulldozers

Amanado

And if you don't have a gun, don't reach for your wallet, either.

ed_Extinct

Baikal marketed the the .380 caliber Makarov in the 90's.

Personally, I like the Swiss Sigs.

otomboy

If you are caught by the police and have a gun

PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR

do not put your hand anywhere near the gun. If it was a knee-jerk reaction to keep the gun from falling out of his belt... well that really is tough luck, but as cop, I would see that as going for his gun to kill me.

Also related advice:

- don't run from the police.

- don't struggle with the police

- don't carry a gun.

nobody

if this was fark, i would be posting the *aww not this shit again* graphic.

Mack arof

The gun looks like a Makarov. The news states it's a .380

How many homeboys know what a Makarov is and that most use the rare but still available 9 X 18mm round? The 9x18 is a much better round and it was made for that caliber.

Maybe it was a plant gun. Makarovs were the best kept secret 10 years ago, mostly known by gun enthusiasts. Excellent guns.

ed_Extinct

*[Timur] Person as a "career criminal", but his friends and family say he was turning his life around. *

A person who's turning their life around does not carry an illegal loaded firearm or do they have reason to run from the police.