13 February 2011

Fatal police shooting in Wanniassa

| johnboy
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nathan doherty

In a sign of the times we again get the news via Twitter because the website people are asleep at the switch.

The Chief Police Officer has tweeted that his troops have shot a man dead in Wanniassa overnight.

tweet shot

We have it on good authority the deceased is one Nathan Doherty and this was not the first time he’d been shot by police.

On Nathan’s facebook profile his fave movies were Two Hands, Waking Life, Blue Murder, Chopper, and Natural Born Killers.

UPDATE: The Police media release is now online:

Police have discharged a firearm following a disturbance in Wanniassa earlier this morning (Sunday, February 13).

About 5am ACT Policing responded to a report of a disturbance where a man was armed with a knife and a meat cleaver in Riddell Court.

Police were speaking to the man for approximately half an hour while he was still in the house. The man has exited the house armed with the knife and meat cleaver.

Police made numerous requests for the 27-year-old man to drop his weapons and have withdrawn to approximately 300 metres away with the man following and continually approaching them. All the while police were calling on the man to drop the knife and meat cleaver.

The man has then lunged at the police officer who has fired one shot from his service pistol.

The man was given first aid by the attending police officers and was later treated at the scene by ACT Ambulance Service. He has died at the scene.

This incident is being investigated by ACT Policing Criminal Investigations Team, on behalf of the Coroner, with AFP’s Professional Standards Unit overseeing the matter.

Wheeler Crescent, between Derham Court and McBride Crescent, will be closed for several hours as police investigate the incident.

Here’s his facebook pic as of this morning:

nathan doherty

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His poor pregnant gf, how horrible that must’ve been for her

Anna Key said :

jasere said :

“Two Hands, Waking Life, Blue Murder, Chopper, and Natural Born Killers” OMG!! thats it

its cause of the movies movies and im sure violent video games.

and if he also liked VB, salt and vinegar chips and quiet drives in the country, would you suggest these were causes as well?

well YES!! last time i had a case of VB and a packet of S&V chips then had great idea to take a nice quiet drive in the country did not really go to plan.

buzz819 said :

WTF are you on about?

A good question. I doubt he knows himself, but I can certainly smell “crazy tin-hat wearing funk” coming from his direction…

And Anna, I believe that poster was using sarcasm, a little known comic tool which has been employed in the english language for hundreds of years…

someguy84 said :

While I see this a regretable action for all concerned I wonder how random an event like this is.

Tactics publicly espoused by the police leave no doubt that the individual involved was being harassed having previously encountered them before.
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/bigideas/browse/video_popup.htm?vidURL=/tv/bigideas/stories/2009/11/06/2734932-mediarss-full.xml&vidTitle=David%20Mutton%20On%20The%20Policing%20Of%20Our%20Minds&vidLength=Full

So with such detailed knowledge of the person and control of their mood it seem little wonder he was depressed for years prior.

Was his emotional state endogenous or exogenous?

WTF are you on about?

While I see this a regretable action for all concerned I wonder how random an event like this is.

Tactics publicly espoused by the police leave no doubt that the individual involved was being harassed having previously encountered them before.
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/bigideas/browse/video_popup.htm?vidURL=/tv/bigideas/stories/2009/11/06/2734932-mediarss-full.xml&vidTitle=David%20Mutton%20On%20The%20Policing%20Of%20Our%20Minds&vidLength=Full

So with such detailed knowledge of the person and control of their mood it seem little wonder he was depressed for years prior.

Was his emotional state endogenous or exogenous?

jasere said :

“Two Hands, Waking Life, Blue Murder, Chopper, and Natural Born Killers” OMG!! thats it

its cause of the movies movies and im sure violent video games.

and if he also liked VB, salt and vinegar chips and quiet drives in the country, would you suggest these were causes as well?

“On Nathan’s facebook profile his fave movies were Two Hands, Waking Life, Blue Murder, Chopper, and Natural Born Killers”

Just because someone watches & enjoys rough movies, doesn’t give them an excuse to be a violent person.
I enjoy those same movies, does that mean I’ll be out causing a ruckus & attacking police officers?

It amazes me that people try to find an excuse to blame someone’s behaviour.

I wouldn’t even blame depression on this.

He was obviously pissed about something, but that doesn’t give anyone any excuse to behave in that way.

To threaten someone else’s life in that way, especially someone who is just doing thier job, then he had to accept the inevitable.

I knew Nathan, but this doesn’t mean I will be angry at that police officer who was protecting their self from potential injury.

