Idaho Police Shoot Pregnant Woman In The Stomach With AR-15
BY Herschel Smith
9 years ago
The dashboard and body camera footage has now been released in the fatal shooting of Jeanetta Riley. Riley, 35, was shot and killed by Sandpoint, Idaho police after they were called to a hospital where she had been treated for mental health problems.
The department has cleared its officers “of any criminal wrongdoing,” claiming that they followed all proper procedures when they chose to use an AR-15 assault rifle on the mentally ill, pregnant woman who was holding a knife outside of the hospital.
The officers could have used less-than-lethal weapons, like a taser, but instead they chose not only a firearm, but an AR-15 when they approached her outside of Bonner General Hospital.
The police can be heard on the video telling Riley to show her hands.
Riley, obviously mentally distressed, replied: “f*** you” and “bring it on!”
After shots ran out, the officer ran to Riley but instead of applying first aid, he cuffed her.
The policeman is then heard running to Ms Riley, lying injured in the road.Bonner County prosecutor Barry McHugh said: “Officers were faced with a quickly evolving set of circumstances that left them convinced the Ms Riley had the intent to use the knife to do them great bodily harm and had the ability to do so.”
Ms Riley’s ex-husband, Dana Maddox, is suing the city for $1 million, as the officers ended his wife’s life as well as her pregnancy with Maddox’s daughter.
The autopsy report reveals that Riley was shot in the chest and hit in the liver as well as her shoulder, back and heart. The Magic Valley Times News explains that “Five shots were fired during the confrontation, three of which came from Valenzuela’s AR-15 rifle and two of which came from Ziegler’s .40-caliber Glock pistol.”
Hey, I have an idea for the cowards in this department. How about using OC spray and letting her surrender peaceably (as she surely would have)? Or better yet, how about talking to her? What’s wrong with talking?
On April 19, 2015 at 8:57 pm, MattBracken said:
Gee, a mentally ill person waving a knife outside a hospital, that NEVER happens! How could the police possibly have been prepared for that? Next time, just shoot her with a sniper rifle from 200 yards. No point risking Officer Friendly’s life!
On April 19, 2015 at 10:44 pm, Mic68 said:
I guess you would have just disarmed them with nice words and made them a sandwich as she approached you with a knife.
On April 19, 2015 at 11:05 pm, jwoop66 said:
You’re right, maybe they should have driven over her with the swat APC… then they wouldn’t have wasted the money that the ammo costed.
On April 20, 2015 at 6:24 am, MattBracken said:
Police who want to kill a mentally ill person could just wait outside any big city E.R. and have an excuse to kill someone like her every other day of the week. This kind of behavior is not infrequent, and these people are “talked down” or given some space and protection for their own safety. A bad cop who wants to try out his new Glock on a human could find an excuse just by waiting outside an E.R. Emotionally freaked out people can be found there all the time. Good shoot, copper! How did the new ammo work?
On April 20, 2015 at 9:26 am, Mic68 said:
I’m sure you Identify with mentally ill persons ,being as paranoid as you are. I’m sure in the same situation you would have acted differently..with someone coming at you with a knife.
On April 20, 2015 at 9:39 am, Josh said:
I’ve had several someone’s come at me with a knife, within fast closing distance.
On each occasion I simply took the knife away from them, and they weren’t even pregnant women.
So I’ve been in exactly that situation, multiple times. My opinion is more informed and therefore more valid than yours. I deem your opinion on the subject at hand completely irrelevant, ignorant, and vapid.
I have also decided that you’re a dumbass. This is an objective fact that cannot be disputed. Time to face the truth: you’re just stupid.
On September 19, 2015 at 9:58 am, Grovely Audrey said:
Mic68…….Your avatar is appropriate. You are a very ignorant person, in my opinion.
On April 20, 2015 at 8:52 am, Herschel Smith said:
Ohhh … the boogeyman commeth! Be askeerd. Be very askeerd!
As I’ve said before, I know very well a Captain in a large PD (1400+ cops) recently retired, who has effected hundreds of felony arrests. You know, felonies. Homicide, larceny, drug dealing, etc. He has told me in no uncertain terms that he has never had to use anything other than words and OC spray.
On April 20, 2015 at 9:24 am, Mic68 said:
Well your friend was lucky he survived or he was behind a desk most of his career.
On April 20, 2015 at 9:30 am, Herschel Smith said:
You don’t know any of that. You just made that up to make yourself feel better.
On April 20, 2015 at 9:32 am, Josh said:
Hey everybody, I found the cop.
You guys stick out like pimples on an ass. It’s the thin skin and psychopathy that always gives you away.
On September 19, 2015 at 9:59 am, Grovely Audrey said:
No, Mic68….he was COMPETENT.
On September 19, 2015 at 9:56 am, Grovely Audrey said:
Yes.
I was a high level State mental health clinician and executive. foe 33 years.
DEESCALATION of such incidents occurred on a daily basis. In my State, NO firearms are allowed on mental health property., hospitals, or community clinics …..including police.
When police were necessary they had the opportunity to learn how to deescalate situations and maintain safe control for EVERYBODY.
Never had deadly confrontations. Never had to use a AR-15..
