LEO shot and killed by homeowner.

[SilverBullet432]

Midland Tx- An officer was shot and killed by a homeowner while responding to a burglary alarm last night. Very sad and tragic.


https://www.oaoa.com/news/crime_just...5de7960ed.html


Update:

The officer has been identified as Nathan Heidelberg, and was with the department for 5 years.

https://www.mrt.com/news/article/Cit...t-13663924.php

Another update; some details of the arrest affidavit released:


https://www.cbs7.com/content/news/Mi...506705051.html



FWIW: here’s some info on the homeowner:


https://www.cbs7.com/content/news/Ma...506737871.html

[georgeib]

Prayers out for all affected.

[Firefly]

Sad. This is why if you see any and all signs of habitation you have dispatch call inside. You also use all tactical precautions and dont spotlight yourself.

You can always replace property but you cannot replace people.

I cannot blame either side but whenever you show up anywhere with a gun; you are rolling the dice.

[SilverBullet432]

I’ll update the link as more info becomes available.

[NWPilgrim]

That is tragic. And there were three other more senior officers with him. So it sounds like he did nothing wrong but the more senior guys should have known better that to pound on the door on that type of call.

We are surrounded by technology yet good people still get killed by poor communication. Hope his family gets good support.

[GH41]

The man's alarm has gone off and the police respond.. They bang on the door shouting police, open the door. Not sufficient ID under the circumstances IMO. Homeowner cracks the door and is blinded by the flashlight. At that point he can't ID anyone and in fear takes the shot. In that scenario (alarm tripped) how do you know whos who? The cops wouldn't know if the guy coming to the door was bad guy or good. Based on the info above tell me what should have been done differently. I keep going back to the alarm. Homeowner shouldn't have opened the door without identifying the cops and the cops shouldn't have been on the front porch.

[docsherm]

The man's alarm has gone off and the police respond.. They bang on the door shouting police, open the door. Not sufficient ID under the circumstances IMO. Homeowner cracks the door and is blinded by the flashlight. At that point he can't ID anyone and in fear takes the shot. In that scenario (alarm tripped) how do you know whos who? The cops wouldn't know if the guy coming to the door was bad guy or good. Based on the info above tell me what should have been done differently. I keep going back to the alarm. Homeowner shouldn't have opened the door without identifying the cops and the cops shouldn't have been on the front porch.

Did the homeowner open the door? I did not see that. Was it in a different article?

[Vandal]

Sad. This is why if you see any and all signs of habitation you have dispatch call inside. You also use all tactical precautions and dont spotlight yourself.

I go to a lot of home alarms where I work, darn rich people. The last place we go is the front door and pound on it. Park a house or two away, walk up while observing the property. Look around, check ground level windows, call inside if you can. Knocking is the last thing on the list and then you don't pound of the fvcking door. Knock like you're a neighbor.

Dude got shot in front of his trainee and two others after making a tactical mistake. Sucks all around, I'd be surprised if they charged the homeowner.

[GH41]

Did the homeowner open the door? I did not see that. Was it in a different article?

Maybe I am wrong but the article said the homeowner fired at the flashlight. I assumed to see the flashlight he had to open the door. If he shot at the flashlight through a window he has a problem. Either way I cannot understand why the police are beating on the door while responding to that type of call.

[docsherm]

Maybe I am wrong but the article said the homeowner fired at the flashlight. I assumed to see the flashlight he had to open the door. If he shot at the flashlight through a window he has a problem. Either way I cannot understand why the police are beating on the door while responding to that type of call.

Or the door was open and the cops came in. That is what I gathered from the articles I have seen. The fact that the Rangers are now involved makes me suspect there was a big mistake on the part of the police.