Former Cop Charged in Alleged Playstation Thief's Death

[Wondermonkey]

The Associated Press

Picture: District Attorney Ben David promises a full investigation into the fatal shooting of a video game theft suspect by police.

A sheriff's deputy was charged with second-degree murder Monday in the shooting of an unarmed teen accused of stealing two Sony PlayStation 3 video game consoles, authorities said.

Cpl. Christopher Long, 34, opened fire during a police raid at Peyton Strickland's home after he mistook as gunfire the sound from the officers' use of a battering ram to knock down the door, District Attorney Ben David said in court.

Strickland, an 18-year-old college student, was struck in the head and near his right shoulder, an autopsy found.

Defense attorney Michael McGuinness said that Long made a split-second decision and that the shooting was 'within the course and scope of his official duties.'

A 12-year veteran of the sheriff's office, Long was fired last week after the Dec. 1 shooting. An investigation cleared two other deputies of any wrongdoing, David said.

'This indictment is an important first step in holding accountable everyone responsible for Peyton's death _ but this is only a first step,' his parents, Don and Kathy Strickland, said in a written statement. 'None of these actions can bring Peyton back to us, but perhaps they can save someone else's child.'

Peyton Strickland and two friends, Braden Riley and Ryan Mills, were accused of beating a student at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and robbing him of two PlayStations, each costing more than $600. Riley and Mills have pleaded not guilty.

The deputies and university police served the search warrant.

'When the ram hit the door, he thought it was gunfire,' David said, referring to Long. 'His belief that there was gunfire coming from the inside out was not shared by others.'

Strickland, a Cape Fear Community College student, didn't have a weapon, David said. One of Strickland's roommates said he may have been holding a video game controller when he went to the door.

According to search warrants, authorities believed they would be at high risk when entering the home because of pictures on the Internet that showed Mills posing with guns, and UNC Wilmington police said they had information that Mills was known to carry a weapon. His friends said the photos were a prank.

New Hanover County Sheriff Sid Causey said that Long had been a good officer and that he has received death threats.

'It's a tough case. A family has lost its son. I would ask you to keep them in your prayers, also law enforcement,' Causey said. 'We're human beings and we make mistakes.'

Long cooperated with the investigation and volunteered to testify before the grand jury but wasn't allowed, McGuinness said.

Superior Court Judge Ernest Fullwood reduced Long's secured bond from $250,000 to $50,000.

[BrewCityUpstart]

Sounds like the officer did the world a favor. He rid the world of a theif that didnt seem like much of a good person.

[Nolimit4show]

How Close was this Cop to this kid to Just open fire twice As soon as the Door burst Open. I mean Damn, It was the Sound of a battering ram, did they Knock first then Break it down. Like the Kid knew they were bout to burst in and hand a pistol in his hand waiting for them. Officer Long Just had an itchy TRIGGER FINGER, and was scared shitless if you ask me. 12 years on the force and you cant distinguish The sound between a Battering ram and a Gun. Get the **** out of here with that bs. Im pretty sure Before the Raid the cops Put on vests I mean They need to make sure they SEE A GUN FIRST, before Opening fire. This cop determined the 18 year old had a gun before he SEEN it. That cop Made a mistake AND A HALF!and when did they Start Breaking down doors for stolen PS3's. I mean how dangerous are these College Students in North CArolina, I could understand JUST A Little if it was in a Ghetto neighborhood like Oakland and other places need not be named. Thats sad that this kids life got ended over 2 ps3's. Bottom line is IF your a Cop and YOUR Too scared to wait and SEE if the person your going after has a Gun in his/her hands or not then you shouldn't be one. Even though i guarantee that would not have happened if it was a Girl that Stol the PS3's.

Whatever happened to Shooting the person in the Leg and arm, Always directly to the chest and head now-a-days. Chris Long deserves what he gets in my opinion.

[Peench]

Sounds like a sad situation all the way around.

