Oklahoma Police Kill 5-Year Old Boy While Shooting at Snake

[Trip20]

Tragedy resulting from a Rule #4 violation.

Source.

NOBLE, Okla. — A stray bullet fired by a police officer trying to shoot a snake hit and killed a 5-year-old boy fishing at a nearby pond, officials said.

Austin Haley was fishing with his grandfather, Jack Tracy, Friday evening when Tracy said he heard a shot and saw a bullet hit the water just a few feet in front of the boat dock where he was standing.

Moments later, a second shot was fired that hit Austin in the head.

A Noble police officer who had responded to a report of a snake in a tree apparently fired the deadly shot while trying to kill the snake, according to City Manager Bob Wade.

Tracy said he initially thought he and his grandson were under attack by someone trying to kill them, so he put the boy into the back of a 4-wheeler and drove to his daughter's house about 200 yards away.

"Then two officers came out of the brush over there," he told The Oklahoman. "They didn't tell us they were the ones who had been shooting or that they had shot him. They didn't admit a doggone thing."

The boy was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A resident of the Crest Lane neighborhood called police after discovering a large snake in a tree, Wade said.

"I was told that they tried several ways to get the snake down, but it was still hissing at them and firmly lodged," Wade said. "What I was told is that the owner of the home either suggested or agreed that they should go ahead and shoot the snake, and then everything happened from there."

Wade refused to identify the officer suspected of firing the shots but said the officer has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

"This is so bizarre it has to be fully investigated. ... We're pretty sure circumstantially that it is the bullet from the police officer's gun, but it might be a bullet from someone else," Wade said.

A state investigation has been launched into the shooting, and it appears the fatal shot was fired by the officer, said Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Jessica Brown.

"We have no reason to believe it's not," Brown said. "But there certainly will be an investigation."

Tracy has little doubt about what happened.

"I'm not saying the cop shot him on purpose," Tracy said. "It was an accident. But let me tell you — if I had a kid and put him in this car and didn't put him in a car seat and he got killed on the way to town, they'd charge me with murder ... and what this cop did is a lot worse than that."

[Alleykat]

Cop should serve some hard time. Criminal negligence that gross should come under the heading of "Voluntary Manslaughter".

[Thunderhawk88]

Talk about stupidity, and a five year old and his family pays the price.

[divemedic]

Suggestions:

1 Cop who fired shots charged with negligent homicide, discharging weapon in city limits, and any other law they can find

2 The family is likely to sue the city and the police department

3 All officers should be required to attend training on animal control, snake identification, and a refresher on weapons safety and weapon use policy

4 Department guidelines for handling of animal incidents and use of force need to be reviewed and changed

[Sarge]

Very sad and shameful. Note to self to stow a couple of quail loads in the crash bag.

[Manedwolf]

You know, I've never had any firearm with me in an outdoor setting that I did not have a couple of rounds of snakeshot for in the appropriate caliber.

And I agree, he needs to serve hard time for negligent homicide.

[RedneckFur]

Shooting at a snake in a tree doesnt seem like a very smart decision to me. Call animal control. They can handle these things. You'd think a trained cop would know a little better about knowing whats behind your target, and of the intelegence of firing pistol rounds into the air.

A child died because he was careless. I'm all in favor of throwing the book at him.

[Dewhitewolf]

Do they have animal control, or some equivalent, in that area? If not, then they're overdue for starting one, and make it standard protocol to involve them in decisions involving animals.

Shooting at animals in a tree is just plain stupid, but what can you expect of most badgeheads?

[JWT]

Tragic to say the least. Makes one wonder what kind of training they give their police officers.

Criminal charges are defintely in order.

[Antipitas]

Originally Posted by Dewhitewolf

Shooting at animals in a tree is just plain stupid, but what can you expect of most badgeheads?

Badgeheads? Did you go out and buy that broad brush or was a birthday present?

You do know that what you wrote is not exactly taking the high road? But hey! If that's what you really feel, have at it. You won't be long in these forums, however...

[redblair]

What a sad day for that family. Sounds like the cop made a poor choice and a young child's life was ended.

B

[45Marlin carbine]

looks like an accidental death charge, negligent homocide charge, involuntary manslaughter or some such and likely other criminal charges and likely civil suit to me. a sad day for all concerned.

