Police admit that hostage was killed by cops while shooting at bank robbery suspects

[Savannahmann]

The victim was shot ten times by police.

I remember the old days, when police would back off, and open lines of communication with the robbers, containing the situation. Now, everyone with a badge is thrilled to get a chance to use all that military gear against baddies.

A female hostage kidnapped during a Northern California bank robbery was killed by police in an ensuing chase and shootout, likely during a final gun battle where the lone surviving suspect used her as a human shield, authorities said Monday.

The results of a preliminary ballistics report show that police in the city of Stockton fired the 10 bullets that struck Misty Holt-Singh, 41, and all her wounds likely came during a final burst of gunfire, Stockton Police Chief Eric Jones said at a news conference.

Three men robbed a bank July 16, taking hostage Holt-Singh, a customer whose 12-year-old daughter was waiting in the car, and two bank employees, police said.

Armored car, military assault rifles, and they couldn't miss the hostage. Thirty three cops were firing at the baddies, but they missed the bad guy and hit the hostage at least ten times. The police defense? The bad guys were shooting at the police. So apparently any response short of a nuclear weapon is completely normal and within policy. The Chief of Police promises to review existing procedures and see if any changes need to be made.

Thirty three cops were shooting back at two bad guys. They couldn't surround the bad guys and contain them? Thirty three cops including one of those armored cars that are impervious to even .50 caliber machine guns? Don't tell me the cops in the tank were frightened of being shot at by something less than the cannon that would be needed to dent the thing.

Look at the picture, the bullets are all over the car, no effort to take aimed shots obviously. Just pull the trigger as fast as possible until nobody is moving.

[onethatcares]

2. more importantly

did the money suffer any injuries? Sometimes you just have to set priorities, ya know

[kelliekat44]

3. By intel the police know who and where these gangs are and what they do. Why the hell don't they

just make gangs illegal and lock them up. Most bank robberies are carried out by gang members including militia gangs. Law enforcement even has snitches inside and know almost when and where actions will go down. Where the militias are concerned many in law enforcement work with them and some may even be members. This stuff is crazy and always the innocent suffer.

[Unknown Beatle]

4. The police have

new toys and they can't wait to use them.

[Enthusiast]

5. Couldn't they have at least tried a single sharp shooter?

[mainer]

6. hostage negotiation skills have been tossed aside

in favor of Rambo style macho BS.

I talked with a seasoned hostage negotiator last year, an older guy who said that whenever he was brought in to a situation, they never lost a hostage. Not once. He said skilled negotiation takes hours, sometimes days, and young cops don't have the patience. They're so hyped up on adrenalin, they just want to go in and start shooting. And that's when hostages die.

[HooptieWagon]

11. "hyped up on adrenalin"?

... or steroids.

[Adam051188]

7. sad.

[link:

|

[Separation]

8. I posted a few months about this.

With the military downsizing, it's a fire sale and massive giveaways to police departments all over the US. one story I posted about was MRAP's. I couldn't believe my eyes when members here thought that it was a great idea.

[Savannahmann]

13. You are not alone

I got someone in a tizzy who took umbrage when I called the MRAP a tank just because it was armored.

[marew]

9. Yup!

I remember what cops were like when I was a kid in the 50's and 60's. Though I have never been arrested, never got in ANY kind of trouble, never had to be questioned at the police station or anywhere, etc., I have noticed a whole new arrogance with many police for a number of years. What is happening?
Last night I watched a program on Discovery ID titled "Nowhere To Hide" where an entire police dept harassed a family horribly. In the family won out because of the truth finally emerging. In just one part, the cops has arrested a young man they said stabbed a cab driver. Turns out the young man was at a party during the stabbing and also present at the party were two law enforcement officers who testified the young man was at the party ALL NIGHT! Also the cab driver said his assailant was shorter than he was and had darker skin. The kid they arrested was Irish and 6'1"- much taller than the cab driver. The police had refused to check the young man's alibi! Said they did NOT believe him. What a nightmare this family went through!
I am an old retired gal and, after what I've seen all around me, it is downright scary!

