I got some questions.......
The shooter lived with his mommy and even drove 'her' vehicle to do the deed.......his sister is all about "white hatred" as well. They found all these guns and armament in his room or basement where ever he stored them....so they knew of his Arsenal and I suspect his plans.....and I figure there are buddies of his who knew as well.....
Thus far I've not found anything relating to those associated with him.....all we hear is the investigation continues.....assuming then that would include these possible individuals???
@Smokin Joe
@sneakypete
Let me hit both of your posts above this one, in reverse order. Police have little compassion for a cop-killer. It's a brotherhood thing, and tremendous restraint is exercised any time they bring in one of these guys alive. Every guy there is likely thinking at some level "that could have been me" and/or "that (expletive deleted) killed my brother/friend/fellow officer", so I don't expect much pity.
However, police are supposed to be constrained by the same laws they enforce. It is a disadvantage for them, granted, but one that goes with the territory. If the reason cited, that the shooter was threatening to detonate devices around town via cell phone was valid, then they had cause that any civilian would have equally--namely acting to protect lives who could not act in their own behalf--fully justifying lethal force. Given that, I can fully understand the POV that would justify taking the guy out.
Splattering the suspect so badly that DNA cannot be obtained (
really?--it doesn't take much material--just a little dab'll do ya) would indicate any intel on the cell phone would be splattered, too. Unless those accounts or contacts likely present (or absent--that says something, too) had already been obtained, there is a loss of information. Sim cards and micro SD cards could be a wealth of intel. A 'burner phone' indicates something more professional, and the numbers of any devices he could use that phone to detonate would be likely stored on the phone. That could be handy for locating any devices, should they exist. As far as picking the guy's brain, some guy who is cornered and knows he is on his way out might just serve up red herring for dinner, just as a final 'eff you!' to the Man.
Yes, terrorists and others who insisted on fighting it out to the bitter end have been shot, too.
Now, to get all technical and legalistic on the issue, because at some point the suspect will be a suspect, not the confirmed shooter, we don't generally want the police to get in the habit of blowing up perpetrators.
The precedent is dangerous, and has an aftertaste of the star chamber. It is a very thin line to cross or blur that takes this from eliminating a clear and immediate threat to summary execution without due process of any kind. The heady stuff of reprisal or revenge can be contagious and habit forming. I would caution that the criteria for such an action must be very constrained and stringently applied. This should be the rare exception, if that, and a method of last resort, rather than become the go-to solution for a problem. Issue too many hammers and a lot of things will be treated as nails.
Otherwise, why not equip police with Bradleys to hammer those pesky snipers out of their hides, with RPGs or LAWs, and Mortars for the rooftop shooter? Maybe flamethrowers for the ones who are really well barricaded? How long until we use drone strikes to stop the fleeing robbery suspects or shut down that high speed chase? It wouldn't take long for something of this nature to spiral out of control.
Obama's Private Army, indeed, only in some other hands, and with the heirs apparent (or anyone in office, anywhere, any time), that is not a palatable situation.
Power corrupts...
That said, I'm glad they got the SOB.
