MO - Off-duty officer (Katlyn Alix) shot dead by on-duty officer (Nathaniel Hendren), Jan 2019

[Catmommy]

Check the water! Stupid is spreading!

 

[SoCalDavidS]

These people shooting one another for fun are really doing their best to help the rest of us out, by taking themselves out of civil society. But sometimes they really need to do a better job. Seriously, the real challenge should be finding a gun that can penetrate that vest. Catching the bullet in the vest is a giant Fail. Get a better firearm.

I'm not a defense attorney, but if I were one, and had to represent the RR playing cop, I'd be sure to use every one of these cases in court, to show exactly how "normal" it is for 2 people to shoot guns at one another for fun.

 

[drama_farmer]

If I were a defense attorney, I'd be watching this particular case very closely. If "russian roulette" or the reversed variety is adjudicated as an "accidental" homicide, I wonder if a similar case involving just regular folk (non Law Enforcement) playing these fun games can be expected to have a similar ending. IMO

 

[mickey2942]

If I were a defense attorney, I'd be watching this particular case very closely. If "russian roulette" or the reversed variety is adjudicated as an "accidental" homicide, I wonder if a similar case involving just regular folk (non Law Enforcement) playing these fun games can be expected to have a similar ending. IMO

All I can say to this..."Stupid is, as Stupid does". Guns are NOT toys!

What is with people?!

 

[Steleheart]

The off topic, posts and religion / LE bashing posts have been removed.
Please stay on topic and be respectful to all when disagreeing.
The beliefs of the suspect ( or anyone else) are not in question by the court. Only that his attendance is allowed.

 

[Psychofcrime]

I find it very strange that this barely showed up in the press. This link is a local radio station. NR was indicted and charged with involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action. I would think the victim's family wouldn't be very happy with these charges. Seems kind of light to me.
Officer indicted for killing another officer in 'Russian Roulette' case

 

[GordianKnot]

I find it very strange that this barely showed up in the press. This link is a local radio station. NR was indicted and charged with involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action. I would think the victim's family wouldn't be very happy with these charges. Seems kind of light to me.
Officer indicted for killing another officer in 'Russian Roulette' case

BBM:

I don't find it at all surprising that this story is being buried.
After all, it isn't like this is really big news. C'mon.
Just another rousing game of Reverse Russian Roulette gone sadly awry.

I really like @SoCalDavidS's suggestion earlier that the defense attorney
bring up all the other numerous examples of harmlessly lethal gun play..."to show exactly how "normal" it is for 2 people to shoot guns at one another for fun," as SoCalD suggests.

Accidents happen.
Nothing to see here, folks.
Open and shut case.

Maybe as punishment, the judge can require NH to do a PSA: "Gun Play Doesn't Pay."
NH can go around to elementary schools lecturing kids on the importance of not firing loaded weapons into the chests of your friends when they come over to your house to eat Subways with you.

Then again, most 8-year-old children know not to shoot guns into their friends' chests when they come over to eat. So there's that.

JMO.

 

[Falcon500]

BBM:

I don't find it at all surprising that this story is being buried.
After all, it isn't like this is really big news. C'mon.
Just another rousing game of Reverse Russian Roulette gone sadly awry.

I really like @SoCalDavidS's suggestion earlier that the defense attorney
bring up all the other numerous examples of harmlessly lethal gun play..."to show exactly how "normal" it is for 2 people to shoot guns at one another for fun," as SoCalD suggests.

Accidents happen.
Nothing to see here, folks.
Open and shut case.

Maybe as punishment, the judge can require NH to do a PSA: "Gun Play Doesn't Pay."
NH can go around to elementary schools lecturing kids on the importance of not firing loaded weapons into the chests of your friends when they come over to your house to eat Subways with you.

Then again, most 8-year-old children know not to shoot guns into their friends' chests when they come over to eat. So there's that.

JMO.

How is the case being “buried”? St. Louis is a big city. It’s not Mayberry. The papers have a lot to cover. The indictment of a previously arrested defendant is not a big deal. In most cases it’s a formality on the way to the start of the trial.

