'He did nothing wrong': Family of Texas entrepreneur fatally shot by police say he was defending his

[Stevicus]

'He did nothing wrong': Family of Texas entrepreneur fatally shot by police say he was defending his home (msn.com)

Atech entrepreneur in Texas wasn’t given ample time to drop a rifle he was carrying on his own front porch before he was fatally shot by police last month, his devastated family told NBC News.

Rajan “Raj” Moonesinghe, 33, had returned from a trip and suspected his home had been burglarized during the early-morning hours of Nov. 15. That’s when he held a rifle outside his front door and was encountered by an Austin police officer who quickly shot him while almost simultaneously ordering Moonesinghe to drop the gun, relatives said.

In an exclusive interview on Thursday, Moonesinghe’s mother, Ruth, and brother, Rohann, said they are heartbroken and demanding answers from Austin police as to why their loved one was killed so quickly before being given a reasonable amount of time to drop the weapon.

“He did nothing wrong,” Rohann Moonesinghe said. “He had a gun … he was defending his house and he didn’t point the gun. He was not menacing. He didn’t look like he was going to shoot anyone.”

Moonesinghe said his brother got a rifle to protect himself and there had been recent crimes in the area.

“He called his friend and he said I think something’s been moved around my house. Something strange is going on.”

Austin police said in a statement the deadly shooting occurred about 12:30 a.m.

They said a 911 caller told a dispatcher that a man in a grey robe and dark pants was pointing a rifle down the street.

The caller also said the man was pointing his rifle at the interior of his home, police said. The caller then stated the man just fired into his own home. The caller said the police were on scene and the man fired again, police said.

Police identified the officer who fired at Moonesinghe as Daniel Sanchez, who is now on administrative leave.

“Officer Sanchez was the first to observe Mr. Moonesinghe and gave him a verbal command to drop the gun. Immediately after telling Mr. Moonesinghe to drop the gun, Officer Sanchez fired his Department approved firearm at Mr. Moonesinghe. Mr. Moonesinghe was struck and fell to the ground,” police said.

Two other officers initially responded to the call. One of those officers ordered Moonesinghe to show his hands after he was shot.

“The officers immediately began life-saving measures,” police said. Moonesinghe died at a local hospital, police said.

Sanchez has been with the department for two years and nine months, police said. They said two investigations into the shooting are ongoing.

One is a criminal investigation by the department’s Special Investigations Unit in conjunction with the Travis County District Attorney’s Office. The second is an administrative investigation conducted by the department’s Internal Affairs Unit, with oversight from the Office of Police Oversight.

Another tragedy that should have and could have been avoided.

 

[exchemist]

'He did nothing wrong': Family of Texas entrepreneur fatally shot by police say he was defending his home (msn.com)











Another tragedy that should have and could have been avoided.

It's what happens when everyone has got GUNS.

 

[Nakosis]

Video Austin police releases body cam footage of fatal police shooting

 

[Revoltingest]

'He did nothing wrong': Family of Texas entrepreneur fatally shot by police say he was defending his home (msn.com)

Linkie no workie.

Edit...
It works now!

 

[Revoltingest]

It's what happens when everyone has got GUNS.

Especially poorly trained trigger happy cops.

 

[Stevicus]

Video Austin police releases body cam footage of fatal police shooting

I looked at the footage, and it appears that the officer said "drop the gun" and then immediately fired. It didn't appear he was allowing enough time for the person to drop the gun. I didn't hear him identify himself as a police officer either.

 

[Revoltingest]

Video Austin police releases body cam footage of fatal police shooting

That would be a good opportunity to use a drone.
No cop could use the excuse "officer safety" to
kill a civilian.
But I wonder....will "drone safety" become a thing?

Back to the video, it appears to me that the cop
issued the perfunctory "Drop the gun!" solely
to justify murder.
1) He didn't identify himself as a cop.
2) He didn't provide any opportunity to drop the gun.
3) No attempt to de-escalate.
It sure looks like a cop who's out hunting humans.

The cop isn't arrested for the murder.
He's just on "administrative leave" (vacation).
Fortunately, the police department will investigate itself.

 

[Debater Slayer]

It's what happens when everyone has got GUNS.

I think the gun laws of the US are disastrous, but this specific incident seems to me the result of the actions of a poorly trained, trigger-happy, irresponsible cop rather than the victim's possession of a gun.

