E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSAn off-duty police officer shot and killed his son after mistaking him for an intruder, New York State Police said.
Michael Leach, 59, an officer with the Parry Police Department in Wyoming County in western New York state, was staying at a motel in Old Forge. He called 911 early Saturday to say he just shot someone he thought was an intruder, troopers said, according to The Syracuse Post-Standard.
The victim turned out to be his son, Matthew S. Leach, 37, of Rochester.
Troopers said that the elder Leach used his department-issued .45-caliber Glock handgun in the shooting. He was hospitalized after the shooting for what troopers described as a "medical issue."
More content from NBCNews.com:
Leave a Comment:
Very sad and unfortunate; but, classic example of a trigger-happy cop. Hopefully he's removed from the force and banned from others.
being in prison, how could he be employed as much of anything? besides 'license plate maker'.
His judgement and his skill at assessing a situation were this poor is appalling to me. This guy should never again be armed and in a position of authority. He should be charged with manslaughter also. He easily could had shot the maid or the manager of the motel. No doubt a shoot first and ask questions later pig.
The cop haters never cease to amaze. More and more people are being shot by the police. Is it because the police are becoming more "trigger happy", or is it because people are becoming less respectful for authority? Honestly ask yourself: If an armed officer of the law tells you to stop running and put your hands where he/she can see them, what is your first reaction?
This case is definitely a tragedy. Shoulda, coulda, woulda used a flashlight, but something tells me that there is more to the story than what is being told.
It goes to show that such things can happen even to an experienced/trained police officer. Is it a problem related to gun ownership in this country? Maybe. But if we go there then we need to take another look at automobile accidents and licensing control there as well. Sometimes I feel safer at a gun range than I do in rush hour traffic...where I see serious accidents daily.
Its another way to save the Social Security System...get stupid with guns!
I can't believe how many idiots there are on this forum. So many of you say take away all guns, others say only rifles and shotguns. wtf? The east coast sniper used a rifle to kill many and injure more. The Aurora,CO. used a shotgun as well as a handgun. Hmmm. Had someone been carrying a concealed weapon in that theater, the outcome could have been a tail of heroism. Would all you activists still be yelling to outlaw guns? The fact of the matter is the vast majority of deaths by firearm are by law enforcement and criminals who obtained a firearm illegally. I can see more training being required but the call to outlaw firearms is assinine and irrational.
If you truly believe in something that strongly, get off your azz and do something. Don't come into a forum and speak out of your azz. Actually think of a rational,practical and thoughtful solution. Where were all of you when it was decided that no charges would be brought against Eric Holder for his illegal gun running( fast and furious) to Mexico that came back across the border to be used in US murders?
The silliest thing I've heard today...
If everyone were armed - it would take hours or days for Police to clear the area and start letting the hostages, victims and slaughter to stop.
No tactical team is going to let anyone out of the building - unless and until they are sure they aren't letting out the bad guys too. they evacuate in steps, assume A. that he or she is armed - and only let them out under guard. B. has been interrogated and cleared - even if they are bleeding. No one is assume "safe" until cleared.
As far as Columbine was concerned - police were still outside while those idiots were inside shooting people. The cops could not be sure of who were students in danger or possibly one of the shooters hiding singly or among the victims.
The videos showed the cop had everyone who left the building with their hands in the air - guns targeted on them. then contained in a holding area until they were searched - then, after the first clearance - they were moved to a triage area - to be seen by medic. then moved to a holding area... they were seen by successive teams - until they were proved to be victims.
There was an investigation to determine if the delay was necessary... it was!
Now, increase the danger by 60 or 70 concealed carry holders mixed in with the victims. Even if you were in the group and had a gun - you would be totally stupid to assume that the one guy with the gun was the only one. If this guy had any sense - he would have had at least 1 - 2 or more people mixed in with the crowd who would wait a while before joining in the slaughter - just to make sure that any "Hero's" would not stand up or interrupt the party.
Have you been reading the news lately?
Terrorist are moving up the game a few steps: they attack a place, then they have hidden bombs that go off 10 - 20 min. later, after everyone has calmed down and the cowboys come to the rescue.
Then just to be extra vicious ... a second or third bomb goes off. Because they know the good guy will be looking for evidence, helping the wounded and standing around with their thumbs up their backside, trying to see who is friend or foe.
It ain't as easy as you think.
Please - no more Cowboys. Think before you act - its pretty obvious that the bad guys are planning... it would be stupid for the good guys to do less. We went into Iraq with a bad plan - like Cowboys, going in to save the farm. The bad guys were in it for the long fight. You can't stand toe to toe with a prepared foe, but you can grind him down.
Please grow a brain on top of that spinal cord... higher brain functions are a good thing!
Now that's called taking your job home with you...
UncleBen-3793367:
You are so right! I HATE these stories where the basic questions that anyone would want to know are simply ignored. Without essential facts, these are just non-stories.
this is so @!$%#ing hilarious...!!! i can't stop laughing...now he knows how it feels to have the pigs just shoot first and then find out whats going on...hahahaaa !! sucks to be you buddy. i wonder if he'll get pay while he is off for killing his own son. hopefully he'll shoot himself next. need more cops like this one.
Poor officer. So, where is the motherload going to be recieved at and by who? Thank GOD for Windows 7, 'Secret leaking papel'. Yeah! I have number all of your comments and awardered your carma with meritt of your word, you know, ridding the world and community of it's suspicion. Play and participate fairly, when your number is up for you so called literates', terminate your own life promptly. I would use something ancient. Like a relic!
A lot of unanswered questions. Cop, hotel, night, family, gun,????? Maybe cops should ck there guns at work. Instead of taking them home w/ them.