It was just misfortunate for Nathan that the shot fired by that police officer was fatal, he obviously wasn’t as lucky as last time.

georgesgenitals11:24 am 14 Feb 11

Mysteryman said :

I’m glad the police took the action necessary to stop this lunatic. I’m sadden that they will have to deal with the guilt and other mental/emotional issues resulting from the incident though.

We give police officers guns for exactly these sorts of situations. We train them to use firearms effectively and appropriately and when they do, people still complain about it. I’m certainly more interested in the safety of the police than that of someone trying to stab them.

Well said. It’s sad that it had to happen, but I wouldn’t have thought the police would have any alternative.

He’ll never try to pull a stunt like that again! The audacity!

meme said :

After all this yike over tasers, why didnt they use them?

Why would anyone lunge at armed cops, knowing these days it seems the constabulary like to shoot to kill?

This seems a harsh thing to say, but I recall the massive cop response to the guy who was run to ground in manuka not long ago – I counted 10 cop cars and was almost run off the road by one of them during the pursuit.

Or was this simply suicide by cop?

Because the police who need tasers the most (first response police) don’t have them.

Oh, and police like to kill people? Are you serious?

I’m glad the police took the action necessary to stop this lunatic. I’m sadden that they will have to deal with the guilt and other mental/emotional issues resulting from the incident though.

We give police officers guns for exactly these sorts of situations. We train them to use firearms effectively and appropriately and when they do, people still complain about it. I’m certainly more interested in the safety of the police than that of someone trying to stab them.

meme said :

Why would anyone lunge at armed cops, knowing these days it seems the constabulary like to shoot to kill?

You think cops like to kill someone? If someone was running at you with a knife and a meat cleaver what would you do in that circumstance? They had already retreated 300m. If the cop didn’t shoot him he would have been likely been seriously injured or killed himself.

meme said :

After all this yike over tasers, why didnt they use them?

Because general duties cops in Canberra don’t carry tasers. Although several shootings in a couple of weeks may be the trigger (no pun intended) for change.

“Two Hands, Waking Life, Blue Murder, Chopper, and Natural Born Killers” OMG!! thats it

its cause of the movies movies and im sure violent video games.

Pommy bastard9:35 am 14 Feb 11

I agree that the police deserve our condolences in this case. Presented with such a situation and having to take a life must be devastating for them. My thoughts go out to the officers involved.

After all this yike over tasers, why didnt they use them?

Why would anyone lunge at armed cops, knowing these days it seems the constabulary like to shoot to kill?

This seems a harsh thing to say, but I recall the massive cop response to the guy who was run to ground in manuka not long ago – I counted 10 cop cars and was almost run off the road by one of them during the pursuit.

Or was this simply suicide by cop?

welkin31 said :

It puzzles me in these cases that police do not try first pinging the subject in the thigh.

1) Standard firearms training about accurate firing under pressure (aim for the large central mass insteadof something that can move, its simpler and more reliable).
2) Although you’re typically not trying to kill someone, there really isn’t a ‘safe’ place to shoot someone (so you might as well make it effective, if lethal force is required).
3) Also, basic human anatomy means that a puncture to the upper thigh can kill aperson from blood loss within just a few minutes.

troll-sniffer said :

Death by cop. If that’s what he wanted, I respect his decision.

What a load of bollocks, if he wanted to kill himself he could have done it quietly in his own home. Why put that on another person.

As for Gus – he had a go at a couple of Police with a knife and a meatcleaver – ‘good’ guys don’t do that.

troll-sniffer9:52 pm 13 Feb 11

Death by cop. If that’s what he wanted, I respect his decision.

Just so sad all round, not enough done for mental health.

Second time lucky??? What kind of statement is that? Unless I’m missing something obvious (wouldn’t be the first time) that’s an incredibly insensitive and offensive title.

Gus10 said :

Comic and Gamer Nerd – I was a friend of Nathan and he was a good guy. Nathan has battled depression for many years now and your insensitive comments are not warranted. Depression is an illness that many people do not understand.

…Please respect the family and friends of Nathan and do not post thoughtless speculation on this forum.

Regular readers know this comment is in relation to previous posts… It is human nature to speculate, and such an odd occurrence in the ‘burbs will obviously lead to speculation in the community, including here. The public probably doesn’t need to know all the details, but it is sad to hear mental illness was a factor.

welkin31 said :

It puzzles me in these cases that police do not try first pinging the subject in the thigh.

I regularly see people completely miss a man-sized target at 7m while under absolutely no pressure at all. It really is a *lot* harder than it looks.

Hollywood has a lot to answer for when it comes to widespread and incorrect public perceptions of what firearms are capable of.

My thoughts are with the police officers involved. This is a terrible thing.

“Police were speaking to the man for approximately half an hour while he was still in the house. The man has exited the house armed with the knife and meat cleaver.”

