Another Needless Shooting

Seems that the Denver police department in their spirited and gleeful pursuit of yet more hardened criminals, shot and killed an unarmed man, Frank Lobato, lying in his bed.

"It has now been determined that the party who was shot was not armed at the time of the shooting," a subdued Whitman said, reading from a prepared statement. "The officer stated that after he fired the shot, he heard an object fall to the floor on the other side of the bed. A beverage can was recovered from the floor in the area of the bedroom."

Unfortunatly for Mr. Lobato, he was disarmed pursuant to Denver's unconstitutional infringement on his right to self defense. Seems the city of Denver likes their cops to have an easier time killing people and doesn't think its fair if you can fight back like Ismael Mena.

The shooting stirred echoes of the infamous 1999 shooting of Mexican immigrant Ismael Mena, who was killed during a no- knock drug raid at the wrong address. The city of Denver paid a $400,000 settlement to the family of Mena, who shot at police officers before he was killed and was discovered to have killed a man in Mexico.

Of course, in its report the Denver Post has to defame the legacy of Mr. Mena by stating he had previously killed someone. Well, so what. Thats not why the Denver Police where after him. Further, its interesting that they simply state he killed someone before, not that he was wanted for murder.
Had he served time for a prior crime? We don't know.
Perhaps he was in the Army, or in the DEA, and killed a bad guy? We don't know.
Perhaps he was attacked by a robber and killed him defending his family? We don't know.

Heck, we don't even know if he shot the man, stabbed the man, or simply beat him with his hands. Nevertheless, the Denver Post in Josh Marshall like fashion, sees the need to support the Denver Police in their murderous rage while defaming average citizens and slyly attacking the right to bear arms. Oh, and Mr. Lobato. Well the Denver Post makes sure to remind you that he too was a hardened criminal, probably deserving his end.

Frank Lobato was shot once in the chest Sunday night during a police search for a domestic-violence suspect. Lobato, a career criminal and formerly homeless man whom neighbors said was disabled, was not involved in the domestic dispute.

Lobato had a lengthy criminal record dating back to 1959, including arrests for drugs, assault and burglary. He had been in prison several times. His most recent arrest came in May on shoplifting charges.

Yep, dangerous career criminal. Oh, you have to watch out for those shoplifters. Lets just kill them all.

To be fair, they also provide some background info on the real criminal here, Officer Ranjan Ford Jr.

Ritter, standing next to Whitman, promised a full investigation to determine whether Officer Ranjan Ford Jr. broke any laws when he fired the fatal shot. No criminal charges have been filed against a Denver police officer for an on-the-job shooting during Ritter's 11-year tenure.

Ford, 33, came to the department in 2001. He has no prior shootings and no discipline problems, police said.

Before his hiring in Denver, Ford had been an officer in Jasper, Texas. Jasper Police Chief Stanley Christopher said Ford was a model officer there.

"I wish I had a dozen like him," Christopher said. "I'm telling you, he was a great officer. We really hated to see him go."

"Knowing him as well as I do, if something happened, he was in fear for his life," Christopher said. "He's not a hot-dog. He's not a John Wayne-type."

Aah yes. I see.

Killer Cops = Good
Sleepy Citizen = Bad