Tape shows police shooting unarmed Airman

[OKflyboy 35]

CHINO, Calif. - A videotape released Tuesday shows a sheriff's deputy shooting an unarmed Air Force policeman who recently returned from Iraq as he appeared to obey an order to get up off the ground.

KTLA-TV broadcast a 40-second clip it said came from a Chino resident who videotaped Sunday night's shooting, which followed a 100 mph car chase.

Senior Airman Elio Carrion, 21, was listed in good condition at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton. He was shot three times in the chest, ribs and leg, his father-in-law, Ernesto Paz, told KTLA-TV.

Carrion was a passenger in a Corvette that crashed into a wall following the brief chase, authorities said.

The dark, grainy videotape shows Carrion lying on the ground next to the car, talking to a silhouetted officer who is pointing a gun at him. Carrion supports himself on one arm and his face is brightly lit by the officer's flashlight.

Carrion is heard telling the officer he is unarmed and is in the military.

At one point, a voice is heard saying several times: "Get up."

Carrion says: "I'm gonna get up." As he rose, at least four shots were fired and Carrion collapsed.

Investigators from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department took the original tape, refusing to release it to the public or describe what it shows.

The deputy, whose name was not released, was placed on paid administrative leave, a routine procedure in officer-involved shootings.

Sheriff Gary Penrod said he could not comment until the investigation is completed.

Carrion was not charged with a crime, although the incident remained under investigation, according to sheriff's spokeswoman Robin Haynal.

The driver of the Corvette, identified by authorities as Luis Fernando Escobedo, 21, was arrested for investigation of felony evading.

Carrion and Escobedo had left a party at the home of Carrion's parents to drive to a store, said the airman's wife, Mariela.

Carrion was scheduled to report on Wednesday to his unit, the 2nd Security Forces Squadron, at Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport, La.

An Air Force spokesman, Lt. Frank Hartnett, said Carrion was a security officer at the base. Carrion joined the Air Force in January 2003 and recently returned from a six-month tour in Iraq, Hartnett said.

Chino is about 40 miles east of Los Angeles.

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,1331...C=airforce-a.nl

[SteveNanik 0]

i seen the video on nbc nightly news and it made me sick. the poor guy did not deserve that

[OKflyboy 35]

Yeah, let's see, tell the guy to get up, then shoot him when he does so... way to go...

[Jasman0717 8]

[OKflyboy 35]

Something just doesn't add up. I know a few SPs. They consider themselves cops and certainly have the training. Carrion would have known what to do and what not to do. I just don't see an Airforce Cop provoking another Cop...

On the other hand, I don't see one Cop shooting another without provocation either...

Edited February 2, 2006 by OKflyboy

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Cops do make mistakes. It is possible the man thought he saw something and reacted. What a tragic story.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Listed in good condition after being shot 3 times. Lucky guy. What a shame it turned out this way.

Edited February 2, 2006 by rch99

[Mand 1]

Saw that on the news last night...insane

[alexcrv76 0]

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I just don't see an Airforce Cop provoking another Cop...

Carrion was a passenger in a Corvette that crashed into a wall following the brief chase, authorities said.

Being in a vehicle that engages a trooper in a chase sounds a lot like provoking a cop to me. Not saying that it provokes a shooting but there seems to be more to the story than the tape reveals...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I just don't see an Airforce Cop provoking another Cop...

Carrion was a passenger in a Corvette that crashed into a wall following the brief chase, authorities said.

Being in a vehicle that engages a trooper in a chase sounds a lot like provoking a cop to me. Not saying that it provokes a shooting but there seems to be more to the story than the tape reveals...

Well, it is clear that you don't support our troops! I guess that makes you the enemy!

(j/k)

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I just don't see an Airforce Cop provoking another Cop...

Carrion was a passenger in a Corvette that crashed into a wall following the brief chase, authorities said.

Being in a vehicle that engages a trooper in a chase sounds a lot like provoking a cop to me. Not saying that it provokes a shooting but there seems to be more to the story than the tape reveals...

Well, it is clear that you don't support our troops! I guess that makes you the enemy!

(j/k)

Me and that cop both.

Yeah, good one!

[almaty 19]

i worked with many cops and still set-up psych evals for a large city..after a few shoot-outs, cops get jumpy...enuff said

[slim 1,514]

I was an SP (Security Policeman in the Air Force) for over six years, so yeah, I can tell you without a doubt, this guy had the training to know to do EXACTLY what the deputy (with the gun pointed at him) said to do, because that's what you do when someone has a gun pointed at you, you follow directions!

There is also some SP training that says when doing a felony traffic stop (or anything where multiple suspects are involved) only ONE cop gives directions. This kid did what he was supposed to do and repeated the directions back before acting. That's standard training in any department. However, following a high-speed chase and having multiple suspects, it is hard to only have one person at a time shouting directions. It's also possible for situations to escalate very quickly, and the officer to feel in danger simply by what appears to be someone following directions. The officer may not have seen it that way at the time, and that's really what matters.

It's unfortunate that this guy was an Airman home on leave (or whatever) after serving in Iraq. The fact is though that many people join the military, go off and do great things, but hang out with the old buddies "back on the block" and it messes up their careers. I know when I left for the military, I was leaving my buddies that liked to drive 100+ miles an hour from the cops, behind. When the uniform is on, there is strict professionalism, but when back home, a lot of Airmen have no choice but to hang out with thugs and criminals. It's unfortunate, but it's true.

This is a story that's going to be hyped-up in the media because here's one of our "heroes" who is just back from the "war" and gets caught up in a misunderstanding. But, what if this was just two regular ol' Mexicans from Chino? Would it have even gotten a second look?

[Sister Fracas 5]

This is a story that's going to be hyped-up in the media because here's one of our "heroes" who is just back from the "war" and gets caught up in a misunderstanding. But, what if this was just two regular ol' Mexicans from Chino? Would it have even gotten a second look?

Spot on.......nope!