 

[Stevicus]

That would be a good opportunity to use a drone.
No cop could use the excuse "officer safety" to
kill a civilian.
But I wonder....will "drone safety" become a thing?

I can see a case made for unarmed drones which can be used for police to safely view and survey a situation - so they can at least get an idea of just what in heck is going on before they go rushing in and opening up with both barrels.

Back to the video, it appears to me that the cop
issued the perfunctory "Drop the gun!" solely
to justify murder.
1) He didn't identify himself as a cop.
2) He didn't provide any opportunity to drop the gun.
3) No attempt to de-escalate.
It sure looks like a cop who's out hunting humans.

The cop isn't arrested for the murder.
He's just on "administrative leave" (vacation).
Fortunately, the police department will investigate itself.

I agree with the rest of this.

 

[Revoltingest]

I can see a case made for unarmed drones which can be used for police to safely view and survey a situation - so they can at least get an idea of just what in heck is going on before they go rushing in and opening up with both barrels.



I agree with the rest of this.

Wait.....you what?
You agree with me?
Are you feeling OK....or just a little dirty?

Anyway, we all know that the cops will at first claim
that he acted within department policy. Then they'll
back off, & say that it was just a mistake.
Were I on his jury, I don't see room for doubt.
It was an intentional killing, ie, murder.

 

[Father Heathen]

Just another case of a piggly getting too wiggly.

 

[Secret Chief]

Wait.....you what?
You agree with me?

I've given your post a Winner frubal. I'm guessing you now feel faint and disorientated.

 

[Father Heathen]

It's what happens when everyone has got GUNS.

The irony is that those who fetishize guns and make 2A a personality trait also tend to "back the blue" and hero worship law enforcement.

 

[Stevicus]

Wait.....you what?
You agree with me?
Are you feeling OK....or just a little dirty?

Well, of course, I am a logical and rational being, and as such, when presented with logical, well-founded arguments, the only logical choice is to agree.

Anyway, we all know that the cops will at first claim
that he acted within department policy. Then they'll
back off, & say that it was just a mistake.
Were I on his jury, I don't see room for doubt.
It was an intentional killing, ie, murder.

The cop will probably be retired with a pension, and the city will most likely have to pay out a sizable wrongful death settlement to the family.

 

[Estro Felino]

I am speechless, really.
I will not say anything, this time.

 

[PureX]

The cop never says he's there, or that he's a cop. He just shouts "drop the gun" and immediately shoots a man. The man never even knew the cop was there. And didn't threaten him in any way.

That cop was clearly itching to shoot someone.

 

[Nakosis]

I looked at the footage, and it appears that the officer said "drop the gun" and then immediately fired. It didn't appear he was allowing enough time for the person to drop the gun. I didn't hear him identify himself as a police officer either.

I read one report that the the official police statement was that the officer acted in accordance with their training.
If true then perhaps the problem is the way they were trained.

If the police sticks with this then likely the officer will be back on duty. I heard of times the publicly the officer gets sanctioned to take any heat off of the police dept, then later, after things quiet down, they are quietly returned to active duty.

 

[Revoltingest]

I read one report that the the official police statement was that the officer acted in accordance with their training.
If true then perhaps the problem is the way they were trained.

The standard blue wall claim.
Corruption runs deep with cops.

If the police sticks with this then likely the officer will be back on duty. I heard of times the publicly the officer gets sanctioned to take any heat off of the police dept, then later, after things quiet down, they are quietly returned to active duty.

Or he's fired, & then moves to a different parish department.

 

[Twilight Hue]

The irony is that those who fetishize guns and make 2A a personality trait also tend to "back the blue" and hero worship law enforcement.

He didn't 'fetishize' he bought it for protection which in most cases is a sensible and normal thing.

Aside from essentially being bushwacked by a peace officer who clearly, has no ability for proper situational awareness.

 

[Stevicus]

I read one report that the the official police statement was that the officer acted in accordance with their training.
If true then perhaps the problem is the way they were trained.

If the police sticks with this then likely the officer will be back on duty. I heard of times the publicly the officer gets sanctioned to take any heat off of the police dept, then later, after things quiet down, they are quietly returned to active duty.

Considering the media coverage on this, I'm not sure how easy it will be for them to sweep this under the rug. They may still be faced with a wrongful death lawsuit that the city may have to pay out a large settlement.