NEWS: US Air Marshal Shoots Passenger on Flight from Columbia

Correction on the spelling of the victim's name

Rigoberto Alpizar

Faux is saying all passengers were made to deplane with their hands on their heads.

Confirmed: Passengers did disembark with their hands over their heads.

Confirmed: Several pieces of luggage was blown up by bomb squad.

All of this witnessed by me via live local news coverage.

also confirmed

DHS says NO bomb found.

Witness did contact media via cell phone




[edit on 12-7-2005 by worldwatcher]

An unfortunate incident, but overall, was well within training protocol and well within the law.




seekerof

It appears the story is changing.

It looks like every new story google is listing are basically quotes from the Homeland Security spokesman Brian Doyle, who seems to indicate that multiple Marshals chased him. Bryan Doyle was not sure if he was boarding or not.

The plane arrived from Medellin, Colombia, at 12:16 p.m. The plane was scheduled to depart two hours later for Orlando. The shooting happened about 2:15 ET. That would seem to indicate they were boarding.



hum

[edit on 12/7/05 by makeitso]

This Story STINKS - just as the one in London did STINK.

We will see what the Future brings...

Thanks loam. Came in late - trying to wrap my head around this one. Your summary helped.

As several people pointed out, it's now police and military policy: "Shoot first and ask questions later."

That's how it used to be when the West was wild. Now that America is a police state - that's how it is again.

New rules for living in America:

1. Never look the police in the eye, or do anything to let them identify you as an individual. It will make you prey.

2. Do not go out in public if you are sick, tired or otherwise vulnerable. It will make you prey.

3. Do not make any mistakes. You will be prey, and you will pay, quite possibly with your life.


Remember: They WILL shoot first and ask questions later. Even if you are white.

When the situation takes place in a crowded, very confined area, many things could go wrong if the situation is prolonged or a shot goes astray. The options are limited in these cases; the marshall pretty much is forced to resort to deadly force.

If a confrontation takes place in a parking lot or rest room, then your initial reaction to disable might be an option. But not on a plane.

You're right. It's better to wait, and let them blow up 300 people, instead of shooting and killing one person that's screaming "I have a bomb!"

Wouldn't it just be easier to remember to not say you have a bomb or threaten some other terrorist activity, especially in a mass transit public situation?

It's amazing how quickly we forget. Congress recently refused to give money for the Air Marshall program for training, which immediately suspended the program, and now they're allowing screwdrivers under 7 inchea, knives, razor blades, and scissors back on the planes in the cabin starting Dec 20th.

The facts on this story keep changing.....

What gives?

Because the press hears something, and reports it before they verify it. It's common with plane crashes, and other incidents. Look at how often the story changed on 9/11. As soon as a reporter hears something he runs with it, and it gets printed, then something else comes out, and it happens again.

Check out this quote from Homeland Security Department spokesman Brian Doyle:

"It was the first time since the Sept. 11 attacks that an air
marshal had shot at anyone."

Did he let something slip there, or just misspoke?

Link: www.breitbart.com...

Some Clarification from CNN... I think its clarification?





[edit on 12/7/05 by makeitso]

NPR reports that another passenger told the air marshal that the man had a bomb.

Audio



I wondered about this as well. Why even mention 9/11 in relation to this incident? Did air marshals shoot someone on 9/11? If not, why even bring it up?

[edit on 7-12-2005 by Benevolent Heretic]

thanks for clearing up the Ecuador thing MakeitSo

and the argument thing between him and his wife too

The Federal Air Marshal program was revived after the 9/11 attacks, I'm sure that's why he said it. I don't see an implication that shots were fired on 9/11 (which is I guess what you're trying to read into this?)

Interesting tidbit from his home city news in Florida. They interviewed his mother in law.



and

No, not in this type of situation.

I would like you to think of the bigger picture before trying to critique the policies used in cases like this. From the experiences learned from dealing with suicide bombers in the ME, it is clear that you only have an instant to stop the bomber from pressing the switch that sets off the explosion. That instant does not give you the time or luxury of trying to decide whether you should disable or kill. You can only react to try to stop the bomber.

Yes, it turned out to be tragic this time. But not as tragic as it would be if the bomber was real and the Marshall hesitated long enough to let the bomber detonate his device resulting in many more people be killed and/or injured.