http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/05/16/michigan.police.child/index.html

(CNN) — Police in Detroit, Michigan, on Sunday expressed “profound sorrow” at the fatal shooting of a 7-year-old girl in a police raid.

Aiyana Jones was shot and killed by police executing a search warrant as part of a homicide investigation, Assistant Chief Ralph Godbee said in a statement.

“This is any parent’s worst nightmare,” Godbee said. “It also is any police officer’s worst nightmare. And today, it is all too real.”

The warrant was executed about 12:40 a.m. ET Sunday at a home on the city’s east side, Godbee said. Authorities believed the suspect in the Friday shooting death of 17-year-old high school student Jarean Blake was hiding out at the home. Blake was gunned down in front of a store as his girlfriend watched, Godbee said.

Preliminary information indicates that members of the Detroit Police Special Response Team approached the house and announced themselves as police, Godbee said, citing the officers and at least one independent witness.

“As is common in these types of situations, the officers deployed a distractionary device commonly known as a flash bang,” he said in the statement. “The purpose of the device is to temporarily disorient occupants of the house to make it easier for officers to safely gain control of anyone inside and secure the premise.”

Upon entering the home, the officer encountered a 46-year-old female inside the front room, Godbee said. “Exactly what happened next is a matter still under investigation, but it appears the officer and the woman had some level of physical contact.

“At about this time, the officer’s weapon discharged one round which, tragically, struck 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley Jones in the neck/head area.”

The girl was immediately transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Godbee said he and other officers went to the hospital while others stayed at the home to execute the warrant.

Aiyana’s father, Charles Jones, told CNN affiliate WDIV, “She was sleeping and they came in the door shooting and throwing flash grenades … burned my baby up and shot her, killed her.”

Jones claimed the officers had the wrong house, but Godbee said in the statement the 34-year-old suspect in Blake’s death was found and arrested at the home. In addition, a vehicle and a moped matching the descriptions of those involved in Blake’s shooting were also found, he said.

The suspect’s name was not released.

Godbee said he wished to “express to the family of Aiyana Jones the profound sorrow that we feel within the Detroit Police Department and throughout this community. We know that no words can do anything to take away the pain you are feeling at this time.”

Police obtained the “high-risk search warrant” based on intelligence, and it was approved by the prosecutor and a magistrate, Godbee said. “Because of the ruthless and violent nature of the suspect in this case, it was determined that it would be in the best interest of public safety to execute the search warrant as soon as possible and detain the suspect … while we sought a murder warrant,” he said.

The police statement said Chief Warren Evans is out of town and could not be present “to personally address this tragedy,” but “his thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones of Aiyana Jones.”

The officer’s weapon was secured, and an investigation is under way, Godbee said, emphasizing the information gained so far is preliminary.

“This is a tragedy of unspeakable magnitude to Aiyana’s parents, family and all those who loved her,” Godbee said. “… It is a tragedy we also feel very deeply throughout the ranks of the Detroit Police Department.

“We cannot undo what occurred this morning,” he said. “All we can do is pledge an open and full investigation and to support Aiyana’s family in whatever way they may be willing to accept from us at this time. I understand that they may not be open to such a gesture at this time, but we do stand ready to do anything we can to support them.”

Tammy Christopher is suing Grady County Oklahoma after Deputy Sean Kinght shot her dog. While the police officer told her that the dog charged at him when he stopped for direction while serving tax warrants, the video appears to contradict that claim and show Knight.
shooting the dog in the head.

Christopher has filed a $25,000 claim against Grady County, State of Oklahoma and Grady County Deputy Sean Knight for the wrongful shooting of her dog

Archer works in the with animal control division of the Sheriff’s Office. He says one of his deputies showed up to help Concord Police and spent 56 minutes trying to catch the dog. Archer says his deputy, Sean Austin, never witnessed the animal act aggressively toward adults or children nearby, but he chose to shoot and kill it. “We couldn’t do anything with the dog, we had to finally make a decision,” says Archer.

Jeff Daniels, the owner of both Bella and Jaxson, says witnesses told him, “The animal control officer chased her in between two houses and shot her as she was running away.” Daniels came home from dinner and realized his dog had been killed. He questioned Austin and recorded it on his iPhone. It’s video the sheriff tells FOX Charlotte he wants to see. The video shows Daniels saying “But you said that she didn’t show any aggression toward you, you know? You told me that. She didn’t show any aggression…why can’t you…” Austin is seen in the video saying, “I’m not sitting there for three hours when I got calls in!” Daniels then asks, “So what’s your time limit? Is it 20 minutes? Is that what it is?”

One witness has also provided a written statement about Bella the dog, reading “At no time…did I ever feel that she was a danger or aggressive to any person out there.”

Fogarty asked Archer, “What would you say to other pet owners who see this…and maybe worry, oh my God, if my dog gets loose and the officers can’t catch it, they’re gonna shoot it?” Archer responded, “We do everything we can do to keep from having to shoot one.”

Daniels couldn’t hold back his emotion when he said, “The law states that dogs are property, but my dog wasn’t property. Not to me or my family. She was a part of my family.” He has retained an animal rights attorney in Raleigh. He is considering suing.

Animal control says prior to the shooting, it had never gotten a complaint or call about Bella. The department also says Deputy Austin couldn’t have used a tranquilizer gun because he doesn’t have the proper certification for that tool. Sheriff Brad Riley is looking into the deputy’s actions.

http://www.foxcharlotte.com/news/top…/92833669.html