Ex police officer kills son after mistaking him for a burglar.

Link

A retired Chicago police officer has shot and killed his son, after mistaking him for a burglar.

Michael Griffin, 48, died of a gunshot wound to the head at his father's home in the northwest side of Chicago,CBS Local Chicago reports.

It was a tragic case of mistaken identity for Michael's father, Chicago Police Detective James Griffin, according to another son.

"My brother was staying there, and last I heard they were watching the Jay Leno show and my dad fell asleep," Stephen Griffin told CBS Local Chicago. According to police, Michael had apparently left the apartment and returned through a back door.

"And I guess he assumed my brother was at home sleeping, and when someone came in the back door, he just naturally assumed it was an intruder," Stephen said of his father.

Tragic, but maybe he shouldn't had shot him right on the spot.

Obligatory "f*** da (former) police!" post.

Seriously though, this is what I hate about gun culture. Somebody walks in your back door and your first response is to blow their brains out? Really? Did he not even think to identify the person entering his house? For f*** sake, how can it not cross your mind that it may be someone you know!?

The police are murder crazy.

Out of all places you shoot someone in the head? I wouldn't even do that to a burglar, I'd go for the chest or leg, knee cap if I could.Fightingfan

My buddy, a cpolice officer, said he'd never take the chance. Even in a situation that may be sortable after the incedent, he'd still shoot for the kill. Unfortunately, it's hard to discern what may be a fight for your life, or injuring an assailant and watching them flee.

Obligatory "f*** da (former) police!" post.

Seriously though, this is what I hate about gun culture. Somebody walks in your back door and your first response is to blow their brains out? Really? Did he not even think to identify the person entering his house? For f*** sake, how can it not cross your mind that it may be someone you know!?

redstorm72

Have you been in that situation? If you're not exppecting somebody... Why would you assume it's someone you know. Even asking could be the difference between life and death.

Obligatory "f*** da (former) police!" post.

Seriously though, this is what I hate about gun culture. Somebody walks in your back door and your first response is to blow their brains out? Really? Did he not even think to identify the person entering his house? For f*** sake, how can it not cross your mind that it may be someone you know!?

redstorm72

I was visiting my uncle's house one time and I arrived late at night because I had to work before driving three hours to his place. They were expecting me, they just didn't know at what time I would be there. I had a key, let myself in, and basically went straight to bed. The next morning he told me he almost shot me.

It's seriously f*cking stupid when that's your first reaction. I feel sad for the kid and his family, not for the dad. This is Darwin award-esque stupidity, you act like a moron and now you have a dead kid, congratulations. If you want to keep a gun at home for protection I hvae no problem with that, but you have to keep the paranoia in check.

Have you been in that situation? If you're not exppecting somebody... Why would you assume it's someone you know.

lundy86_4

Because someone else is staying at his house. Why would you assume it's someone that's going to kill you?

[QUOTE="redstorm72"]

Obligatory "f*** da (former) police!" post.

Seriously though, this is what I hate about gun culture. Somebody walks in your back door and your first response is to blow their brains out? Really? Did he not even think to identify the person entering his house? For f*** sake, how can it not cross your mind that it may be someone you know!?

lundy86_4

Have you been in that situation? If you're not exppecting somebody... Why would you assume it's someone you know. Even asking could be the difference between life and death.

I actually have been in that exact situation, on the side of the person with the gun pointed at them. I came home late one day after work and my dad had gone to bed before I got home. He heard me come in the side door and decided I was a bugler based on absolutely no information other than hearing a door open. I was about half a second away from getting my head blown off before I said "hey, it's me!". Point is, my dad and the guy who shot his son are f***ing idiots. Not expecting someone is no excuse for throwing basic critical thought out the window (ie, "maybe that's my son who is currently staying here") and murdering someone.

Well, that's really terrible. No one deserves to have that happen to them; what happened to the the father or the son. I agree that this is exactly the problem with the gun culture. Even if next time it's not someone's own son, maybe it's a neighbor, friend, or mailman. Still, people don't need to rub it in the dad's face. He knows he made a terrible mistake and I'm sure he feels awful and terrible about it. A true tragedy.

Very tragic.

Out of all places you shoot someone in the head? I wouldn't even do that to a burglar, I'd go for the chest or leg, knee cap if I could.Fightingfan

When you pull your weapon out you need to shoot to kill. Head or chest. This isn't a video game, aiming for the legs or knee caps will get you killed or someone else killed.

[QUOTE="redstorm72"]

Obligatory "f*** da (former) police!" post.

Seriously though, this is what I hate about gun culture. Somebody walks in your back door and your first response is to blow their brains out? Really? Did he not even think to identify the person entering his house? For f*** sake, how can it not cross your mind that it may be someone you know!?

lundy86_4

Have you been in that situation? If you're not exppecting somebody... Why would you assume it's someone you know. Even asking could be the difference between life and death.