I am beginning to believe that cops like these should just be taken out. It seems that cops, politicians, creatains have no interest in cranking back a “police state”.
She would have been handled better by ISIS.
One million is WAY to low. Until taxpayers get tired of increased taxes to pay for bad cops, this **** will continue.
On April 19, 2015 at 10:38 pm, Mic68 said:
Run towards an officer with a knife…….guess what happens next. Play stupid games win stupid prizes.
On April 20, 2015 at 6:25 am, MattBracken said:
Where does it say she ran toward an officer with a knife?
On April 20, 2015 at 9:23 am, Mic68 said:
Do some research http://www.krem.com/story/news/local/bonner-county/2014/11/10/dash-cam-video-show-moments-leading-up-to-hospital-shooting/18829245/
On April 20, 2015 at 9:42 am, Ben said:
So two cops who are unable to outrun a pregnant woman holding a knife is justified in shooting her 5 times? If they had to shoot they could of at least just shot her once in the leg. I like cops, but these are the Rambo types we can do without.
On April 21, 2015 at 12:13 pm, Ned Weatherby said:
After watching the video I’m just more convinced these guys were cowards. I believe you are exactly right about the million dollar payout. BTW – many folks complain that it’s the taxpayers who pay these amounts awarded by the courts. But it’s also the taxpayers who are complacent about police getting MRAPS, M16s and other tactical gear from the feds.
Why not some less lethal stuff like a net for a disturbed lady with a knife?
On April 21, 2015 at 12:57 pm, Ben said:
I like the “net” idea you mention. Nets would be much cheaper & safer than the MRAPS & M16s you also mention and they work great on fish. I’ve had a conceal carry license for almost 10 years and if I pulled the same stunt as as these cops I highly doubt I would have been allowed to walk so easily even if it is in a “stand your ground” state. This is just pathetic!
On April 21, 2015 at 4:50 pm, Ned Weatherby said:
Ben, I would be surprised if a tactical net hadn’t already been developed. Seems it’s just not necessary anymore. If someone – anyone – elicits a response that includes shooting them, that’s the path police seem to take.
LEOs have targets of elderly men and women, pregnant females, children, etc. Probably have targets of tiny dogs, running up to larger ones for the bad shots.
Why have a net when you can just shoot them of they appear to be a threat? Like the video – three men running like girls from a pregnant woman armed with a knife. ”
“Great bodily harm and had the ability to do so.” Killing her is, apparently, the only solution. So who needs a net?
On September 19, 2015 at 10:00 am, Grovely Audrey said:
You must win a lot of prizes.
On April 20, 2015 at 11:09 am, Herschel Smith said:
Folks, I’ve spammed Mic68. He is a troll. The IP address he was using is: 68.103.247.231, and his email is desertratkuwait@yahoo.com.
On April 20, 2015 at 1:30 pm, Ben said:
I went to reply to a Mic68 comment that was directed at me and when I came back here to reply to his messages they were gone. I guess he got scared off from being outed. Bye Mic!
On September 19, 2015 at 10:03 am, Grovely Audrey said:
Thanks…you performed a valuable service.
On April 21, 2015 at 10:34 am, Bill Daigle said:
Most of us are familiar with the 21 foot rule…but no way do I see it applying here, this was hugely unnecessary ( again )
On April 21, 2015 at 4:32 pm, Ned Weatherby said:
Wrestling with that myself, Bill. Same conclusion – no way to apply it here. Three officers, one pregnant lady. Shows that rules are just guidelines. Really – no other option?
On April 21, 2015 at 11:49 am, Ned Weatherby said:
“Hey, I have an idea for the cowards in this department. How about using OC spray and letting her surrender peaceably (as she surely would have)? Or better yet, how about talking to her? What’s wrong with talking?”
Don’t police all have tacticool gear in their cars? Heck, I could have thrown on my motorcycle gear and chest protector and disarmed her. Two guys my age similarly clad could likely have done it with less injury to her – she was pregnant and all.
Oh right. The tacticool gear is just for killing people and dogs when a LEO “fears for his life” — with plus or minus 351 people killed to date this year by LEOs : http://www.killedbypolice.net/.
Police just don’t give a rats ass about life – human or otherwise. It’s all about “getting home safely,” and killing someone with an illness is just easier than trying to help them.
In many cases I believe the officers just want the chance to shoot someone.
On April 23, 2015 at 2:59 pm, Daniel Smith said:
So after reading this article, I have a few comments. First, I remember a few years ago while I was still in the Marines and I went to a non-lethal weapons training school during a MEU workup. Its not all that crazy, but it did give me insight and gave me a lot of training with non-lethal weapons (all of which that are extremely effective). I feel my job currently also makes me qualified to discuss this. I work in the ER at a level 1 trauma center. Not only do I deal with very very sick patients, traumas etc, but a HUGE portion of my job is dealing with the mentally ill. I on numerous occasion I’ve had to put restraints (with the help of a few others) on patients that were being combative, but i would say 95% of the time they can and should be talked down. These cops are cowards, and If I were outside that hospital i would have thrown them under the bus to internal affairs as a witness.
On September 19, 2015 at 10:04 am, Grovely Audrey said:
Unfortunately, Internal Affairs does not appear to give a damn.