Well…this should provoke some discussion around here:

[PCIntern]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20141231_Police_investigating_Drexel_Hill_shooting.html


Police fatally shot a 52-year-old man Tuesday afternoon in Drexel Hill after he attempted to run them down with his vehicle, said Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood.

Officers had been trying to arrest the man, identified by a law enforcement source as Joseph A. Pacini of Clifton Heights, after he allegedly posted rants against local officers and federal agents on YouTube, Chitwood said.

"He threatened to kill police, threatened to kill FBI agents," Chitwood said.

After trailing him from Clifton Heights, officers pulled over Pacini's vehicle near the intersection of Garrett Road and Shadeland Avenue around 4:15 p.m. and ordered him from the car. Instead, Chitwood said, the suspect shifted his vehicle into reverse and struck the side of the marked police car.


Much much more, including a video of this guy at this link:

#t=11

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20141231_Police_investigating_Drexel_Hill_shooting.html#8TyVzpLR2CxfkkvM.99

[NaturalHigh]

1. This poor guy obviously had some sort of issues.

"Clearly these guys want me dead or in prison, and there's no way in hell I'm going back in prison. No [expletive] way. So to the police, to the FBI, to the CIA agents, I'm not taking a fall for my family anymore, okay?" Pacini said in one video. "This time the Sicilian code is now busted. I'm opening my mouth, right here, right now, at 5:37 p.m., on Monday Dec. 29, 2014, this is my coming out party."

[PCIntern]

2. Yeah…one or two issues. nt

[branford]

3. The article and video suggest Pacini was a violently disturbed or paranoid individual,

who explicitly threatened law enforcement, and might very well have decided to commit "suicide by cop" when they approached to arrest him.

Not every police shooting is unjustified, and unlike other recent cases, no racial element is apparent.

[PCIntern]

4. I'm looking forward to a rational discussion as to that fact...

and thus I expect the --crickets-- routine.

[branford]

5. The lack of any potential racial animus should keep heated comments to a minimum.

If Pacini was young and minority, I believe that the case might very well have been national news, even if the known facts were otherwise identical.

I believe too many people of all perspectives are looking to the daily news for confirmation of the own biases and preconceived notions. If anyone looks hard enough, they'll find something.

[PCIntern]

7. …and I'm just asking, not SAYING anything...

if the man in the video were of color…what then? How would we interpret his and the police's actions? I'm ASKING, not trying to make a point. I would like to know how this community would feel with the same outcome.

[KMOD]

10. This story more closely alligns with Ismaaiyl Brinsley,

also mentally ill, and I don't believe there were many threads about him, personally.

The differences of course, that Brinsley succeeding in killing police officers before killing himself. Also, I don't see the Philly police blaming protestors or the mayor for this man's actions.

[NaturalHigh]

6. Suicide by cop.

I kind of thought the same thing.

[Bragi]

8. So what was this guy's crime? Why the takedown squad?

This guy may be disturbed and dangerous, maybe not, evidence lacking right now. But why was there such a big police takedown organized for this guy? What did he do beyond threats on social media? Is that a crime now? Did they read his tweet and decide to take him down? Why? Does he have a history of actual violence?

Guess we'll never know for sure, what with the perpetrator/victim being executed, as usual.

[NaturalHigh]

13. Uh, yeah...

Making threats on social media actually is a crime.

As for him being executed - he was trying to run over police officers who had their weapons drawn. Do you think they should have politely asked him to pull over?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

14. First off. Making "threats" on social media usually gets the "whadya want us to do bout it"from cops

Unless it's against cops. Then 80 year old ladies get flash bangs thrown through their windows *

(*true story)

As for "trying to run over cops" I'll wait for the video. I've seen what cops claim as attempts to run them over and it's usually nothing like normal people would use the phrase.

[TorchTheWitch]

9. I live right near that fitness club and heard about him yesterday

I cut through their parking lot all the time particularly when I walk the dog. We cut through the back of the lot, and there's a spot where the dumpsters are where employees come outside to smoke or make private phone calls and put the trash out before they close. Last night I was with the dog right at that spot where there's a bunch of bushes waiting for the dog to decide whether or not to pee on something, and one of the employees I see often there having a smoke was talking about a nut in the gym earlier either on his phone of someone right inside the door I couldn't see.

I didn't hear that much of what he was saying (I don't like to eavesdrop) and turned my back pretending I was paying no attention, and then the dog flushed a bunny from the bushes, so off we went. I think they've had issues with this same guy before... unless they have a variety of nuts that work out there.

I think I've seen him in the parking lot before. I definitely think his face is very familiar.

I didn't see the employee out by the dumpsters tonight when I walked the dog, but we went out a lot earlier than usual.

[brer cat]

11. I have some problems with this shooting, as reported here.

Couldn't they have shot his tires to prevent him from using his vehicle as a weapon?

According to the article, it was "not clear" if he was armed. Therefore, I think it would be reasonable to ask whether there was a way to subdue him without a barrage of bullets.

And speaking of a barrage of bullets, it was the start of rush hour on a well-traveled street. Maybe 5 people shooting was not a really great idea. Bullets did go into a bank building and medical building.

I don't question the heavy police presence given that the guy was a very troubled individual who had made repeated threats to kill leos. I just wonder if anyone considered doing anything other than everyone haul out a gun and fire away.

[TorchTheWitch]

12. shooting out his tires wouldn't disable the car

Or him.