AP: "SWAT team shoots 'Armed' Fla. Eighth-Grader."

[Sparkly]

"Armed" with a pellet gun. :cry:

LONGWOOD, Fla. - An eighth-grader was shot and wounded by a SWAT team officer in a school bathroom Friday after he pulled out a pellet gun that resembled a real weapon, authorities said.

He was shot after raising the gun at deputies.

Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger said the 15-year-old boy brought the gun to Milwee Middle School in his backpack. Eslinger said two students saw it and one persuaded the other to report it, causing a scuffle.

(snip)

The boy was taken to the hospital, where he was on "advanced life support" Friday afternoon, Eslinger said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060114/ap_on_re_us/school_evacuated;_ylt=AgKkmwpM_dta7sJnh5tvGmOs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

[xchrom]

1. fuuuuck...

:mad:

[TallahasseeGrannie]

2. A tragedy

but in my opinion an understandable one. I've lived through a school shooting here in Tallahassee and it is devastating, life changing.

I hope the boy lives.

[renie408]

5. I agree

I feel for both the kid and his family, but I have a ninth grader and a fourth grader. It is a shame and a tragedy, as you said, but how much more of a tragedy would it have been if it had been a real gun.

[AX10]

3. A pellet gun looks similar to a real gun.

The percieved threat was such that the force used was justified.

Unfortunate this whole situation is.

[PatsFan2004]

12. Painting the red tip black makes this toy pellet gun look

even more real.

[sasha031]

4. this is so horrible

advanced life support"

[TallahasseeGrannie]

6. That has a very

ominous sound to it, doesn't it?

[cornermouse]

7. Does anyone here understand that a 15 year old eighth

grader probably didn't really understand the finality of what was about to happen?

Just asking.

[MercutioATC]

8. My son will be 15 in two weeks. He's in 9th grade.

He understands not to take a toy gun (regardless of whether it looks real or not) to school.

Yes, I realize that this particular kid probably doesn't understand the full ramifications of his decision, but I don't think 15 is too young an age to expect that level of understanding.

It IS an unfortunate incident...

[cornermouse]

11. All 15 year olds think they are immortal.

They truly do not believe they might die in a car accident (the usual reason) no matter how fast and dangerously they drive. I don't think guns or situations like this are any different. And if you've talked to your 15 year old long enough, you know that is a fact.

[renie408]

13. Ummm...No.

I have a fourteen year old son who has a very cautious nature. He is naturally cautious. Or maybe it's the 145 IQ. I dunno. But he refused to get back in the car with a couple of friends just two weeks ago and we had to go pick him up. The friends weren't drunk, they had made him mad as hell because the one drove like a maniac up to the mall. My son called us as soon as they got there. I was pretty upset too, because we are fanatically picky about who he gets in the car with and this kid is a senior whom I had previously considered very responsible.

[cornermouse]

15. Then he hasn't got there yet. Probably because he isn't driving yet.

Mine are also gifted and they did NOT believe they could die when they were that age.

[MrSlayer]

9. Well, that was stupid.

Pulling a gun on the SWAT team is definitely going to get you shot.

[ddeclue]

10. As I understand it this is "suicide by cop"...

I will go home and watch the "film at 11" since I'm local Orlando.

Doug D.
Orlando, FL

[GOPNotForMe]

14. My hometown county. Tragic. nt