NYPD Backs Cop for Fatally Shooting Man with Chair

The NYPD is defending Officer Dawn Ortiz, who shot and killed a homeless man in Coney Island Thursday, saying that she was justified in firing at the man who was coming at her while swinging a chair. Paul Browne, spokesman for the department, explained, “Basically, was there an imminent threat to life or serious injury? That is the defining statement.”

More information has been released about Gilberto Blanco, the victim whose identity was at first unclear since had had no identification when the shooting took place. Cops used the cell phone found on his person to call his brother and learn that Blanco was an illegal immigrant who had entered the US last year. His brother told them that after struggling to find work lately, his brother had become depressed and was drinking heavily.

Christopher Dunn, a spokesman for the New York Civil Liberties Union did not sound like the book was shut on the case, saying, "When a guy with nothing more than a chair in his hands ends up dead, that raises lots of questions about the propriety of a police shooting.” Officer Ortiz has been assigned to desk duty after initially being taken to the hospital to be treated for trauma, standard procedures following such an incident.

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By Billy Parker in News on November 15, 2008 11:57 AM

Comments [rss]

Future Taliban

"Any cop, male or female, would have done the same thing. If you move to attack a cop with any weapon, you can expect to be shot."

Gee, I never saw anybody give oral sex thru the printed word like that before. Good job Jaycjay!

Future Taliban

"NYPD backs cop for fatally shooting _______________________"

(fill in victims's name)

I mean REALLY, is there ANY shooting they won't 'back up'?

jaycjay

"If women can't physically overpower homeless bums, then they should be held to a higher standard when it come to shooting ability."

Do you really think this would have turned out differently if instead the guy had attacked the male cop on the scene?

What happened: the police responded to a call that someone was trying to break into cars in the parking lot. The spotted the suspect and approached him. Instead of talking to them, he picked up the chair and threatened them with it, moving towards one of them. They drew their guns and ordered him to drop the chair. He didn't; they repeated the order. He raised the chair and charged at one of the cops from a few feet away. When he was within a foot, she fired.

Any cop, male or female, would have done the same thing. If you move to attack a cop with any weapon, you can expect to be shot.

HughGass

The NYPD would stand behind a cop who fisted a puppy in the middle of Times Square.

Billiamsburg

Well whats done is done right? lets move on. more crazy WWF weapon wielding minorities where that one came from.

angry_pickle

What do they teach at the police academy these days? If women can't physically overpower homeless bums, then they should be held to a higher standard when it come to shooting ability.

whitecastlerock

Justifiable homicide, NYPD style...

Snoopy

If a gun is the only way to stop a perp, that's another reason that women should not be cops.

An illegal alien huh? Hmm? Homeless also. Hmm. This wont be news for long.

spnder

It doesn't sound like a very spirited defense...

RevWaldo

NYPD Backs Cop for Fatally Shooting Man with Chair

007's got nothing on the NYPD!

Offbalance

Oh for crying out loud. It seems like they just want to draw a target on street cops these days.

If you charge at a cop or threaten them for any reason, you should expect to get shot. It's just that simple, or it should be.