I get the same urge when speaking to police and I am a law abiding citizen.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd6:58 pm 13 Feb 11

Gus10 said :

Comic and Gamer Nerd – I was a friend of Nathan and he was a good guy. Nathan has battled depression for many years now and your insensitive comments are not warranted. Depression is an illness that many people do not understand. Nathan was someone’s son, someone’s brother; you making inconsiderate comments will only exacerbate the pain already felt by the people who loved him. And for the record I have empathy for the police that were involved in the shooting and through reading the reports they had no choice but to act in the way they did and I’m sure Nathan knew this. Please respect the family and friends of Nathan and do not post thoughtless speculation on this forum.

uhhh, i never said a bad word about him. I am sorry for your loss.
My point still stands though. im sure the police hateing crowd will be in soon enough.

Comic and Gamer Nerd – I was a friend of Nathan and he was a good guy. Nathan has battled depression for many years now and your insensitive comments are not warranted. Depression is an illness that many people do not understand. Nathan was someone’s son, someone’s brother; you making inconsiderate comments will only exacerbate the pain already felt by the people who loved him. And for the record I have empathy for the police that were involved in the shooting and through reading the reports they had no choice but to act in the way they did and I’m sure Nathan knew this. Please respect the family and friends of Nathan and do not post thoughtless speculation on this forum.

AussieRodney3:26 pm 13 Feb 11

astrojax said :

training is to shoot at the centre of the body mass, less likely to miss, especially in times of stress

The guy shot in Holder 2 weeks ago is very lucky to be alive.

welkin31 said :

It puzzles me in these cases that police do not try first pinging the subject in the thigh.

training is to shoot at the centre of the body mass, less likely to miss, especially in times of stress (which someone coming at you with a sword might constitute). does that settle your wearied mind?

welkin31 said :

It puzzles me in these cases that police do not try first pinging the subject in the thigh.

It puzzles you? It doesn’t puzzle me!!!

welkin31 said :

It puzzles me in these cases that police do not try first pinging the subject in the thigh.

…besides, it clearly worked the first time, right!?!

welkin31 said :

It puzzles me in these cases that police do not try first pinging the subject in the thigh.

Yes, right… ’cause if someone’s coming at me with two weapons, I’m going to selectively target to ensure the safety of the perp? Like hell…

You attack a cop, knowing they’re armed – it is your own stupidity… The cops are going to consider their own safety, and the safety of the community over some armed guy lunging at them… sounds like they gave him plenty of warning anyhow… 300m meters of warning, I’d say, is well and truly “Death by Cop”…

Hope the poor cop (cops?) hasn’t been too traumatised (though that is pretty damned unlikely).

welkin31 said :

It puzzles me in these cases that police do not try first pinging the subject in the thigh.

Well said by someone who has their firearms knowledge from Hollywood.

Thoughts go out to the police officers involved in this.

Devil_n_Disquiz2:18 pm 13 Feb 11

welkin31 said :

It puzzles me in these cases that police do not try first pinging the subject in the thigh.

Is this a serious question, or a gee up ? Cos if its serious, I’m gunna make some popcorn, sit back and watch as people point out the friggin bleeding obvious.

Silly, you should have Twittered for help.

Agreed, although in all seriousness, I guess they did have something more important to attend to…

It was on ABC News this morning, just not on the local ACT one.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/13/3137387.htm

Roid rage + booze?

JustThinking12:33 pm 13 Feb 11

hoody said :

Right, no wonder I couldn’t get the police to attend to my noise complaint last night…..3am, and the dim witted teenager next door cranked his stereo. Asked nicely once, he turned it up louder. Pulled the fuses but took pity and didn’t toss them down the drain….rang the police again…too busy to attend. If his taste in music wasn’t so crap, I could probably deal with it…I hope he tells his mum when she gets back. I’d love to discuss it with her…

Silly, you should have Twittered for help.

It puzzles me in these cases that police do not try first pinging the subject in the thigh.

What is an “edged weapon”? If its a knife, why not say knife? Or was it a 4by2 with an edge sanded down….

That is interesting, I guess that’s the way he wanted to go.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/12/2088709.htm

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd12:09 pm 13 Feb 11

LULZ now for the bogan friends to come here and say what a good bloke he was and *da dog pigz need 2 pay*

Right, no wonder I couldn’t get the police to attend to my noise complaint last night…..3am, and the dim witted teenager next door cranked his stereo. Asked nicely once, he turned it up louder. Pulled the fuses but took pity and didn’t toss them down the drain….rang the police again…too busy to attend. If his taste in music wasn’t so crap, I could probably deal with it…I hope he tells his mum when she gets back. I’d love to discuss it with her…

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