[VUPDblue]

Originally Posted by Dewhitewolf

Shooting at animals in a tree is just plain stupid, but what can you expect of most badgeheads?

nice......

[chris in va]

The cop will get off. They almost always do.

The average citizen however would not.

[CK1]

Know your target and what's beyond......

Incredibly sad

[Tom2]

Recurrent firearms training for everyone in order too-he missed the snake and the tree at close range, apparently?

[Wildalaska]

The cop will get off. They almost always do.

The average citizen however would not.

Bet ya he gets MORE of whatever he deserves than the average citizen.

WildandthecityortownisequallyatfaultAlaska

[VUPDblue]

I think WildAlaska might be right. Also for Tom2, a .40 at close range would most likely sail right through a snake and still be deadly. It didn't say if the snake was hit or not.

[DrLaw]

Oklahoma has a very dim view of stupidity and the results thereof. I think that the officer will regret this action for the rest of his life. He will probably get a criminal conviction, and since he was an officer and supposed to protect life and property, will probably have nightmares forever on about killing a 5-year old child.

I would not be surprised if he gets the ultimate cop disease. Some of you who have not been police probably don't know what this is.

Final word, this whole thing is sad and tragic.

The Doc is out now.

[FirstFreedom]

Do they have animal control, or some equivalent, in that area?

No they don't - they had just *recently* cut out animal control - not enough budget. It's a big story here. Tragic.

I think that the department should have their pants sued off if they failed to adequately train this LEO. If they trained him properly on the four rules, etc., and he just didn't follow his training, then he should lose his job, be sued individually, and possibly even charged with involuntary manslaughter.

[Deaf Smith]

Do we all have to be reminded that what goes up... must come down, somewhere?


Oklahoma Police Kill 5-Year Old Boy While Shooting at Snake
Sunday , August 05, 2007



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NOBLE, Okla. —

A stray bullet fired by a police officer trying to shoot a snake hit and killed a 5-year-old boy fishing at a nearby pond, officials said.

Austin Haley was fishing with his grandfather, Jack Tracy, Friday evening when Tracy said he heard a shot and saw a bullet hit the water just a few feet in front of the boat dock where he was standing.

Moments later, a second shot was fired that hit Austin in the head.

A Noble police officer who had responded to a report of a snake in a tree apparently fired the deadly shot while trying to kill the snake, according to City Manager Bob Wade.

Tracy said he initially thought he and his grandson were under attack by someone trying to kill them, so he put the boy into the back of a 4-wheeler and drove to his daughter's house about 200 yards away.

"Then two officers came out of the brush over there," he told The Oklahoman. "They didn't tell us they were the ones who had been shooting or that they had shot him. They didn't admit a doggone thing."

The boy was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A resident of the Crest Lane neighborhood called police after discovering a large snake in a tree, Wade said.

"I was told that they tried several ways to get the snake down, but it was still hissing at them and firmly lodged," Wade said. "What I was told is that the owner of the home either suggested or agreed that they should go ahead and shoot the snake, and then everything happened from there."

Wade refused to identify the officer suspected of firing the shots but said the officer has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

"This is so bizarre it has to be fully investigated. ... We're pretty sure circumstantially that it is the bullet from the police officer's gun, but it might be a bullet from someone else," Wade said.

A state investigation has been launched into the shooting, and it appears the fatal shot was fired by the officer, said Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Jessica Brown.

"We have no reason to believe it's not," Brown said. "But there certainly will be an investigation."

Tracy has little doubt about what happened.

"I'm not saying the cop shot him on purpose," Tracy said. "It was an accident. But let me tell you — if I had a kid and put him in this car and didn't put him in a car seat and he got killed on the way to town, they'd charge me with murder ... and what this cop did is a lot worse than that."

[Sriracha]

Thanks for this tragic reminder of the basic rule: "Always be aware of what is beyond your target."

[garryc]

I think if I worked in an area that had poisonous snakes I'd probably pack a few 9 shot trap loads away. The cop should face negligent homicide at least. And get fired immediately.

[restlessnomad]

I may not know much about LE procedure, but I do know my wildlife. Attempting to shoot a snake out of a tree, or anywhere else as a "last resort" unless being aggressively attacked is ignorant. Shouldn't animal control have been called before the officer attempted to kill the snake? Hell, even cutting the tree down to avoid shots being fired into the air would have been a better choice. How tragic!

[Capt Charlie]

Duplicate threads merged.