[Crunchy Frog]

10. But she was being used as a human shield.

I've been assured many times on DU that that makes it OK for someone to get blown away as collateral damage, and it's all the robber's fault, and not the police officer.

[HooptieWagon]

12. Absolutely!

The police would have been justified killing 15 or 20 hostages, according to some DU posters. Not only that, but if the robbers had engaged the final shootout in a residential neighborhood, or next to a school, the police would be justified levelling the whole area. I can't believe that RW shit is allowed to be posted here.

[Iggo]

19. Ah-ha!

Killer cops, vindicated!

Phew! That was close.

[aikoaiko]

14. That's how you work the felony murder statute.

[Blue_Tires]

15. Call me a cynic

but I'm just surprised the police publicly admitted that they shot the hostage...

I was expecting some official story about sci-fi zig-zag bullets fired by the perps...

[PowerToThePeople]

16. Ban all Guns!!! n/t

[tkmorris]

18. What are you talking about?

I don't want to be rude but your response just sounds inane. Perhaps some context would help?

[PowerToThePeople]

21. OP is the context of my response.

Duh.

[tkmorris]

24. I get it

I was just skimming another thread and noticed that you had posted the same response to it as well, despite the fact that it made no more sense there than it does here. I assume it is becoming a slogan of sorts for you. That can be a handy thing; it certainly speeds up the process of replying to, well, anything, but you should beware. It does remove the need to actually think about what you want to say before doing so, but it also makes it rather obvious that you didn't think about what you were saying. Some might conclude that you were incapable of a more nuanced thought process, or indeed any thought process at all. You could become the internet equivalent of the hirsute gentleman in the local park wearing a sign saying simply "The end is nigh" or something equally pithy but ultimately mystifying.

Your call. Duh.

[PowerToThePeople]

25. lame attempt

Ban all Guns!!

It is all that needs to be said. There is no need to discuss anything. The only people on the other side are gun nuts and I will not engage their stupidity and gun nuttery with a discussion. I do not negotiate with terrorists.

Ban all Guns!!

[tkmorris]

28. You sound like a caricature to me

Is this performance art? Is your intent to make Liberals seem ridiculous?

[PowerToThePeople]

29. No, gun nuts are ridiculous.

Ban all Guns!!

[Logical]

22. So helpful as usual! nt

[PowerToThePeople]

23. More-so than you are. nt

[Logical]

26. Yes, saying something that will never happen is really helpful! nt

[PowerToThePeople]

27. Just like you saying it will never happen is so helpful.

[Logical]

30. LOL, name ONE progressive congressman who wants that? Not a deep....

Thinker I can tell.

[PowerToThePeople]

31. Nice personal attack

That the jury let stand.

Logical
30. LOL, name ONE progressive congressman who wants that? Not a deep....

Thinker I can tell.

[Logical]

32. Do you have a name? One who wants all guns banned? nt

[PowerToThePeople]

33. Ban all Guns!! n/t

[Logical]

34. LOL, brilliant! nt

[Separation]

35. Sticking your fingers into your ears

and going lalalalala isn't a good debate skill.

[PowerToThePeople]

36. Who is debating?

I am making a statement.

Ban all Guns!!

[Separation]

37. Sorry

Figured that this was a discussion board, and normal debate is part of that.

[Liberal_Dog]

17. We Need More Carl Winslows Out There

I remember an episode of "Family Matters" which seems relevant to this.

Eddie Winslow has decided to become a police officer. On the shooting range, Eddie just shoots everyone-- hostages and all. Carl takes Eddie's gun as a result.

The next ime Carl places a picture of Eddie's sister Laura as one of the targets. Eddie, firing away at everyone again, shoots her. Carl says, "Congratulations son. You just shot your sister". It finally dawns on Eddie that he has to use his gun responsibly.

We need more Carl Winslows out there to teach those lessons.