 

[Seattle1]

I find it very strange that this barely showed up in the press. This link is a local radio station. NR was indicted and charged with involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action. I would think the victim's family wouldn't be very happy with these charges. Seems kind of light to me.
Officer indicted for killing another officer in 'Russian Roulette' case

March 4, 2019

[...]
Judge Thomas McCarthy asked during a hearing Monday if there was a grand jury indictment against Officer Nathaniel Hendren in the Jan. 24 fatal shooting of Officer Katlyn Alix. Told no by an assistant prosecutor, McCarthy scheduled a follow-up hearing for April 29.
[...]
Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner charged Hendren with involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action, but significant St. Louis cases typically go to grand juries to decide whether charges are warranted. However, grand jury proceedings are secret, so it's unknown whether one is even considering the case.
St. Louis officer accused in coworkers death appears in court with new judge

I agree it odd that there seems no mention in any local MSM that grand jury indicted NR, and whether or not there's still a hearing Monday. Perhaps it's reported on fb where I don't follow.

MOO

 

[mickey2942]

I find it very strange that this barely showed up in the press. This link is a local radio station. NR was indicted and charged with involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action. I would think the victim's family wouldn't be very happy with these charges. Seems kind of light to me.
Officer indicted for killing another officer in 'Russian Roulette' case

I think that the victim's family is staying pretty quiet. The whole situation does not portray the victim in a favorable manner. She was recently married, and already at a man's house, in his bedroom, past midnight, when he was supposed to be at work...playing some sort of "game"...I don't know.

 

[PrairieWind]

I find it very strange that this barely showed up in the press. This link is a local radio station. NR was indicted and charged with involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action. I would think the victim's family wouldn't be very happy with these charges. Seems kind of light to me.
Officer indicted for killing another officer in 'Russian Roulette' case

I don't know what other charges could be brought, to be honest. We don't know for sure what really happened in that apartment. But I don't think he intended to shoot her. I think he was just extremely reckless. So that probably is manslaughter in the end.

 

[Seattle1]

4/29/19

A St. Louis police officer pleaded not guilty on Monday in the fatal shooting of a female colleague who died during a drunken game of Russian roulette.

Nathaniel Hendren, 29, is charged with first-degree manslaughter and armed criminal action following the January shooting death of 24-year-old Katlyn Alix.

The grand jury indictment returned Thursday doesn't affect the charges but means the case can proceed without a preliminary hearing. Hendren appeared in court Monday.

A TIMELINE OF EVENTS LEADING UP TO KATLYN ALIX'S DEATH
Wednesday, January 23, 11pm: Both Nathaniel Hendren and Patrick Riordan are said to have reported for duty for their 11pm to 7am shift

Just after 11pm: Responded to first emergency call, an alleged assault at a senior facility

11.48pm: Called to a burglary alarm in Manchester

Thursday, January 24, 12.14am: Back on duty after burglary deemed a false alarm

12.56am: Hendren and Riordan call emergency dispatchers from their police radios. They both take Alix to Saint Louis University Hospital after the shooting in the Carondelet neighborhood of St. Louis

1.07am: Alix was pronounced dead

1.30 am: Lt. William Brown files allegations of misconduct

The shooting happened in a different district from where the officers were assigned to patrol, KMOV4 reports.
Cop pleads not guilty to manslaughter in death of colleague who was shot during Russian roulette | Daily Mail Online

 

[Seattle1]

St. Louis police officer accused of killing colleague pleads not guilty

4/29/19

ST. LOUIS • A St. Louis police officer accused of fatally shooting a fellow officer in January pleaded not guilty Monday to the charges against him.

Nathaniel Hendren, 29, appeared Monday before St. Louis Circuit Judge Thomas McCarthy at the Carnahan Courthouse. He was accompanied by his lawyer Talmage Newton IV in the courtroom where he waived formal reading of the indictment.
[...]
After Monday's brief hearing, Alix's supporters walked through the main lobby of the Carnahan Courthouse shouting, "Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Justice for Katie!"

Hendren's next court date is scheduled for June 17.

 

[jjenny]

I don't know what other charges could be brought, to be honest. We don't know for sure what really happened in that apartment. But I don't think he intended to shoot her. I think he was just extremely reckless. So that probably is manslaughter in the end.

As far as the story goes, he allegedly pointed a gun at her (that he knew had a bullet in it) and pulled the trigger. He had to know there was a decent chance he was going to shoot her, if you believe the Russian roulette story to begin with. And supposedly the Russian roulette game was played more than one time, thus increasing chances of being shot. So what exactly did he intend to do?