[MadBryan]

haha . I can't even read NoLimiT's post because of the capital letters every other word. I'm not laughing at him just my intolerance of stuff like that. Is that how the kids post now. haha, I'm to frak'in old

[Nolimit4show]

Not a Kid

All the words that are in caps are KEY words that are supposed to be EMPHASIZED suppose to allow some people to skim the lines.

[Peench]

Its all about efficiency!

[Wondermonkey]

RALEIGH (AP) — Officials rescinded a murder charge Tuesday against a sheriff's deputy accused of shooting an unarmed teenager who authorities believed had stolen video game consoles, after a grand jury foreman said he had checked the wrong box on the indictment paperwork.

The dismissal came a day after New Hanover County District Attorney Ben David announced the second-degree murder charge against Cpl. Christopher Long.

David said Monday that the 34-year-old sheriff's deputy opened fire as police raided the home of Peyton Strickland, who police believed stole two Sony PlayStation 3 video game consoles from a college student in Wilmington.

The grand jury foreman told a court Tuesday that he checked the wrong box on the indictment form by mistake, according to an order signed Tuesday by Superior Court Judge Ernest Fullwood. The foreman learned about the mistake after other jury members heard about the incorrect indictment from media reports.

A copy of the indictment filed as evidence Tuesday shows a checked box for a "true bill" of indictment crossed out, with a heavy mark made through "not a true bill," followed by what appears to be the foreman's initials and Tuesday's date.

When a grand jury wants a murder indictment, it returns a "true bill." When it decides it does not want to issue an indictment, it returns "not a true bill."

"It was the kind of mistake you and I make in the world of forms," said Long's attorney, Mike McGuinness. "We check the wrong boxes."

The development drew a quick reaction from Strickland's family, which had praised prosecutors after they won the indictment against Long.

"Yesterday, our son's murderer was going to have to answer for what he did," Don and Kathy Strickland said in a statement. "Today, we just don't know what is going on in Wilmington. We are upset, confused and searching for answers."

In a statement, David said everyone in the court system believed the grand jury had indicted Long, a 12-year member of the sheriff's office who was fired last week after the Dec. 1 shooting.

"I will be traveling to Raleigh in the morning to meet with senior members of the Attorney General's office and we will evaluate all options," David said in the statement.

McGuinness said there is no need for prosecutors to reconsider the case because the grand jury has already "made a substantive decision" not to charge Long with murder. The only mistake was in reporting that decision, he said.

"We certainly are hoping this will bring the matter to a conclusion," said McGuinness, who added that Long had not yet decided whether he would return to a career in law enforcement.

Strickland's family, meanwhile, demanded an investigation into the mistake.

"We call on the judge presiding over the grand jury to hold an inquiry into what happened here and make the results public," the family's statement said. "And, if it shows that anyone even attempted to influence the grand jury, we trust charges of obstructing justice will be filed."

Authorities had accused Peyton Strickland and two friends, Braden Riley and Ryan Mills, with beating a student at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and robbing him of two PlayStations 3s, the popular video game machines that have been in short supply since the went on sale last month. Riley and Mills have pleaded not guilty.

Police believed they would be at high risk when serving the search warrant at Strickland's home, citing photos posted on the Internet in which Mills is seen posing with guns. His friends said the photos were a prank. UNC Wilmington police also said they had information that Mills was known to carry a weapon.

The deputies and university police served the search warrant, and the 18-year-old Strickland was struck in the head and near his right shoulder by gunfire, an autopsy found. David said Monday an investigation into the shooting cleared two other sheriff's deputies of any wrongdoing.

Strickland, a student at Cape Fear Community College, didn't have a weapon. One of Strickland's roommates has said he may have been holding a video game controller when he went to the door. David said Monday that Long believed he heard gunfire when a police battering ram hit the door of Strickland's home, a belief not shared by his fellow officers who did not fire.

"He based his decision on his law enforcement training," McGuinness said Tuesday. "The fact that he shot was not a mistake. It was based on his belief that he was being fired upon."

[BrewCityUpstart]

Hooray for great justice!