TROOPER HAD THE LAW ON HIS SIDE WHEN HE SHOT UNARMED ESCAPEE
(AP Photo)
Associated Press, Colleen Long-A state trooper had the law on his side when he shot unarmed prison escapee David Sweat, apparently in the back, as the convicted killer ran toward a forest near the Canadian border.
Our Take
David Sweat found himself so close to the Canadian border, but yet so far away. What an idiot. What type of fugitive walks on the main road leading to our friends from the North? Apparently this guy. He deserved the shots to the torso.
With that being said, some people may find themselves opposed to the state trooper’s decision to shoot the unarmed convict as he ran away. I cannot help but give a deep sigh in the direction of those who were against the shots taken by law enforcement. Let’s go over the facts of the case, and erase any and all sympathy from the minds of those who feel bitter for the situation that went down near the Canadian border.
David Sweat was serving a life sentence without parole for killing a sheriff’s deputy. He shot then ran over Broome County Deputy Kevin J. Tarsia, and left him for dead. This man is no doubt a monster and danger to society, and the shots made by the trooper were warranted.
As a cold-blooded murderer, who knows what else this guy was capable of? Canada would become his own personal playground once he traversed that forest. Who gives a shit if he didn’t have a gun in hand when the trooper took the shot? He was saving lives in the process by eliminating the threat.
By shooting Sweat as he ran into the forest, the trooper effectively thwarted any future murders that the convict may have carried out. The law is clear:
“There cannot be any cleaner situation than this one,” said Maria Haberfeld. “You cannot shoot any fleeing felon, but certainly you can shoot the one who poses a real threat. There was no reason to believe this person who had killed a police officer before was not posing a real threat.”
This case is clear-cut. The shots were warranted. My last hope is that the fine people down at Clinton Correctional Facility keep a better watch on this jailhouse wanderer.
