Shooting Bomb Carrying Fleeing Suspect in the Back

[seashoreCM]

The suspect said he was carrying a bomb. When is it kosher to shoot him in the back?

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[Toby'sFriend]

The Air Marshalls had no other choice.


Sad story, but they acted appropriately

 

[DawnCt1]

The suspect said he was carrying a bomb. When is it kosher to shoot him in the back?

1. When he is fleeing into the woods and there are a few houses around.
2. When he is fleeing down a thickly settled residential street.
3. When he is fleeing but into a crowded department store or stadium.
4. When he is fleeing from an airplane into an airport gate area.
5. Never.

One can set off a bomb whether they are fleeing away from you or toward you.
What choice did they have. He didn't follow the repeated instructions.

 

[C.Ann]

I haven't watched the news myself, but someone told me that the bomb was supposed to be in the duffle bag.. After repeated shouts for him to stop, he not only kept going, but he then reached inside the duffle bag.. At that point I don't see where there was any other alternative..

 

[EltonJohn]

The Air Marshalls had no other choice.


Sad story, but they acted appropriately

I concur.

 

[Microcell]

I haven't watched the news myself, but someone told me that the bomb was supposed to be in the duffle bag.. After repeated shouts for him to stop, he not only kept going, but he then reached inside the duffle bag.. At that point I don't see where there was any other alternative..

Yup.

 

[luvwinnie]

If he claimes to have a bomb, it's always ok to shoot him.

 

[GeorgeG]

I agree that it was appropriate to shoot this man in the back or anywhere necessary to stop him. True, it turned out that he was no threat and that he was ill, but that cannot stand as an excuse. Had the Air Marshall not fired and this man was really a bomber, the consequences would have been far worse. It's tragic that an "innocent" person is dead, but ill or not, his behavior required the action taken.

 

[Blondie]

I agree with GeorgeG above.

 

[krissy2803]

I agree that it was appropriate to shoot this man in the back or anywhere necessary to stop him. True, it turned out that he was no threat and that he was ill, but that cannot stand as an excuse. Had the Air Marshall not fired and this man was really a bomber, the consequences would have been far worse. It's tragic that an "innocent" person is dead, but ill or not, his behavior required the action taken.

Well said. Very sad situation, but I feel the correct thing was done.

 

[QT Pooh]

It's only kosher when there are 231 other lives being endangered.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I feel bad for the dead man and his family,but I don't think the Air Marshalls had any choice.

 

[Galahad]

I feel bad for the dead man and his family,but I don't think the Air Marshalls had any choice.

Yep, no choice. Armed with that information in that situation it would have been irresponsible to do anything else.

 

[Pooh Crew]

If he claimes to have a bomb, it's always ok to shoot him.

 

[Mishetta]

I feel bad for the dead man and his family,but I don't think the Air Marshalls had any choice.

Totally agree. After 9/11, they just can't take any chances. Very sad but there really was no other choice. I think besides praying for the victim's family, I will also pray for the Air Marshall that had to make that quick horrible decision. Imagine how he feels.....

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

The Air Marshall did his job.

 

[minkydog]

As sad as it is, I have to agree: the air marshalls did their job. I can't imagine how frightened the passengers were as he made his way down the aisle, screaming about his bomb. It wouldn't have mattered to me at the time whether he was mentally ill or a common terrorist. I would have been scared to death. I'm sorry for his family and for the marshals involved, too, because you know they are all hurting.

 

[laurie31]

I didn't respond to the poll because none of the answers included whether he was reaching into a duffel bag in which he claimed to have a bomb. In that case, it wouldn't matter where he was.

I understand that the victim turned out to be mentally ill, but let's face it - a mentally ill person COULD have really had a bomb. (my uncle is bipolar, so I'm not slamming people who suffer from this in any way, he is doing excellent now, but about 10 years ago he went off his meds and we had to call 911, he became so violent - and he is a ordained minister! You never know what someone is capable of, even if they are "nice" normally).

If you're in an airport (or anyplace else) and claim to have a bomb, you're going to be taken seriously. We've even told our kids that you NEVER joke about anything like that. NEVER.

It's a tragic situation but I don't see how it could have been prevented.

Laurie

 

[Ranatra]

After repeated shouts for him to stop, he not only kept going, but he then reached inside the duffle bag.. At that point I don't see where there was any other alternative..

MTE He could have really been carrying a bomb and he HAD to be stopped

 

[damo]

I think they did what they had to do.