Do you think the cop will be charged with manslaughter? He probably won’t even lose his job or his gold plated pension.
Florida mother, 73, is accidentally shot and killed by a cop in front of 34 people during role play exercise after officer playing a ‘bad guy’ loaded live rounds into the gun instead of blanks
Florida mother has been accidentally shot and killed by a police officer in front of 34 people during during a role play exercise teaching residents when not to shoot.
Librarian Mary Knowlton, 73, was taking part in a role-playing scenario Tuesday when she was ‘mistakenly struck with a live round’ in Punta Gorda, Florida.
Police Chief Tom Lewis says she was chosen randomly from the group for a ‘shoot/don’t shoot’ simulation during the Citizen Police Academy at the station headquarters.
The officer, who was playing the role of a ‘bad guy’, was supposed to fire blanks at the ‘victim’ Knowlton, but live rounds were loaded in the gun instead.
Mary Knowlton (pictured), 73, was taking part in a role-playing scenario Tuesday when she was ‘mistakenly struck with a live round’ and killed in Punta Gorda, Florida, on Tuesday night
The officer, who has not been named, meant to fire blanks at Knowlton (pictured with her husband Gart) but instead loaded the gun with live rounds
Knowlton’s son, Steven, said it was a devastating time for the family in a statement to CBS This Morning.
Heartbroken niece Jenny Tucker Christensen said on Facebook: ‘She will be forever missed by all.’
Sue Paquin, a photographer covering the event for the Charlotte Sun, witnessed the accident and told the Fort Myers News-Press the officer fired at Knowlton, who was playing the ‘bad guy’ during the scenario, several times.
Lieutenant Katie Heck from Punta Gorda police told Daily Mail Online the cop has been placed on administrative leave.
They have now launched an investigation into what happened.
Mrs Knowlton (center) is pictured with her son Steve (left) and husband Gary (right) outside the White House
Knowlton’s son, Steven (left), said it was a devastating time for the family in a statement released on Wednesday morning
She was shot dead during a ‘shoot/don’t shoot’ simulation, similar to this one. An image of this past role play was posted on the Punta Gorda Police Department’s Facebook. Mrs Knowlton is not in the picture
A woman is seen confronting a police officer during one of the simulated exercises
She added that the identity of the shooter would be released later on Wednesday.
Knowlton’s class met at the Punta Gorda Police Department around 5.30pm and the shooting occurred just before 7pm.
The demo ‘used simulated lethal force’ to teach the class about making critical decisions, WINK News reported.
Knowlton was struck with the live round during the ‘first scenario’, according to the department, and was rushed to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers – approximately 30 minutes away.
She was later pronounced dead. Lewis called the shooting a ‘horrible accident’.
‘Our entire police department and all of our city leaders are absolutely devastated for everyone involved in this unimaginable event.
Knowlton was struck with the live round during the ‘first scenario’, according to the department at their department headquarters (pictured)
‘I am asking that if you pray, you pray for Mary’s husband and family and for all the officers and witnesses that involved this incident.
‘Everyone involved is in an overwhelming state of shock and grief,’ he said during a press conference on Tuesday night.
The officer involved has not been identified and is on administrative leave pending a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation, Lewis says.
A group called Punta Gorda’s City Leaders released a statement saying: ‘Tuesday evening our City’s administration was notified of a tragic event that occurred at the Punta Gorda Public Safety Building located at 1410 Tamiami Trail, which resulted in the loss of life of one of our beloved residents.
‘We want to express our deepest sympathy for the family and friends of Mary Knowlton. We are shocked by this horrific accident and are grieving deeply over Mary’s passing.
‘We also would like to acknowledge the impact this has had on the other participants who were present during this tragedy.
Punta Gorda Police Chief Tom Lewis (pictured) called the shooting a ‘horrible accident’
‘We have taken special measures to support those individuals. Yesterday evening, one of our first priorities was to involve our Police Department’s Chaplain to provide assistance and comfort.
‘This tragedy also significantly impacted our public safety family, to include the officers on scene, police dispatchers, and firefighters. Chief Tom Lewis immediately contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to respond and begin an investigation into the events surrounding this incident.
‘As your Mayor, City Council and City Manager we have complete faith in our Chief of Police to ensure that this outside investigation is conducted thoroughly.
‘Future press conferences will be scheduled and news releases will be provided as information is made available.
‘As your City leaders, we would like to express our gratitude for your continued support during this extremely difficult time. We are mourning and missing Mary, as she was a vital member of our community.’
The academy, where the shooting occurred, is a free eight-session course offered to 35 people at a time who are interested in learning local civics, Punta Gorda’s website says.
Knowlton was chosen randomly from about 35 people in the class for a ‘shoot/don’t shoot’ simulation during the Citizen Police Academy (pictured) at the station headquarters
Ho-leee. Looks like they can’t even trust cops to participate in role playing defense classes. What kind of asshole would use an actual, functioning revolver in a role playing exercise? That’s what blank shooting starter pistols are made for, to ensure that there’s no possibility of an accidental shooting.
Once again, one of the 99% who are irresponsible retarded cops makes the other 1% look bad.