It is also a standard rule of firearms to identify your target before you shoot, you must have missed that..

[QUOTE="Fightingfan"]Out of all places you shoot someone in the head? I wouldn't even do that to a burglar, I'd go for the chest or leg, knee cap if I could.lundy86_4

My buddy, a cpolice officer, said he'd never take the chance. Even in a situation that may be sortable after the incedent, he'd still shoot for the kill. Unfortunately, it's hard to discern what may be a fight for your life, or injuring an assailant and watching them flee.

When you pull your weapon out you need to shoot to kill. Head or chest. This isn't a video game, aiming for the legs or knee caps will get you killed or someone else killed.Chaos_HL21

I actually have been in that exact situation, on the side of the person with the gun pointed at them. I came home late one day after work and my dad had gone to bed before I got home. He heard me come in the side door and decided I was a bugler based on absolutely no information other than hearing a door open. I was about half a second away from getting my head blown off before I said "hey, it's me!". Point is, my dad and the guy who shot his son are f***ing idiots. Not expecting someone is no excuse for throwing basic critical thought out the window (ie, "maybe that's my son who is currently staying here") and murdering someone.

redstorm72

I'm not saying it's ok to react on no inforamtion, but the difference between attaining that information, and being attacked could be very slim.

People react differently, but sometimes, it's after the fact that we must deal with it. 20/20 hindsight and all that.

It is also a standard rule of firearms to identify your target before you shoot, you must have missed that..

sSubZerOo

I have no basic firearm training.

You have to take precise aim to shoot someone in the head, you obviously made the decision to kill that person, not harm them. IF they flee, I doubt the average person can maintain a calm mind knowing they have a .45 in their chest, they'd get medical attention and then arrested.

Fightingfan

I do agree with that assertion. Sometimes it's an "in the moment" decision. Unfortunately, firearm training is not as extensive as police/military... In many occasions.

Well, that's really terrible. No one deserves to have that happen to them; what happened to the the father or the son. I agree that this is exactly the problem with the gun culture. Even if next time it's not someone's own son, maybe it's a neighbor, friend, or mailman. Still, people don't need to rub it in the dad's face. He knows he made a terrible mistake and I'm sure he feels awful and terrible about it. A true tragedy.

TacticalDesire

I completely disagree. When you decide to shoot anyone that enters your house in the head before identifying them then killing someone you love is exactly what you deserve. He made a mistake, he feels terrible about it, but that's exactly the way it should be, and it's exactly from this situation that other people who are trigger-happy should learn.

[QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

[QUOTE="Fightingfan"]Out of all places you shoot someone in the head? I wouldn't even do that to a burglar, I'd go for the chest or leg, knee cap if I could.Fightingfan

My buddy, a cpolice officer, said he'd never take the chance. Even in a situation that may be sortable after the incedent, he'd still shoot for the kill. Unfortunately, it's hard to discern what may be a fight for your life, or injuring an assailant and watching them flee.

No it won't, not if the person is unarmed, or simply has a knife. It's easier to shoot someone in the chest multiple times 50 cent style then to go for a single 1 and done.Fightingfan

Multiple shots to the chest will likely kill a target.

[QUOTE="Fightingfan"] No it won't, not if the person is unarmed, or simply has a knife. It's easier to shoot someone in the chest multiple times 50 cent style then to go for a single 1 and done.lundy86_4

Multiple shots to the chest will likely kill a target.

A single shot to the chest can kill (even hitting the leg/arm can kill a person)

[QUOTE="TacticalDesire"]

Well, that's really terrible. No one deserves to have that happen to them; what happened to the the father or the son. I agree that this is exactly the problem with the gun culture. Even if next time it's not someone's own son, maybe it's a neighbor, friend, or mailman. Still, people don't need to rub it in the dad's face. He knows he made a terrible mistake and I'm sure he feels awful and terrible about it. A true tragedy.

theone86

I completely disagree. When you decide to shoot anyone that enters your house in the head before identifying them then killing someone you love is exactly what you deserve. He made a mistake, he feels terrible about it, but that's exactly the way it should be, and it's exactly from this situation that other people who are trigger-happy should learn.

My point is, I'm sure he already feels terrible enough about it.

[QUOTE="Fightingfan"]

[QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

My buddy, a cpolice officer, said he'd never take the chance. Even in a situation that may be sortable after the incedent, he'd still shoot for the kill. Unfortunately, it's hard to discern what may be a fight for your life, or injuring an assailant and watching them flee.

bobaban

And in turn end up killing your son...

