CA - Off Duty Police Officer shoots man and parents after altercation in Costco, Corona, June 2019

[wary]

One question I have is this. Is this the relatives diagnosis or a professional one?

Your question is right on target. A relative’s diagnosis. Remember that we also had a relative quoted as saying ‘schizophrenia.’ So, I’m thinking that right now, we know nothing.

 

[Deleted member 39678]

I’m not a fire pro but 15 seconds of smoke inhalation would kill me. Just sayin’

I just held my breath for 30 seconds. I'm still alive.

 

[Deleted member 39678]

Your question is right on target. A relative’s diagnosis. Remember that we also had a relative quoted as saying ‘schizophrenia.’ So, I’m thinking that right now, we know nothing.

Thanks for the clarification.

We will probably get some posts saying that since we know French was autistic it means "xyz". JMO

 

[Lilibet]

One question I have is this. Is this the relatives diagnosis or a professional one?

It was a quote from a family member. I think they need to stop commenting. As long as there ends up being a full and transparent investigation as there would be for anyone, I can wait for the results. That said, I will need to see some extremely compelling evidence to convince me that shooting three people and killing one was justified. But I’m open to evidence despite my personal reaction.

 

[SoCalDavidS]

As a few have said on this thread multiple times, including myself, there was Zero Justification for this guy to pull out a firearm and start shooting. It is sad and pathetic that the discussion would proceed any further than that. The fact the victim had any mental disability should be irrelevant. The fact the shooter's occupation was policeman is irrelevant as he was off-duty and not in uniform. If anything, the fact he works as a policeman daily, should normally give some assurance that he would act in a professional and responsible manner while off-duty and on. And these days, the opposite is more and more common.

He was in a public place, and there were no weapons visible or has it even been suggested the victims presented any weapons during the encounter. It comes down to the fact the shooter felt that since he had a firearm on him, he had every right to use it to defend himself and his family, regardless of the situation. There were several options available, the most obvious of which would have been simply notifying store security, or even better....discussing the situation on the off chance that perhaps there was an explanation. But even if there wasn't, and we're talking about a person wanting to pick a fight with another person, pulling out a gun and starting to fire at every target in your immediate vicinity, is nothing less than attempted murder, as well as murder in this case.

 

[Lilibet]

As a few have said on this thread multiple times, including myself, there was Zero Justification for this guy to pull out a firearm and start shooting. It is sad and pathetic that the discussion would proceed any further than that. The fact the victim had any mental disability should be irrelevant. The fact the shooter's occupation was policeman is irrelevant as he was off-duty and not in uniform. If anything, the fact he works as a policeman daily, should normally give some assurance that he would act in a professional and responsible manner while off-duty and on. And these days, the opposite is more and more common.

He was in a public place, and there were no weapons visible or has it even been suggested the victims presented any weapons during the encounter. It comes down to the fact the shooter felt that since he had a firearm on him, he had every right to use it to defend himself and his family, regardless of the situation. There were several options available, the most obvious of which would have been simply notifying store security, or even better....discussing the situation on the off chance that perhaps there was an explanation. But even if there wasn't, and we're talking about a person wanting to pick a fight with another person, pulling out a gun and starting to fire at every target in your immediate vicinity, is nothing less than attempted murder, as well as murder in this case.

It’s going to be very hard for a fair, impartial investigation to overcome the facts you’ve laid out IMO. As I said earlier, it’s terrifying to think that if a little old lady like me tripped and knocked someone down that they would get up shooting. Just because French was bigger and may be found to have acted aggressively doesn’t justify using a gun. It will be a tough sell if they try to convince us that it was justified self-defense.

 

[Deleted member 39678]

I'm on the fence on this case. It could turn out that the shooting was justified.

Or it could turn out that the officer acted illegally and will be charged with some kind of crime as yet to be determined. JMO

 

[Deleted member 39678]

It was a quote from a family member. I think they need to stop commenting. As long as there ends up being a full and transparent investigation as there would be for anyone, I can wait for the results. That said, I will need to see some extremely compelling evidence to convince me that shooting three people and killing one was justified. But I’m open to evidence despite my personal reaction.

I have no problem with relatives or lawyers commenting about this case.

I consider the source when weighing the value of those comments. JMO

 

[SoCalDavidS]

I'm on the fence on this case. It could turn out that the shooting was justified.

Or it could turn out that the officer acted illegally and will be charged with some kind of crime as yet to be determined. JMO

What would be an example of a situation which would make it justified, considering none of the victims had weapons, or even anything that might have been construed to be a weapon according to all reports?

