Fornits
Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => Public Sector Gulags => Topic started by: Ursus on August 19, 2011, 11:39:08 AM
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NEWS 4 WOAI
NISD officer shoots and kills teen after chase (http://http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/NISD-officer-shoots-and-kills-teen-after-chase/S0WjDN8bw02SaQVV4L9rjA.cspx)
Published: 11/12/2010 5:24 pm
Updated: 11/13/2010 5:53 pm
(http://http://www.woai.com/media/lib/12/0/6/7/067bcfea-ad26-4326-9315-b8bc25080f09/Story.jpg)
(News 4 WOAI)
SAN ANTONIO -- A teenager was shot and killed by a Northside Independent School District police officer on the Far West Side Friday afternoon.
The shooting happened around 4:30 p.m. in the 200 block of Roswell Canyon, off of Hunt Lane and Potranco Road. A NISD spokesperson said the officer told investigators he was patrolling the neighborhood and witnessed a fight between the teenager and a NISD student. The teenager took off on foot, and the officer began chasing him through the neighborhood.
During the chase, a homeowner came out of his house, waived down the officer, and told him he believed the teenager was hiding inside his shed in his backyard. As the officer approached the shed, he and the teenager got into a struggle, and the teenager was shot.
Police are still investigating, but officials said it appears the teenager "came at" the officer. It's not yet clear if the teenager had any sort of weapon.
NISD officials did not release the teen's name but said he was an 8th grade student at the Bexar County Juvenile Justice School. The boy had attended Pease Middle School, just down the street from where the shooting happened, but had recently been expelled.
The officer, who NISD officials described as a "veteran officer," suffered a cut on his lip and a knee injury. He has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation.
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Comments (http://http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/NISD-officer-shoots-and-kills-teen-after-chase/S0WjDN8bw02SaQVV4L9rjA.cspx) left for the above article, "NISD officer shoots and kills teen after chase (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=403647#p403641)" (11/12/2010, NEWS 4 WOAI), #s 1-20:
nytotx - 11/12/2010 5:54 PM
Why was an NISD officer dispatched? This is not school property.
Feesta - 11/12/2010 6:13 PM
Gotta love the, "culture", here.
aseadooguy - 11/12/2010 7:06 PM
NISD Poice are not just school police. They are employed by the District and have regular police powers and can ticket you or arrest you just like any other SAPD Officer.
Citizen Todd - 11/12/2010 7:13 PM
All property belongs to schools, that's why you pay taxes even if you don't have no kids. It's the law.
Sammy - 11/12/2010 9:20 PM
aseadooguy, you are correct. School distrct police are "Texas Peace Officers" just like TX Rangers, DPS Troopers, Sheriffs/constables, and municipal police...they have full powers and arrest authority. Good work, officer. My taxes are finally paying off! One less hoodlum to support in jail!
wilkim45yes - 11/12/2010 10:06 PM
1) TEEN FLEES FROM THE POLICE OFFICER, 2) TEEN BREAKS INTO SOMEONE'S SHED, 3) TEEN SCUFFLES WITH POLICE OFFICER, 4) TEEN EXPELLED FROM SCHOOL...Well there you have it, I NOW KNOW HOW HIS PARENTS RAISED THIS TEEN.
Flawed - 11/12/2010 11:10 PM
I am truly appalled by the comments on here from supposed adults. How dare you judge this child to the point that you feel he deserved to die. Which one of you was a perfect child or for that matter a perfect adult. And for those of you that have kids thank God for their safety. To those of you who commented and do not have kids, thank the good Lord for that small miracle. To the family of the child May God guide you through this rough journey you are now facing. I pray that ministering, warring, and protective angel encamp around you in this your time of need. For the officer involver may peace come swiftly to your heart and mind. And to all the negative people who posted such hateful non sense, May God hold you to the same standard of judgment that you have so publically held this child and his family to. And please everyone try to remember, no matter how awful you felt this child was, based on the limited exposure you had to him, he was a person who has left behind people who love him. Please think of that and show some respect to the ones left behind when you post your comments.
Math Teacher - 11/12/2010 11:23 PM
So big veteran trained police officer couldn't get the best of an 8th grader without killing him? Are you kidding me? Maybe this kid had been fighting, but his real crime was "POPO".
