Two Kansas City police officers who thought they were being shot at from inside a van returned fire Thursday night.
Only later did police realize that the van was actually backfiring and the man inside was not armed. He was not injured by the shots fired by police.
Windows of the police car were apparently shot out by the officers as they exited the patrol car. [say what?]
The officers were dispatched on a report of shots being fired from a white van just before 6 p.m. Thursday on Gregory Boulevard near Interstate 435.
When the officers got to the area they saw a white van parked on Gregory and pulled up near it. As they were getting out of the patrol car they heard the backfiring and fired their weapons. Police are continuing to investigate the incident.
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One hopes LEOs are a little less prone to use lethal force in a situation like this. What would probably have happened to the cops if the innocent driver or a bystander had been killed by the cops? Put another way, what would happen to Joe Sixpack who started firing his legally-concealed handgun at a van that backfired because he thought he was being shot at?
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thats why the army has a day in basic training when live ammo is fired over your head.
unfortunately the officers will not be held to the same standard as civilians. if that was a regular joe those same cops would be cooking up a story about attempted murder by gun crazed civilian...
Lets see, Citizen reports of shots fired from the van. They approach the van and it backfires. They open fire. A little jumpy? Sure. When people shoot at you, you get a little jumpy. All who want to Monday morning quarterback the officers need to take a step back. In my experience a backfire can sound more like a gun shot than an actual gunshot. Think about the physics involved in a backfire. It is cause by a propellant being ignited in a tube. It is pretty much the same thing as a gun shot.
Officers that wait to see what is really going on are listed on the LE Memorial Wall in DC.
In all fairness, shooting out your own car windows in the "gun fight"? That is a little had to explain.
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this azzhole was prob driving around making the van backfire...we have all done it...find a victum,while driving,get your RPM's up,turn key to off position,pump gas pedal a few times,turn key to on position then ''BOOM!''
after reading this i dont think i would call backfireing @ people funny anymore..i have had it done to me,while going to the mail box...it sucks!
the police have a hard enough job,i hope this guy goes and buys a lottery ticket...
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I could make a list of a bunch of guns i have, or "have", or wish I had. Why would one feel compelled to provide that infornation freely? Do you feel the need to show off? Is it some immature game of oneupsmanship?
KC's finest...a little jumpy?
i have had it done to me,while going to the mail box...it sucks!
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