Tragedy in Lima - for all involved.

I intended to delay posting about this subject until more information came to light, but given the seriousness of the event I wanted to make some points on both sides of the issue.

1) Serving warrants is a dangerous business. Cops are injured and killed when serving warrants every year, often by by-standers or other occupants of the houses they enter, and not by the felon sought.

2) We do not know the facts of the situation which led to the shooting, the article states the deceased ran upstairs when the police entered, but we do not know what led to the officer making the decision to shoot.

However - There are troubling facts already known.

1) There was a lengthy investigation into the sale of drugs at this house. Thus, plenty of TIME was available to plan and execute this warrant. Why go into a house, known to have children residents at 8:15 on a Friday?

2) No large amounts of drugs, cash, or guns are reported as being seized, thus, it does not appear to be a situation where it was known that a large "shipment" had been received and the police were worried about losing the evidence if they waited. It appears proper planning could have avoided this tragedy.

3) Investigate the felon, document and collect evidence against him and ARREST HIM OUTSIDE OF THE HOME or when it is known through surveillance the children are gone. Then approach the house, knock on the door, and announce - We are searching this residence, Mr. Felon has been arrested, everyone may leave once searched, or stay and be cooperative.

Make no mistake; this is a tragedy for all involved; the family of the deceased, the officer who shot her, the community as a whole and the police department. There are facts we do not know, may never know, and a full investigation is needed. The investigatory, planning, and tactical process will be scrutinized, and someone needs to be held accountable. Which "someone" is appropriate we don't yet know. The felon, the deceased, the landlord, the chief, the officer, ......we do not yet know.

I have no doubt that the officer did not leave the station that night thinking, "I'm gonna kill a woman tonight, a black woman, and wound a child." I am sure in the blur of the tactical situation he did not point his weapon at her, think - don't shoot, wait, she is black, shoot.

I am sure in the planning meeting, the officers and sergeants didn't say, "We are serving a warrant on a felon's house tonight, keep sharp, and oh guess what - he's a black guy - woo hooo."

It is time for thought, reflection, and investigation, not rash decisions, fuelled by emotion and based on conjecture.