I took part in a Citizens Police Academy 14 years ago. Our shoot/don’t shoot was with a electronic gun and video. That was 14 years ago…you mean they use real guns these days? Guess the militarization of police has produced this BS.
There is NO excuse for pointing any firearm, loaded or otherwise, at anyone unless you’re willing to destroy what is in the cross hairs. Likewise there is NO logical/justifiable reason to agree to allow anyone to point a firearm at you. Incidents like this one are reminiscent of the dim bulbs who manage to shoot themselves while cleaning their pieces.
What a stupid cop!!! Gun safety 101 dumbass. Make sure gun is unloaded or loaded with blanks correctly.
If anone is responsible it is the person that designed such a training without insuring multiple checks to be sure that no live ammunition was avaialable during a blank firing session and that all guns used were checked by at least one other person than the officer (or civilian) using it.
Other than that was an accident, and not one that hasn’t happened multiple times before in various situations and probably will again.
http://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/01/obituaries/blank-pistol-kills-actor-the-son-of-bruce-lee.html
http://www.classicalite.com/articles/38834/20160306/movie-phantom-gerard-butler-shot-killed-blank-london-fallen-set.htm
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Baltimore-Police-Trainee-Shot-in-Firearm-Accident-190999821.html
http://arizonasonoranewsservice.com/gun-show-shooting-tombstone-saying-no-blanks/
“If anone is responsible it is the person that designed such a training”
Nope, it’s 100% on the cop. He loaded the firearm. He shot the lady. Cops are given the widest latitude imaginable when it comes to weapons handling and use. Ask any civilian instructor how well cops follow training procedures when the commands come from anyone other than a cop.
“The demo ‘used simulated lethal force’ to teach the class about making critical decisions”
I would call that demo a success – the class certainly learned about making critical decisions, but not the one intended for the class.
Actually, the way it turned out, the demo used lethal force for who the fuck knows what purpose. The class was taught never to trust a cop under any circumstances. I wonder how many learned the lesson.
“Extremely careless” but no intent, so no charges. Hillary defense.
Many LE simulations use handguns that are obviously not true firearms, such as the one below. Why this wasn’t the case here is tragic.
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“Punta Gorda Police Chief Tom Lewis (pictured) called the shooting a ‘horrible accident’”
That statement fucking pisses me off. That’s no ACCIDENT, that’s a major FUCKUP!! That’s just plain carelessness; they violated the most basic of gun handling safety rules, and in doing so give a black eye to gun ownership.
The Black Lives Matter group was asked to comment, they said:
“Fuq dat wite bich taken hur meediuh cuvrge n’ simputhee!!”
How stupid can they get? I had a gun safety course in the Boy Scouts when I was about twelve years old. We had a NRA instructor. One rule he pounded into our heads was “Never Point a Gun at Anyone! Never. Period.
I would hold the chief responsible for running such a dumbfuk exercise. These idiots have been watching too much TV.
It is really difficult to believe that a cop would mistakenly load live bullets for an exercise. And that no one would check, just in case. We are talking major stupidity here. He may have had two mags and accidentally switched them. Or he may have stupidly left a live cartridge in the chamber when he loaded the blanks. Whatever happened, that lovely woman did not deserve to be shot by a cop.
This is just the next obvious step: using live victims in police training.
The important thing is that Officer Dumbfuck is OK, and is now better prepared to gun down innocent people on a whim.
I’m sure the department will conduct the requisite ‘internal investigation,’ and determine that their glorious officer acted appropriately.
Somehow police mentality has gone from “Protect and Serve” to “shoot first and cover up later”. Some of this is from military training. My town had some skinhead ex-military cops for a while and they were scary looking young men. Never smiled, said hello, or conversed with the public. They acted like they were still on patrol in Afghanistan or Iraq. To them, we were the enemy.
It would be great if cops could emulate the best of their peers and relearn to serve the people first and not shoot first. They have been fear-driven in their training. They should be like samauri warriors, strong and smart, not the current model of “Be afraid and shoot anything that moves because you are more important than any mere citizen.
Good observation about the appearance of cops today. You left out the gang tats up and down their arms, but that’s okay 🙂
There is no such thing as a firearms “accident”. If I had my way, the substantial award that will be paid to the family would come out of the cops’ pension fund.
I am willing to bet that no charges will be filed against these incompetent cops. A cop-friendly prosecutor will see to that…
Hahahahhahahahhahhahahahahhh shit.
MAN….Didn’t the copper know the difference between blanks and live. Maybe he should come up here to BC Canada, and take our PAL (Possession and Acquisition Licence) course. Anyone in Cananda that wants to own a rifle (hand guns excluded), or ammo has to take this course, and its a tuff one, then Apply, with proof that you passed, wait up to three months for a reply, then you are good to go. If you want to own a hand gun (restricted weapon), whole other story. Feel bad for Mrs Knowlton and her family. Bad timing what with all the police shootings .
Are cops that fucking stupid?
answer: Yes.
Will cops cover up this fuckup, and pay reparations to the family, from the community chest (tax payer money)?
answer: Yes
will anything change as a result of this?
answer: NO
Why the fuck would anybody trust a cop, is beyond comprehension,
they are just clerks, collecting bills for their paymasters.
talk about critical… lol
she should have ducked