[QUOTE="Fightingfan"] No it won't, not if the person is unarmed, or simply has a knife. It's easier to shoot someone in the chest multiple times 50 cent style then to go for a single 1 and done.lundy86_4

Multiple shots to the chest will likely kill a target.

[QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

[QUOTE="Fightingfan"] No it won't, not if the person is unarmed, or simply has a knife. It's easier to shoot someone in the chest multiple times 50 cent style then to go for a single 1 and done.Fightingfan

Multiple shots to the chest will likely kill a target.

[QUOTE="Fightingfan"][QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

Multiple shots to the chest will likely kill a target.

sSubZerOo

What if they're a zombie? There are just some situations where you can't afford to take the chance.

[QUOTE="Fightingfan"][QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

Multiple shots to the chest will likely kill a target.

sSubZerOo

A single shot to the chest can kill (even hitting the leg/arm can kill a person)

Chaos_HL21

Of course.

Still a bitter chance of living VS 1 in the head.Fightingfan

Minimal. Considering the localization of vital organs. Higher chance? Yes. High chance of survival? No.

Very sad story, I honestly don't know how I feel about the series of events that took place.

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"][QUOTE="Fightingfan"] Still a bitter chance of living VS 1 in the head.Fightingfan

Yes because we all know the United States is like Somalia.. Where we have home invaders every day entering homes to kill people instead of getting scared off from the moment they have a dog bark.. We might as well start opening fire on shaking bushes, afterall there maybe a homicidal maniac hiding in there.. Who cares if the statistics are so astronomically low that it is ridiculous to think of such a thing..

Out of all places you shoot someone in the head? I wouldn't even do that to a burglar, I'd go for the chest or leg, knee cap if I could.Fightingfan

I doubt anyone that's ever been in a police force would ever shoot without the intention to kill. It's holywood **** (well, except shooting someone in the knee if they're running from you). You certainly don't try to a hit a smal portion of someone's body (feet, hands, w.e) while there's a chance of them countering you.

I remember reading someone here saying that they "shoot to kill" and not to just disable them.Lonelynight

It was me and it's because no one shoots to disable someone. That isn't the purpose of using deadly force. If I wanted to disable someone I'd use a taser, or a baton.

While it's very sad. I don't understand why he shot the minute he saw an intruder...or why he shot in the head of all places.

[QUOTE="Lonelynight"]I remember reading someone here saying that they "shoot to kill" and not to just disable them.airshocker

It was me and it's because no one shoots to disable someone. That isn't the purpose of using deadly force. If I wanted to disable someone I'd use a taser, or a baton.

[QUOTE="airshocker"]

[QUOTE="Lonelynight"]I remember reading someone here saying that they "shoot to kill" and not to just disable them.Lonelynight

It was me and it's because no one shoots to disable someone. That isn't the purpose of using deadly force. If I wanted to disable someone I'd use a taser, or a baton.

If you're afraid, you don't use a deadly force.

[QUOTE="Lonelynight"][QUOTE="airshocker"]

It was me and it's because no one shoots to disable someone. That isn't the purpose of using deadly force. If I wanted to disable someone I'd use a taser, or a baton.

iHarlequin

If you're afraid, you don't use a deadly force.

so you aren't afraid that you might make these kinds of mistakes?Lonelynight

No? Shooting to kill when I'm forced to use deadly force has nothing to do with what happened in this story.

It is incidents such as this that give guns and their owners a bad rap in many areas. The "shoot first, ask questions later" mentality is sickening.

[QUOTE="Lonelynight"]so you aren't afraid that you might make these kinds of mistakes?airshocker

No? Shooting to kill when I'm forced to use deadly force has nothing to do with what happened in this story.

Yeah, I guess people feel the need to shoot before they're really forced though, like in this situation.

but it is entirely possible to use a gun without having to kill someone.Lonelynight

Guns are only used when you have to use deadly force. What don't you understand about that?

[QUOTE="Lonelynight"]but it is entirely possible to use a gun without having to kill someone.airshocker

Guns are only used when you think you have to use deadly force. What don't you understand about that?

FTFY

[QUOTE="Lonelynight"]but it is entirely possible to use a gun without having to kill someone.airshocker

Guns are only used when you have to use deadly force. What don't you understand about that?

Obligatory "f*** da (former) police!" post.

Seriously though, this is what I hate about gun culture. Somebody walks in your back door and your first response is to blow their brains out? Really? Did he not even think to identify the person entering his house? For f*** sake, how can it not cross your mind that it may be someone you know!?

redstorm72

[QUOTE="iHarlequin"]

[QUOTE="Lonelynight"] so you aren't afraid that you might make these kinds of mistakes?Lonelynight

If you're afraid, you don't use a deadly force.

You're more likely to kill a family member than an intruder with a gun purchased for self defense.

*waits to hear 2nd amendment sheep cry*