DirtyCowboy79 - 11/12/2010 11:24 PM
Flawed, you so are flawed. I am all for the officer. #1 it sounds like he was defending himself. #2 the kids now a days tend to be out of control. I hope this sends a message to them. #3 God bless Texas. May the wrong be punished as this kid was. Apparently his parents seemed inept to properly discipline this child. I was raised in during the 80's & 90's and the one thing I feared the most then and I respect the most now were my parents and all 4 of us kids turned out to be law abiding and have the very best lives with everything going for us. These days parents think "time out" will fix everything. Think again.
sa mike - 11/12/2010 11:48 PM
Flawed- I appreciate that you sat down and thought for amoment or two before posting. A vast majority of folks posting not only on this topic, but most others only glance at the headline and without putting their mind in gear vent their spleen.
dltyler - 11/13/2010 6:35 AM
If the young man had been shot and killed by the homeowner whose shed he was hiding in because he assualts the homeowner-- would the outcome been different looking to some people???? It is again a situtation that will be dealt with by people who have compiled all of the facts and came to a conclusion from the evidence left behind.
AlamoGal - 11/13/2010 6:36 AM
I'm sure, looking back, the officer would liked for this to turn out differently. Why didn't the kid just stop and turn himself in? Why run? So the police officer is chasing a juvenile who was just expelled and in a school for bad kids and could possibly come out of the shed with a pair of garden shears or who knows what to assualt him with? Unless you were there in the heat of the moment with this officer, no one has any right to judge. I'm sure the officer is sorry now the way it ended, but it's the kid's fault for the entire event in the first place.
Arturo - 11/13/2010 6:42 AM
Guess the kid had a real learning disability, he couldn't learn in school or out of school, hopefully he was one of the local graffiti artists.
euroboy - 11/13/2010 7:23 AM
These comments are not surprising coming from FAT, DUMB and STUPID San Antonians!!! It's shocking that a police officer cannot defend himself from an 8th grader without having to shoot and kill him. If this were my child that he killed...there would be quite a reaction from me towards this POS officer!!
son2gezus - 11/13/2010 7:53 AM
This was a horrible incident for everyone involved. I only have one question? This CHILD was already in trouble with the juvinnile dept. right? Why didn't his parents know where he was and what he was doing, if I had a troubled teen, I would be all over him all the time, I would have him involved in after school programs, volunteer work, something to keep him out of trouble. And if he didn't want to do all that, then I would protect him from himself and put him in military school, I would have gotten him off the streets! As parents we cannot be enablers, we have to protect them from them selves even if that means sending them away!
son2gezus - 11/13/2010 8:19 AM
I pray for everyone involved, no one really knows what happened, obviously the child was very troubled and like so many troubled children ..was a product of his environment. It's the parents that need to take control and do something about this kind of stuff...he was only child. Not that he wasn't being delinquent... but integrity and morals and character start in the home!Let's be honest some parents just don't care or there living the same kind of life style them selves. If I had a son that was alreadyin troulble with the law, he would not have been free to do whatever he wanted including going back to his old hood. I would occupy his time with good influences and if he didn't listen ...them military school it is!
kingphil - 11/13/2010 8:36 AM
I agree with you EUROBOY none of these comments make any sense.Until the investigation is over we do not have a clue as to what happened. It looks like the people making the comments have never done anything wrong in their entire life especially when they were juveniles.But done it mean this 14 year old deserved to die? The officer is only required by law to use deadly force to protect himself or someelse from SERIOUS BODILY INJURY or DEATH. Was this officer in fear of his life? Did the 14 year old have a deadly weapaon in his possession such as a gun or knife? These are the questions that will be answered during the investigation.
cher01 - 11/13/2010 9:10 AM
This is so very very heartbreaking. I have a son the same age, and no matter what this boy did, he did not deserve to die at the hands of a "shoot now, ask questions later" cop. I am sorry mr officer, but you screwed up on this deal. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of this boy, during this very sad and tragic time in their lives.
