NationStates Jolt Archive

Noble boy killed by stray bullet

NOBLE, Okla. (AP) -- A stray bullet fired by a police officer trying to shoot a snake hit and killed a 5-year-old boy fishing at a nearby pond, officials said.

Austin Haley was fishing with his grandfather, Jack Tracy, Friday evening when Tracy said he heard a shot and saw a bullet hit the water just a few feet in front of the boat dock where he was standing.

Moments later, a second shot was fired that hit Austin in the head.

A Noble police officer who had responded to a report of a snake in a tree apparently fired the deadly shot while trying to kill the snake, according to City Manager Bob Wade...

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Noble boy killed by stray bullet (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OK_BOY_KILLED_OKOL-?SITE=PAGRE&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT)


What I find saddest about this is that this is a person who is supposed to be familiar with discharging his weapon... even I know that you don't fire a sidearm in a BACKYARD, because the bullet's got to go somewhere. A complete non-emergency situation, and a tragedy that was completely preventable.

And you wouldn't believe how much I had to search to get a NON-Fox source, so as to avoid the bitching about "FAUX IS TEH LIAR, FAUX IS TEH DEBIL" when there's an AP byline on it. :p

Someone was watching too many damn westerns.

:(

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What I find saddest about this is that this is a person who is supposed to be familiar with discharging his weapon... even I know that you don't fire a sidearm in a BACKYARD, because the bullet's got to go somewhere. A complete non-emergency situation, and a tragedy that was completely preventable.
I think the firearm training they receive aught to be checked top to bottom, someone besides the cop fucked up big time either through bad instruction or bad assessment when giving this guy the go ahead to hold a firearm

Do the police normally get called out to deal with snakes in the US? Why don't they just leave them alone? I thought snake whacking was just in the Simpsons...

I live quite a distance from Oklahoma, and it may well be that in small towns, you call the police for animal control. In NYC, we have an Animal Care and Control agency that comes out to trap and remove dangerous or annoying animals (like a raccoon that recently decided to take up residence on a fire escape and bit the apartment dweller when she reached over to shut the window).

They use nets, traps, and that leash-on-the-end-of-a-pole to remove animals from the scene.

As for why the snake had to be removed -- not sure. Perhaps the homeowner thought it was venomous or was just scared of it in their tree.

whatever happened to poking things withsticks?

I think everyone involved is going to be quite saddened, really. Not much more to say.

Do the police normally get called out to deal with snakes in the US? Why don't they just leave them alone? I thought snake whacking was just in the Simpsons...

There are people who call the police to report mud on the road.

whatever happened to poking things withsticks?

Over protective parents? :p

whatever happened to poking things withsticks?
I'm not sure about the snakes in Oklahoma, but with a rattle snake, that's just a good way to get one pissed off at you. ;)

Over protective parents? :p

Feh I used to catch snakes all the time when I was a kid. Never once been bitten. Just gotta know how to grab 'em.

I'm not sure about the snakes in Oklahoma, but with a rattle snake, that's just a good way to get one pissed off at you. ;)

I had an encounter with a rattler once in Florida. Here's how it went:

Kat parks.
Kat opens her door.
Kat hears TCH-TCH-TCH-TCH-TCHTCHTCHTCH!
Kat shuts door.
Kat starts car again.
Kat parks ELSEWHERE in parking lot before getting out.

:D

I'm not sure about the snakes in Oklahoma, but with a rattle snake, that's just a good way to get one pissed off at you. ;)

if it's a long enough stick you can flick the thing away no worries. or just club it.

How fucking stupid was that cop?!

So the Noble police decide that it's a good idea to let a cop who doesn't know how to use a firearm try to shoot a snake... why the hell why they allow that?

Besides, shovels are better tools for killing snakes, and the boy wouldn't have been killed. :(

I had an encounter with a rattler once in Florida. Here's how it went:

Kat parks.
Kat opens her door.
Kat hears TCH-TCH-TCH-TCH-TCHTCHTCHTCH!
Kat shuts door.
Kat starts car again.
Kat parks ELSEWHERE in parking lot before getting out.

:D

You mean, you couldn't moderate it?

The moderator is VULNERABLE?!

You mean, you couldn't moderate it?

The moderator is VULNERABLE?!

I'M TIRED OF ALL THESE MOTHERFUCKIN SNAKES ON THIS MOTHERFUCKIN PARKING DECK!

I'M TIRED OF ALL THESE MOTHERFUCKIN SNAKES ON THIS MOTHERFUCKIN PARKING DECK!

*groans*

Guess I'll tell my story...

I live in Florida. Here's a story from when I was a kid, about 12 years old or so.

Was in the backyard, just playing some ball with a buddy of mine, having a good time.

Suddenly, I see this snake rear its ugly ass head at me, hissing.

I frown.

I swing the baseball bat, and watch the snake splatter against the fence.

Since then, I've been unchallenged by any other snakes...

Someone was watching too many damn westerns.

:(

Indeed.

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What I find saddest about this is that this is a person who is supposed to be familiar with discharging his weapon... even I know that you don't fire a sidearm in a BACKYARD, because the bullet's got to go somewhere. A complete non-emergency situation, and a tragedy that was completely preventable.
Don't they have Animal Control there? Shooting at a snake in a tree?

