Absolutely Mind-boggling in it's Lack of Logic or Reason

I

imp

Senior Member
No matter your personal view of this, it is a most disparaging story with which I am having difficulty coming to grips. imp

"The father of 12-year-old Ciara Meyer, who was accidentally shot and killed by a police officer in her home on Jan. 11, will face murder charges in her death, the Perry County D.A. announced Thursday. The father of a 12-year-old Pennsylvania girl accidentally shot and killed in her home by a police officer earlier this month has been charged in her death, The New York Times reported Friday. Ciara Meyer was fatally shot while standing behind her father, 57-year-old Donald Meyer Jr., during a confrontation with Constable Clark Steele as he attempted to evict the family from their home outside of Harrisburg around 10 a.m. on Jan. 11. After Donald Meyer insisted the family was allowed to remain at the residence until midnight and pointed a semiautomatic rifle at Steele's chest, the officer fired one round into Meyer's left arm, which then struck Ciara Meyer and pierced her heart and lung. ..."

"They're responsible for the murder and shooting of my daughter and me, and now it's a big cover up," Meyer told the affiliate. "They're charging me with a felony for protecting my family?"

https://www.yahoo.com/news/video/pennsylvania-dad-faces-homicide-charge-154847184.html
 

This is very sad but it wasn't a smart move to point a gun at a police officer. He should have known it wasn't going to work out well. I don't think he should be charged with murder though. Maybe manslaughter. You pull out a loaded gun and you are taking on a lot of responsibility.
 

Still ...

I thought police are trained to observe the "background" while shooting. I understand that a rifle was being aimed at him, but it WAS his bullet that killed the girl.
 
I have almost got a handle on it, I think. I apologize for being too comfortable on the couch with a cat sleeping on me to go look this up, but here's what I think.

It goes something like this: in some states I believe the law holds that if you are in the process of committing a crime (in this case I believe pointing a weapon at a police officer would serve) and someone is killed as a result of the commission-in-progress of the crime, you may be held liable for the death - even if the death was not directly caused by any action you took.

That might be where the charges come from. Or not. I'm just speculating and I've speculated wrong in the past. Got to say, though, that idle speculation on a chilly Saturday morning in front of a fire with a cat asleep on top of me is not a total wste of time.

Ps: I'd hope that the police officer would bear some responsibility, as well.
 
imp said:
No matter your personal view of this, it is a most disparaging story with which I am having difficulty coming to grips. imp

"The father of 12-year-old Ciara Meyer, who was accidentally shot and killed by a police officer in her home on Jan. 11, will face murder charges in her death, the Perry County D.A. announced Thursday. The father of a 12-year-old Pennsylvania girl accidentally shot and killed in her home by a police officer earlier this month has been charged in her death, The New York Times reported Friday. Ciara Meyer was fatally shot while standing behind her father, 57-year-old Donald Meyer Jr., during a confrontation with Constable Clark Steele as he attempted to evict the family from their home outside of Harrisburg around 10 a.m. on Jan. 11. After Donald Meyer insisted the family was allowed to remain at the residence until midnight and pointed a semiautomatic rifle at Steele's chest, the officer fired one round into Meyer's left arm, which then struck Ciara Meyer and pierced her heart and lung. ..."

"They're responsible for the murder and shooting of my daughter and me, and now it's a big cover up," Meyer told the affiliate. "They're charging me with a felony for protecting my family?"

https://www.yahoo.com/news/video/pennsylvania-dad-faces-homicide-charge-154847184.html
Click to expand...


According to CNN, the father was illegally in possession of a firearm, which he aimed at officers serving a legal eviction notice, which the father knew was coming. He also knew or should have known, that his daughter was right behind him when he pointed the weapon at the officers. The officer fired at the father, and the shot went through the father's arm, hitting the girl.

The father was NOT charged with murder, but with negligent homicide, which is a whole different colored horse. This is the same type of law that kicks in if you are driving drunk with children in your car, have a wreck, and the children are killed. It's negligent endangerment and negligent homicide-- he put his own child at risk. Stupid and reckless to threaten officers with a gun with children in the house. The father also had a history of negligent endangerment and aggravated assault. What did the father expect would happen when he aimed semiautomatic rifle at the officers??
 
Loosey said:
I have almost got a handle on it, I think. I apologize for being too comfortable on the couch with a cat sleeping on me to go look this up, but here's what I think.

It goes something like this: in some states I believe the law holds that if you are in the process of committing a crime (in this case I believe pointing a weapon at a police officer would serve) and someone is killed as a result of the commission-in-progress of the crime, you may be held liable for the death - even if the death was not directly caused by any action you took.

That might be where the charges come from. Or not. I'm just speculating and I've speculated wrong in the past. Got to say, though, that idle speculation on a chilly Saturday morning in front of a fire with a cat asleep on top of me is not a total wste of time.

Ps: I'd hope that the police officer would bear some responsibility, as well.
Click to expand...

Your point is well-taken! While I was living in Phoenix, laws were passed which paralleled what you are saying; and I had doubts about agreeing with them. For example, a "shill" hired to drive a getaway car, awaiting the perpetrators, was held guilty of murder, if his buddies killed someone. A grossly non-uniform law, IMO. imp
 
That is no surprise to me. If in the commission of a felony someone gets killed, the felon is deemed to be responsible and can be charged with some level of homicide, depending on the circumstances. Then it is up to the jury to decide guilt or innocence. That is why we have trials at all.

A little girl did die. Someone is responsible. The facts must be heard in court.
 
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