Tragic story plain and simple. All the if only's, accusations, and curt remarks won't make it different. Even police make mistakes. He grieves like the rest of would.
Very sad story, but TOO MUCH info LEFT OUT?
What really happened, and in what order?
Police shooting are occuring everywhere, look at what happened in anaheim the home of dysneyland, cops shooting and killing three man, now this cop shoots and kills his own son and trys to hide it. Likewise, this is an example why cops cannot be trusted anymore. The answer is stop being trigger happy. Look at what happened in aurora colorado theater. Look at what happened in waco, texas. I have known many families whom lives where devestated and changed by a shooting. I am one of those victim family. There are other means to use, like kung fu or karate since I am listening to a kung fu movie. He could have used pepper spray or the tacer. gee, get a life people, quit being trigger happy. Gun is not the answer for self protection or protection of the city. Peace and prosperity is. The best protection is simply stay away from guns and knifes and the best defense is a strong offence use a tacer or pepper spray instead of a gun. We are in modern days where the modern weapons are meant to be used, like pepper spray or tacer.
Another reason for Gun Control...
this shows how cops blindly fire on innocent people,may be that some ones curse on him.
Ted Nugent will probably call this guy and hero - and then go over to his house and suck him off. Nugent was too much of a coward to fight in Vietnam, so my guess is he is a "catcher" rather than a "pitcher," and this slack-jawed moron stupid enough to kill his own progeny is likely a dream date for Ted.
I agree Nugent is a scumbag. It is even more pathetic how he went about dodging the draft. Just shows what a sick POS he really is.
Guns don't kill people. Nutty people with easy access to guns kill people.
Did he LIVE in the motel?? Can't understand if he was in a motel how the son knew where he was and why he came there. If the man TOLD his son where he was and even HALF expected him to show, he wouldn't have been so fast to fire. Even if he lived in the motel (happens I guess) then the son must have had a key and he STILL wouldn't have been so fast to fire. Maybe he was suiciding? Very odd story in my opinion.
This is very accepting of many of you... strangely so?
I would at least ask if father and son were on friendly terms. Was there some unresolved hostility between them? If the Father was living in a Motel - as least ask why - was he estranged from the wife, the son? Was the son in the habit of visiting? It is not unheard of that Police officers have been charged with spousal abuse, child abuse - long after the children were adults and finally found the courage to face their abusers.
There is the distinct smell of fish about this story and there is no Long John Silver's mention as being in the neighborhood.
hahaha!!!!!! It was really a dispute over the last blueberry donut....... He should be given the death penalty!!!!!!! but really, it sounds to me like there is way more to the story...........
No amount of Gun Control would of stopped this.
Take into account that this is a TRAINED PROFESSIONAL. Then Give guns to everyone that is not.
Oh thats how it is in real life.
Less than 4% of armed robberies are stopped by non professional gun owners. You have a 4% chance of stopping someone with your loaded weapon. 80 percent of gun owners are shot with their own guns, this includes them shooting family members.
Keep your 45 by the night stand, Ill keep nothing and I have a 96 percent chance of living. I like those odds better.
A gun is not magic... just having one will not ward off the boogie man. it is not magic you actually have to shot someone to stop them from doing something worng, but - before that, you need to be certian that nothing else would do the job.
Unfortunately, some people - many of them posting on these pages - thing that a gun gives them Carte Blanc rights to go anywhere they want with impunity. Understand, that there are parts of many Metropolitin cities where cops prefer not to go unless they do so ... in force and with orders to shoot anything which doesn't seem to be safe... and even then some of them pee their pants. Not out fear - but because its just that dangerous. Recently, in preparation for the next Olympics, Brazil, Rio de Junaro in particular has -finally made an effort to clean up its slums. The Police asked the army to help them do the job. Its just that lawless.
So now think about Mr. Igot A. Gun, going on patrol to clean up the city. The only people he will get a chance to shoot are people who he should not be bothering. "Ride'n Dirty' .. those guys will shoot anyone, anywhere, anytime - deal with the consequences when they come.
Shooting an unarmed gang member is one thing - but if they know you are coming... its likely to be a whole 'nother thing. Be sure of your surronding and try every thing else before shooting. Then kill everthing that isn't yours. you'll do time, but you 'll be alive... hopefully?
Good post,Beoweolf
I was taught minimum force tactics in Coast Guard (think lawsuits) but at the end of every refresher training . The Instructor said it is better to be Judged by 12 than carried by 6.
My father in law is a member of the N.R.A . I am thinking of joining.
Bullsh*t. If 80% of all gun owners shot themselves, there'd be no gun owners left. This is a made up statistic based on a (different) made up statistic:
From http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp
Truth in advertising - You do know, I'm a card carrying Libral, Leftie and believe in gun control. Even worse - there are no legal fire arms in my domicile.
But... in my defense - I did my duty in the miitary too, not some 2 year minimum either. The thing about liberals - besides being the majority in this country... is you never know where they may turn up, or how far they'll go to protect freedom when the crap hits the fan. American first, family second, then political - way down the list.
Rotflmao ..I forgive you, no one is perfect. ;-)
Beoweolf No Offense ,but you sound more like a moderate than a liberal. I believe that is really the majority in this country. Some lean to the port side some to the starboard but getting the majority to agree on anything is next to impossible.
Hate to break this to you, but...
From Gallup poll.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/152021/conservatives-remain-largest-ideological-group.aspx
If i were crazy and wanted to kill a bunch of people . I sure would not use a gun . Too many other more effective ways of doing it, some of them a lot quieter .
I don't trust these stories. Next, you will find a story that there was a fight, and daddy shots son. Murder. You see it all the time on these crime shows.
I hope it was truly an accident and not a story to cover up something more sinister.
I hope it was truly an accident and not a story to cover up something more sinister.