 

[Seattle1]

As far as the story goes, he allegedly pointed a gun at her (that he knew had a bullet in it) and pulled the trigger. He had to know there was a decent chance he was going to shoot her, if you believe the Russian roulette story to begin with. And supposedly the Russian roulette game was played more than one time, thus increasing chances of being shot. So what exactly did he intend to do?

And the victim was doing the very same thing. Allegedly, they were passing the gun back and forth to each other.

How stupid!

Makes me angry.

Did they both have a death wish?

 

[Betty P]

St. Louis police officer accused of killing colleague pleads not guilty

4/29/19

ST. LOUIS • A St. Louis police officer accused of fatally shooting a fellow officer in January pleaded not guilty Monday to the charges against him.

Nathaniel Hendren, 29, appeared Monday before St. Louis Circuit Judge Thomas McCarthy at the Carnahan Courthouse. He was accompanied by his lawyer Talmage Newton IV in the courtroom where he waived formal reading of the indictment.
[...]
After Monday's brief hearing, Alix's supporters walked through the main lobby of the Carnahan Courthouse shouting, "Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Justice for Katie!"

Hendren's next court date is scheduled for June 17.

I had forgotten that this idiot and his partner had ignored a burglary alarm call to take off work to hang out and get drunk together. Neither of them should be working for the PD any longer. Stupid, lazy idiots.

I also still don't buy Hendren's story in trying to blame the victim for her own death. I still think there's a good chance he killed her on purpose, not accidentally.

 

[Betty P]

And the victim was doing the very same thing. Allegedly, they were passing the gun back and forth to each other.

How stupid!

Makes me angry.

Did they both have a death wish?

I'm not so sure she did. Hendren and his attorney are going to have to prove that.

 

[Seattle1]

I'm not so sure she did.
Hendren and his attorney are going to have to prove that.

I understood this info (passing gun to each other) came from NH's partner PR. Allegedly, he told them they were acting like kids, and left the room after scolding.

No excuse for NH - his gun, his actions ended KA's life.

ETA: add 1/28/19 news account

.......Alix then took the gun and pointed it at Hendren and pulled the trigger but the gun again did not fire.

Hendren then took the gun back from Alix and pulled the trigger, shooting Alix in the chest, police say. She later died at the hospital.

Charging documents say Hendren’s partner told Hendren and Alix that they shouldn’t play with guns, and the partner "didn't want to have any part of it."

The partner was leaving the room when Hendren shot Alix. Authorities said he walked back into the room and saw Alix was shot in the chest.
Officers were playing type of Russian Roulette when off-duty officer was shot, prosecutors say

 

[Indy Anna]

I understood this info (passing gun to each other) came from NH's partner PR. Allegedly, he told them they were acting like kids, and left the room after scolding.

He may be trying to minimize any culpability he may have, while covering for his partner. Only one person knows the whole truth about what happened, and she's not talking...she's dead. JMO

 

[PrairieWind]

And the victim was doing the very same thing. Allegedly, they were passing the gun back and forth to each other.

How stupid!

Makes me angry.

Did they both have a death wish?

It is very difficult to wrap my head around this for sure. I don't think they had a death wish. IF the RR story is true, then my guess is that NH put one round in the gun and put the cylinder in a position where there should have been 4-5 trigger pulls before it fires. He tells KA this, so they both point the gun and pull the trigger thinking its safe. But NH has made a mistake and lost track of what position the cylinder is in. He points it at her thinking he has one more safe trigger pull before the cylinder advances the live round into firing position. But he is wrong and the gun goes off. I seem to recall that NH had boasted on FB or somewhere about having recently bought this revolver. He maybe just had very little experience handling it was unfamiliar with it. So, in this scenario, he didn't intend to shoot her. But I still think its manslaughter.

However, the whole RR story seems just crazy to me. So I don't rule out that something else entirely happened and the RR is made up. I don't think he intended to murder her. That would be crazy. In his apartment, on duty but out of patrol area, with a married woman, drinking on duty. Doesn't add up. NH needs to just fess up and come clean about what happened. I suspect that the full truth isn't really going to be too flattering to Alix, but whatever she was doing there, she didn't deserve to die.