Inserting yourself into a shooting can have deadly consequences . . .

[Muss Muggins]

This happened Monday in Colorado, yet this morning was the first I have heard or read of it. A man ambushed, chased, and killed an Arvada, Colorado police officer. A bystander rushed from a nearby establishment, shot and killed the gunman, and picked up the gunman's AR-15 style rifle. Responding police shot and killed the Good Samaritan. The Daily Mail has an extensive article:

Civilian shot dead while trying to take down gunman targeting cops was 'killed by police bullet' | Daily Mail Online

I have long maintained that my concealed pistol is present to make sure me and mine get safely home. This incident reinforces that position, at least for me. I stopped getting paid to be a hero some time ago. Your mileage may vary . . .

 

[Echo40]

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

Yes, getting involved in a shooting can have deadly consequences, shootings are potentially deadly by definition. That man is a hero and ought to be honored as such for his selfless intervention, and for his courage in the face of danger. I don't believe this man was a fool, he knew the risks he was taking and his death was nothing more than a tragic accident which could have just as easily been avoided had the police simply ordered him to drop his weapon before they started shooting. Unfortunately, the police likely misinterpreted the situation and presumed that he was the shooter and the man he had shot was an innocent victim, ergo they made the snap decision in the heat of the moment to neutralize the threat.

Personally, I commend this brave man for his valor, and may he rest in peace.

 

[Muss Muggins]

. . . his death was nothing more than a tragic accident which could have just as easily been avoided had the police simply ordered him to drop his weapon before they started shooting. Unfortunately, the police likely misinterpreted the situation and presumed that he was the shooter and the man he had shot was an innocent victim, ergo they made the snap decision in the heat of the moment to neutralize the threat. . .

I don't think we know yet what did or didn't occur and what responding officers did or didn't say in the moments before the Good Samaritan died . . .

 

[VictorLouis]

I have long maintained that my concealed pistol is present to make sure me and mine get safely home. This incident reinforces that position, at least for me. I stopped getting paid to be a hero some time ago. Your mileage may vary . . .

I tend to agree. However, I also never say never.

 

[tlawler]

I'm wondering what in the world he was thinking when he picked up the AR. I can see kicking it out of the gunmans reach, in case he was still able to reach for it, but common sense should dictate that you wouldn't otherwise touch it. At the very least, you're contaminating a crime scene and evidence. I agree 100% the guy is a hero and almost assuredly saved lives, but he sealed his own fate when he picked up that AR.

 

[steelslaver]

One of the big concerns in any use of a weapon is that any responding law enforcement most likely will not have all the facts and having a gun in your hand is going to bring their guns to bear on you.. I don't care if you are defending yourself or your family or as in this case a LEO. when the LEOs roll up they are NOT going to know you are the good guy. Best be presenting a as non threatening.

The guy did the right thing shooting the bad guy, Too bad it went south from there. I feel sorry for his family and for the guy who shot him.

 

[murphydog]

None of us can predict exactly how we would respond in this situation, and we will probably never know all the details. Perhaps the murderer was still trying to reach for the rifle even after 5-6 pistol hits?

In any case, a truly heroic act on the part of Mr. Hurley, in an age when that term appears overused.

 

[teletech]

It shows you, sooner or later, you must answer for every good deed -Calveras (magnificent seven)

In seriousness, it's a shame things worked out as they did, Not being there and not reading a thorough report it's hard to know where things went wrong but picking up the AR was almost certainly a bad call.

 

[Onomea]

Good Samaritan Mistakenly Shot by Police

Tragic story. Good guy with a gun shoots cop killer and is then mistakenly himself shot by police:

Arvada shooting: Good Samaritan in Colorado who took down a gunman was fatally shot by police

- CNN

The police can't tell a good guy with a gun from a bad guy with a gun. Best not to have a gun in hand when the police show up.

 

[Marshal Tom]

Just tragic, but I can certainly see how it happens. He shouldn't have picked up the AR and possibly covered the shooter with his pistol until he heard officers arriving on the scene and then holstered or put his gun down. It is easy to second guess the situation when we were not there but I is certainly food for thought.

 

[9mmPatriot]

I've been watching the local news this morning about this.


The good guy took out the shooter and made the mistake of picking up the bad guys AR. LEO arrived on scene and saw a guy holding an AR and 2 people on the ground.


I commend the Good-Guy, but.....picking up the bad guys rifle was perhaps not the wisest choice.

 

[geeollie]

If you do intervene or find yourself somehow involved, HAVE NOTHING in your hands when the cops arrive.

 

[smoothshooter]

I'm wondering what in the world he was thinking when he picked up the AR. I can see kicking it out of the gunmans reach, in case he was still able to reach for it, but common sense should dictate that you wouldn't otherwise touch it. At the very least, you're contaminating a crime scene and evidence. I agree 100% the guy is a hero and almost assuredly saved lives, but he sealed his own fate when he picked up that AR.

Based on what the OP stated, a brave and good man made a stupid move at the end of the encounter and paid for it with his life.

 

[Mainsail]

I have long maintained that my concealed pistol is present to make sure me and mine get safely home. This incident reinforces that position, at least for me.

I decided long ago not to craft or change my safety plan/strategy based on outlier events.

It seems like all of us are alarmed the hero would pick up the AR after the gunman dropped it. Being that is absolutely NOT what I would do, it is dispositive; I am not at risk for this specific incident.

My policy is to have no firm policy. Decisions are made based on the best information possessed at the time. That said, I would never walk away from such an event happening before me, knowing I had the means to stop it. If it means I go to be with the Savior, so be it.

 

[Wyo]

John Farnam always said that in any situation not directly involving yourself or immediate family, you should ask yourself "Am I getting paid to deal with this? If the answer is no, you are better advised to be a good witness." That's actually pretty good advice. I don't know anything about the Samaritan here, and I feel badly for him and his family, but my guess is he never had any training in situations like that and it never occurred to him the cops would think he was the bad guy. After all, HE knew he was a good guy. Most unfortunate.

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

Is there any video footage of the shooting? Hopefully there is and could
clear things up.
My basic thought is to agree with Muss but one never knows until put in
a similar situation.

 

[LPD256]

Hopefully, after this is fully investigated, the tragedy will become a teaching moment for citizens as well as responders. Two tragedies in one event.

 

[Muss Muggins]

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke.

"Our patience will achieve more than our force . . . " - also Edmund Burke

 

[Dvan34]

This is a very sad incident. One of the first things we should learn and usually do when taking training is to avoid this. After engaging in a SD shooting or other make certain that you are safe from another shooter - then put your weapon down and raise your hands up when officers arrive.

We don't know why he picked up the shooter's AR15.Evidently he must have put his pistol down and picked up the rifle. Hurley was a hero. But a simple failure to realize the danger he was in after the shooting cost him his life. The officer who arrived had no time or way of knowing the situation. He responded thinking that he was facing the killer. As he might have been. I feel very sorry for him. This doesn't make it any easier for him.

It's impossible to understand what is happening lately. It's like someone has pushed a button and the shooting incidents are out of control - for some of the most stupid reasons. Someone gets too much hot sauce on a sandwich.

 

[eb07]

Hero who knew the risks and took action anyway. Not many men have the heart and courage to do that.