The police officer who shot and killed a woman at a northern Charlotte apartment Wednesday night had been involved in shootings in the line of duty twice before, including one in 2012 that left a man dead, police said.
Police say Wednesday’s victim, Janisha Fonville, 20, refused to drop a kitchen knife and lunged at officers before Officer Anthony Holzhauer pulled his service pistol and shot her twice – in the hand and in the shoulder.
Holzhauer was responding to a domestic argument at about 9 p.m. when the confrontation occurred. Fonville, 20, was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly afterward.
At a Thursday news conference, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Chief Rodney Monroe said investigators are not looking to charge Holzhauer with a crime “at this point,” but the case will be turned over to the district attorney for review.
Fonville’s cousin, Ben Harris, said he believes officers could have defused the situation without killing Fonville.
“They could have Tased her. She didn’t weigh but 120 pounds,” Harris said. “Why do they give police Tasers if the first thing they are going to reach for is the gun?”
Holzhauer was armed with a Taser but didn’t pull it, police said. It was unclear Thursday whether other responding officers pulled guns or Tasers.
120 pounds... sure she had a kitchen knife but WTF, why not taze her? How the fuck do you show up at a domestic dispute where no one has been harmed and the perp is sitting on the couch with a knife and the first thing you do is shoot?
I know OKP's will be on that "but she had a knife..." FOH.
12. "Knives (at close range) are more dangerous than guns at that range" In response to Reply # 3
They WILL go through most non-plate body armor, as there is much more force behind the point of that blade than there is a bullet. Also, knives have a much higher range of attack (they can be swung around) whereas a gun has to be aimed to be accurate. Also, many people can cover 7 yards in less than two seconds (that's 21 feet). That's a fairly large danger zone.
I'm not excusing the officers at all, but just pointing out that they may have been much too close to the suspect holding a knife in the first place. Maybe there just wasn't enough room.
13. "it just keeps going, too" In response to Reply # 8
"“I haven’t slept in three days trying to figure out how the hell went off. I don’t know. I mean them damn guns. The shotgun goes off when it wants to. I almost blew my damn head off twice.”"
"DeHayes also told the sheriff he had taken a number of prescription drugs an hour before the shooting—methadone and Loratab, opiods for pain and Soma, a muscle relaxer, all to treat what he said are diagnosed “severe back problems.”"
"In a tragically ironic message, two months before Hoover’s death, DeHayes posted a photo of a gun with the text, “Left My Gun Alone Today. It Didn’t Kill Anyone,” and the additional caption, “Yep, proving once again that the lethality of an object is entirely dependent on the intent of the operator.”"
14. "Yeah those were statements of a psychopath. " In response to Reply # 13
>"“I haven’t slept in three days trying to figure out how >the hell went off. I don’t know. I mean them damn >guns. The shotgun goes off when it wants to. I almost blew my >damn head off twice.”"
Are we suppose to feel sorry for him he hasn't sleep for three days? Crazy use of Passive voice. No ownership of his actions whatsoever.
> >"DeHayes also told the sheriff he had taken a number of >prescription drugs an hour before the shooting—methadone and >Loratab, opiods for pain and Soma, a muscle relaxer, all to >treat what he said are diagnosed “severe back problems.”" > >"In a tragically ironic message, two months before Hoover’s >death, DeHayes posted a photo of a gun with the text, “Left >My Gun Alone Today. It Didn’t Kill Anyone,” and the >additional caption, “Yep, proving once again that the >lethality of an object is entirely dependent on the intent of >the operator.”"
********** "Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson
"One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as 'that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether you're r
15. "This dude talks like his guns are living, mischievous little machines" In response to Reply # 13
>"“I haven’t slept in three days trying to figure out how >the hell went off. I don’t know. I mean them damn >guns. The shotgun goes off when it wants to. I almost blew my >damn head off twice.”"
The statement above is enough to prove that he's not responsible enough for firearms. Guns just don't load themselves, take the safety off, chamber a round and pull the trigger themselves.
17. "and yet he post this on FB" In response to Reply # 15
“Left My Gun Alone Today. It Didn’t Kill Anyone,” and the additional caption, “Yep, proving once again that the lethality of an object is entirely dependent on the intent of the operator.”
********** "Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson
"One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as 'that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether you're r