Gunned Down in Vegas: What Really Happened to Erik Scott?
Please reread the story. It says that this particular Costco store was NOT posted as a gun-free zone.
As a former LEO, I’d have to say that there’s plenty of blame to go around in this situation.
For example:
When confronted by the Costco employee about carrying in the store, perhaps the best way to deescalate the situation would have been to leave the store and shop elsewhere.
The store Security Guard should not have mislead police into believing that this gentleman was acting irrationally and possibly on drugs. This kind of misleading information is fairly common, because it is almost 100% guarantee that the cops will get there NOW.
I don’t blame the officers for relying upon the information provided them by the dispatcher. That’s all they have to go on before arriving on scene. I DO, however, blame the officers for (apparently) giving conflicting commands to the subject. And I do blame them for (reportedley) shooting a man who was presenting no immediate danger to them or others.
If the LVPD fails to release the 911 tapes, as well as the dash-cam footage from the cruisers on scene (audio from those tapes comes from microphones on the officer’s person), then they, at least APPEAR to, have something to hide.
Let’s just hope that the saying, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” doesn’t become a self-fulfilling prophecy in this situation.
The family of this gentleman has my sincere sympathy. And I HOPE the LVPD has the integrity to hold their officers to the same standard they hold their citizens.