Are you saying that if I were a big guy, and I went up to someone in a Costco and punched them in the face, they have a right to shoot me and my family in response? Because that's essentially the worst case scenario as to what happened, so I'm curious why that sounds like a justifiable reaction to you.

 

[mickey2942]

I just held my breath for 30 seconds. I'm still alive.

There is an active shooter situation in Costco. 15 seconds is an eternity, especially when people behind you are stampeding for the door.

I would be interested in any other injuries that occurred in Costco that day, due to people running away in fear of their lives, and an exit door won't open.

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Corona Costco shooting: Emergency-exit doors were designed to wait 15 seconds before opening – Press Enterprise

OMG I haven’t read this article yet but the title just horrifies me if this, in fact, turns out to be the truth. How absolutely terrifying to run to an “EXIT” door if you were trying to escape during a shooting and IT WON’T OPEN!! Everyone would run to find another “EXIT” door, nobody would stand around and hope it would open. This just keeps getting worse and worse.

I need to go smoke a bowl.

 

[Deleted member 39678]

What would be an example of a situation which would make it justified, considering none of the victims had weapons, or even anything that might have been construed to be a weapon according to all reports?

Are you saying that if I were a big guy, and I went up to someone in a Costco and punched them in the face, they have a right to shoot me and my family in response? Because that's essentially the worst case scenario as to what happened, so I'm curious why that sounds like a justifiable reaction to you.

If French reached into his pocket, quickly pulled something out and pointed it at the officer, he may have justifiably feared for his life and fired his weapon in self defense. JMO

 

[foleybrau]

What would be an example of a situation which would make it justified, considering none of the victims had weapons, or even anything that might have been construed to be a weapon according to all reports?

Are you saying that if I were a big guy, and I went up to someone in a Costco and punched them in the face, they have a right to shoot me and my family in response? Because that's essentially the worst case scenario as to what happened, so I'm curious why that sounds like a justifiable reaction to you.

Having your 1.5 yo child with you is going to influence your reaction method, especially if the attack is freak in nature (possibly due to his disability)

 

[Reasonable & Just]

Having your 1.5 yo child with you is going to influence your reaction method, especially if the attack is freak in nature (possibly due to his disability)

Not to fire 6-7 shots in a crowded space and possibly kill some other baby.

 

[mickey2942]

Having your 1.5 yo child with you is going to influence your reaction method, especially if the attack is freak in nature (possibly due to his disability)

If this had been a car accident, and Mr. French had hit SS's car, with his wife and child in the car, potentially harming his family, by your "logic", it would have been an acceptable response to get out of the car, and shoot Mr. French and his parents for endangering SS's family.

I believe that SS's response to being shoved, pushed, whatever was a relex of anger and rage.

 

[mickey2942]

Well, police training has changed. In the old days say 30 or more years ago “defensive tactics” were heavily emphasized. Pretty rare to meet a street cop with an advanced college degree in those days. I knew some old school cops and going “hands on” was a rite of passage and a part of the job. Today cops have a different tool box. S.S. Apparently just had his pistol. A pistol is a tool like a hammer but when the Only tool you have is that hammer every problem becomes a nail.

This article is interesting.
http://wavenewspapers.com/de-escalation-to-be-stressed-in-new-use-of-force-policy/

"An internal LAPD report was released earlier this month that found LAPD officers used force nearly 2,000 times last year, including 21 cases in which people were fatally shot. More than one-third of the 38 people who were shot by police were mentally ill.".

 

[SoCalDavidS]

If French reached into his pocket, quickly pulled something out and pointed it at the officer, he may have justifiably feared for his life and fired his weapon in self defense. JMO

Except French didn't.

 

[jjenny]

By the way, in case anyone was taking too seriously the story that Mr. French had schizophrenia, another family member is quoted in the LA Times today, saying that he showed “behaviors of a functioning autistic adult.”

Costco shooting is worst nightmare for families of developmentally disabled children

I don't take that as a diagnosis. Rather the relative is saying that Mr. French behaved like someone with autism. Which sounds about right, since he became non-verbal, was living with his parents, and looked like parents had to accompany him everywhere.
I don't think relatives (other than his parents) know exactly what his diagnosis was.

 

[Reasonable & Just]

If French reached into his pocket, quickly pulled something out and pointed it at the officer, he may have justifiably feared for his life and fired his weapon in self defense. JMO

This is just speculation on your part, correct? I didn't see an indication of this in any reports, but I may have missed something.

 

[Deleted member 39678]

Except French didn't.

We don't know yet if he did or didn't do anything that would have caused the officer to fear for his life or great bodily injury.

Ok, I understand that you have made up your mind about this case. I'm fine with that.

I haven't yet and remain on the fence until I learn more about the details and circumstances in this case. JMO