Shoppers Pulled Guns In Response To Thornton Walmart Shooting, But Police Say That Slowed The Investigation
BY Herschel Smith
7 years ago
When a gunman opened fire inside a Walmart in Thornton Wednesday night, shoppers screamed and ran for cover — and others pulled out their own handguns.
But those who drew weapons during the shootings ultimately delayed the investigation as authorities pored over surveillance videotape trying to identify the assailant who killed three people, police said Thursday.
Although authorities said “a few” individuals drew handguns, they posed no physical hazard to officers. But their presence “absolutely” slowed the process of determining who, and how many, suspects were involved in the shootings, said Thornton police spokesman Victor Avila.
It took more than five hours to identify the suspect, 47-year-old Scott Ostrem, who is accused in the seemingly random shootings. The problem for investigators came when they reviewed the surveillance footage and had to follow each individual with a firearm until they could eliminate them as a suspect.
“Once the building was safe enough to get into it, we started reviewing that (surveillance video) as quickly as we could,” Avila said. “That’s when we started noticing” that a number of individuals had pulled weapons. “At that point, as soon as you see that, that’s the one you try to trace through the store, only to maybe find out that’s not him, and we’re back to ground zero again, starting to look again. That’s what led to the extended time.”
Well, just go cry me a river, why don’t you? This “journalist” should be notified that he wins the aware for the stupidest article of the month. Read this again and let it wash over you. Armed citizens were prepared to protect themselves and perhaps others in a good Samaritan defense, and the police are bitching because it took them several hours to do what they’re paid to do, which is to conduct investigations.
And say, what the hell do you mean “once the building was safe to get into?” You mean that it isn’t the job of the police to enter active shooter zones to protect citizens? You mean that the only real function of the police is to conduct investigations, write reports and ensure continued state power and viability?
And after knowing the answer to all of that, you want me to sympathize with the cops over having to do the only job they have? What happened? Didn’t they make doughnut time with their buddies?
On November 5, 2017 at 10:42 pm, Fred said:
“Once the building was safe enough to get into it…”
Always leave your weapon holstered until SWAT storms the “safe” building dozens of minutes or even hours after the threat has ended…you know…to speed the investigation. It’s best to let them taser, pepper spray, flashbang, and get the dog on you as well…you know…for officer safety.
On November 6, 2017 at 9:44 am, Randolph Scott said:
This goes to show you that the police are concerned about themselves and themselves only. I could give a fuck less about officer safety. They used to be there to protect the citizenry, fed.gov has changed them into cowering assholes who want to bully unarmed citizens and go home safe.
We live in a time when ‘We the Citizens’ will have to defend ourselves from the evil scourge that has come upon America. The police should thank us for doing their jobs for them and taking the risks involved.
On November 6, 2017 at 12:56 pm, June said:
I call BS. Here’s a clue Officer Avila – the guy who has a gun and is shooting people is the suspect. The ones who have guns and aren’t shooting people are not.
On November 6, 2017 at 2:00 pm, Archer said:
I call BS, too. Once they had the shooter’s description (which they got by asking the dozens of on-the-scene eyewitnesses, right!?), they didn’t already know what he looked like and find him on surveillance video almost immediately?
Hell, they couldn’t find where and when the victims went down and then back-track through the video (their player does have a “rewind” button, right?) to see where and when the attack started?
Did they even ask for the other customers’ assistance? Or are they relying entirely on the video?
Plus, “more than five hours”? Cry me a frikkin’ river. Try spending two weeks tracing a software bug through a million lines of code. Oh, wait… that takes patience, education, and skills. But mostly patience.
Man, countless reports of the incompetence of police investigators (“Only Ones”) at doing their ONE job, and they still find ways to wow me.
On November 6, 2017 at 11:00 pm, Henry said:
As if they wouldn’t really prefer to spend five hours sitting safely in front of a CRT screen, compared to five minutes on the floor of a WalMart during a firefight. Shut up and do your jobs.