Who was the officer... Eugene Tackleberry?
"You're getting outta that tree NOW Snake"

Why is the theme song for POLICE ACADEMY playing in my head?
I had an encounter with a rattler once in Florida. Here's how it went:

Kat parks.
Kat opens her door.
Kat hears TCH-TCH-TCH-TCH-TCHTCHTCHTCH!
Kat shuts door.
Kat starts car again.
Kat parks ELSEWHERE in parking lot before getting out.

:D
My one an only encounter with a rattler was up at Boy Scout Camp. me, a Hawaii boy new more about those snakes than two kids who grew up there.

(snake moving lazily through the grass.)
Boy 1: That's a rattler
Boy 2: nah, look at the markings, it's not.
Boy 1: too big for a Garter snake
Boy 2: I'm gonna pick it up *moves to pick it up*
Boy 1: don't, I think it's a rattler.
Me: it's a rattler. don't touch it.
Boy 2: look at the markings, it's not.
boy 2 reaches down at the moving snake and just before he grabs it, the rattle passes his hand. Boy 2 sets new camp record for high jump.

I'd bet my entire check he was a native Okie. Texans maybe drowning in machismo, but they do possess the ability for critical thought. Even use it once in awhile.

Why didn't he just shoot the snake?


...


Dang.

My respect for law enforcement continues to dwindle.

whatever happened to poking things withsticks?

Yeah, that would be my natural instinct, as far as snakes are concerned. Heck, I might even try to tie it up in a pillowcase if I were feeling particularly adventurous.

Do the police normally get called out to deal with snakes in the US? Why don't they just leave them alone? I thought snake whacking was just in the Simpsons...

Yes, the police get called for snakes and many other ridiculous things. One thing I wonder is why a shotgun was not used to kill the snake. A pistol is really not the best weapon to use in this case. Most police departments have shotguns in their cars. If this guy did use a shotgun and if he used it correctly this young child would be still alive. Also you check your surroundings before you start firing a weapon as anyone that has been trained should know. I think the cop may be up for charges.

Yes, the police get called for snakes and many other ridiculous things. One thing I wonder is why a shotgun was not used to kill the snake. A pistol is really not the best weapon to use in this case. Most police departments have shotguns in their cars. I would be this guy did and if he used it correctly this young child would be still alive. Also you check your surroundings before you start firing a weapon as anyone that has been trained should know. I think the cop may be up for charges.

1) they never said how far away the officers were from the kid. a bullet can travel quite a distance.

2) charges yes. Manslaughter, Reckless endagerment... That is, if it is his bullet that struck that child.

1) they never said how far away the officers were from the kid. a bullet can travel quite a distance.

.

Still should have not been using a pistol in this manner.

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Noble boy killed by stray bullet (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OK_BOY_KILLED_OKOL-?SITE=PAGRE&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT)


What I find saddest about this is that this is a person who is supposed to be familiar with discharging his weapon... even I know that you don't fire a sidearm in a BACKYARD, because the bullet's got to go somewhere. A complete non-emergency situation, and a tragedy that was completely preventable.

And you wouldn't believe how much I had to search to get a NON-Fox source, so as to avoid the bitching about "FAUX IS TEH LIAR, FAUX IS TEH DEBIL" when there's an AP byline on it. :p


What a fuckin' moron! You don't discharge your firearm to kill a snake! That's what animal control services is for! :rolleyes:

Even if nobody had been hurt, when he was explaining why his firearm had been discharged twice, "I shot a snake in a tree", his boss would have probably slapped him silly.

Still should have not been using a pistol in this manner.
Oh, I agree.

What a fuckin' moron! You don't discharge your firearm to kill a snake! That's what animal control services is for! :rolleyes:

Even if nobody had been hurt, when he was explaining why his firearm had been discharged twice, "I shot a snake in a tree", his boss would have probably slapped him silly.
... and I missed the first time...

Oh, I agree.


... and I missed the first time...

We don't even know if he got it the second time. It could be crawling through some bushes somewhere going, "Heh heh heh. Stupid humans."

We don't even know if he got it the second time. It could be crawling through some bushes somewhere going, "Heh heh heh. Stupid humans."

actually, he missed both times. the article states that the first shot hit the water, the second hit the boy.

I was positing that even if the second shot hit, the cheif would still bitch slap the officer into next week... then restrict his sidearm use to the range.

Guess I'll tell my story...

Now this is a story all about how my life got flip-turned upsidedown and I'd like to take a minute just sit right there I'll tell you how I became the Prince of a town called Bel-Air

Fixed.

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Noble boy killed by stray bullet (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OK_BOY_KILLED_OKOL-?SITE=PAGRE&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT)


What I find saddest about this is that this is a person who is supposed to be familiar with discharging his weapon... even I know that you don't fire a sidearm in a BACKYARD, because the bullet's got to go somewhere. A complete non-emergency situation, and a tragedy that was completely preventable.

And you wouldn't believe how much I had to search to get a NON-Fox source, so as to avoid the bitching about "FAUX IS TEH LIAR, FAUX IS TEH DEBIL" when there's an AP byline on it. :p
A complete and total idiot, that officer was. He certainly deserves to be held accountable, and his police department ought to be ashamed for training its officers so poorly.