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| -Lurid Crime Tales- |
| West Point Grad, MBA, CC Holder, Gunned Downed By Police Outside Costco |
| 2010-08-03 |
| Goodman Law Group reports that Erik Scott was shot by police outside a busy Summerlin, Nevada Costco store July 10. Many questions surround the shooting of Scott, who was carrying a licensed concealed weapon in a holster when he was surprised by officers as he exited the building with his girlfriend and other customers. Five of the seven shots that felled him were fired into his back. Ross Goodman, attorney for the family of Erik Scott is questioning the official sequence of events. Erik was a graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point and had an MBA from Duke University. The case claims that if an educated, responsible, militarily-trained individual with a concealed weapons permit did not understand the instructions of the police, then any average citizen is at great risk of getting killed by police in a similar situation. Much information regarding the incident has been withheld pending a coroner's inquest that was originally scheduled for September 3. The Clark County Coroner said the inquest was indefinitely postponed at the request of the District Attorney's office, which said additional witness statements are being gathered and surveillance videos are being reviewed by an out-of-state forensic laboratory. Testimony to be presented is expected to last two days, then a jury will determine whether the officers' actions were excusable, justifiable or criminal. The district attorney won't release the recordings of 911 calls or surveillance videos until the inquest, and has not set a new date for the hearing. Until then, the family must rely on the statements of eyewitnesses, while continuing to request the release of the video data. Dozens of citizens have inundated the Costco Facebook page, and billboards in Las Vegas demand the video be released. An unauthorized transcript raises questions about what police were told by 911 callers. Police claim Erik Scott pointed his gun at them outside the store's entrance after 911 callers reported him acting erratically and damaging merchandise. There are reports from witnesses that dispute each of those statements. Several witnesses said Scott appeared to be surprised and possibly confused by conflicting instructions from officers. "We know there were four cameras outside of Costco that would've captured the shooting. We know that there was a camera within Costco, on the aisle, which would've covered allegations that Mr. Scott was acting erratically," said Goodman. "All they have to do is provide video and the tapes." Erik Scott’s father, Bill Scott, 63, of Colorado Springs, is a journalist, author and former Air Force captain. He is calling for greater police accountability and for reform of Clark County's coroner inquest process. He said officer-involved shootings should be reviewed by third parties. “It’s been three weeks. They should release the video and 911 calls.” |
| Posted by: Anonymoose |
| #5 gorb, actually the little Nazi wannabes do it all the time. Once once starts firing, the rest add in their fire out of reflex. |
| Posted by: miscellaneous 2010-08-03 23:45 |
| #4 Maybe he was having an insulin reaction for all we know. I doubt all those police are going to make the same mistake at the same time. |
| Posted by: gorb 2010-08-03 21:06 |
| #3 In that case, I'd look for a civil wrongful death action from the family. Not all 4 tapes can go bad or missing without arousing suspicion. I'm initially with Cyber Sarge, but Clark County needs to come clean, even if they get some mud splattered on themselves. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2010-08-03 13:16 |
| #2 Read widely on this issue, there are many different versions. The only thing worse than having an eyewitness is having several dozen. I expect the video (or any other recordings) will turn out to be missing or defective & that there is/will be a coverup. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2010-08-03 12:41 |
| #1 I like to look at both sides when I hear about police "overacting" and here is my two cents. I doubt that the cops would know he had a concealed weapon unless it was produced. Why were the police called in the first place and it seems that they showed up in force? He was with his girlfriend, what was here story? |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2010-08-03 12:32 |