rhancox - 11/13/2010 9:11 AM
This really is a tragedy. But consider this: do we need uniformed, and armed, police officers worrying about kids getting into fights? All the school districts pay all these officers, and for what? Catch a truant. Stop a fight. In the grand scheme of things, is it worth the expense? Now we have this. According to the story, the district officer saw the fight and went to break it up and one of the kids runs. Now we've got a chase that ends up with the kid dead. They were just fighting. Just showing up broke it up. Is it that important that our tax dollars be spent on a police force to break up school fights? I'm not trying to deflect blame for all this, but where I grew up, we didn't have a district police force. We got into fights and we all survived. We didn't need a nanny-state district to keep us on the straight and narrow. If someone did cross over to the dark side, the local police were the ones responsible for keeping us safe from him. As I read this story and think about how it got started, I really question the motives behind a district police force. One of those motives, I suspect, has to do with how much money the district gets from the state, and how. So often our kids tell us how a teacher tells them how important it is for them to be in school because that's how the school gets it's money. Attendance. So, does the school district justify the expense of a police force because it helps keep a kid going to a school, whether it's normal or alternative, so the school/district can keep making their money? What kind of return on investment does that bring? You know, WalMart takes certain steps to prevent theft, but they realize it can't all be stopped and so they don't go overboard spending a lot of money on it. It doesn't pay off. This whole incident has me wondering. I just don't see the importance of chasing down a kid who was in a fight. Not that every situation turns out like this, but none of them would if we shifted our focus to more important matters.
speakonit - 11/13/2010 9:45 AM
rhancox Since you did not grow up in S.A. let me fill you in. The kids here dont fight,they try to kill. If you beat his ass, him and his homeboys are gonna shoot up your house or whatever they can. And who can we thank? The parents, or lack of parenting. Kids dont become violent overnight, its a learned process. Parents bullying there kids,older children bullying the younger children. ITS LEARNED BEHAVIOR.STOP THE MADNESS. SAVE OUR CHILDREN. THEY ARE OUR FUTURE!!!!!!!
© 2010 Newport Television LLC
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This incident is 9 months old, have the police presented the weapon the kid came after him with, or is it a matter of national security?
Ya know... I think that bit about the kid having a weapon may be fabrication for the purpose of covering someone's ass, but I haven't read far enough into this saga to say for sure.
It appears to have started as an impromptu adolescent skirmish, which would have probably played out with more pomp than circumstance, had there been no intervention on the part of others.
The cop's behavior and course of action was, however, beyond the pale. That much is certain. Imo.
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Here are some more comments (http://http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/NISD-officer-shoots-and-kills-teen-after-chase/S0WjDN8bw02SaQVV4L9rjA.cspx) left for the above article, "NISD officer shoots and kills teen after chase (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=403647#p403641)" (11/12/2010, NEWS 4 WOAI), #s 21-40:
felontracker - 11/13/2010 9:46 AM
If the home owner would have shot and killed this juvenile delinquent...YOU ALL would have been cheering a win for the good guys. Well, this officer was acting on behalf of the home owner in protecting not only someone elses child but their property as well. You cannot judge unless is was you involved in this scuffle. What if it was the home owner and the JJA (Juvenile Justice Academy) student (a school for criminals), would have killed the home owner with a machete he took out from the shed... A whole differernt story huh??? The officer acted in defense of the home owner and himself. Good job Officer and we support you and all of the you in blue putting your life on the line for us every day.
rodrma - 11/13/2010 9:54 AM
Tragic,heartbreaking - Yes. But did you people crying care about this kid yesterday? Where was his father? Or Mother? Your all a bunch of whiny bleeding heart hypocrites. He would have kicked in your door with a pistol in 5 years time. Would you be so sorry then? I have 3 boys(4, 6 and 20 yrs of age)and I keep them all in line. The 20 year old leaves for the Marines on Monday. They all fear me, as I feared my father, and I never had a single problem with the law. Should they choose the wrong way it would break my heart, but it is they who have to answer. This "Kid" wanted to play early in a brutal world and lost.
rodrma - 11/13/2010 9:59 AM
For felontrack and speakonit - Bravo. You both hit the nail on the head.
willve - 11/13/2010 10:05 AM
felontracker, i can see u are a good christian, and not a parent. every kid, of every age gets into fights, hopefully we dont start shooting kids as a preemptive measure. as for rodrma, i hope your kids grow to be fine men and get away from your heartless life as fast as they can.
felontracker - 11/13/2010 10:16 AM
Well willve, go to church and pray for all of us sinners this sunday. Pray for yourself as well since you are in denile. My friend that lives on this street tells me the person this thug was assaulting was a young girl. He was beating the sh!+ out of her in the middle of the street when this officer rolled up on it. Since you are such a great parent and christian...let me know what your response would be if it was your daughter that this thug was kicking the sh!+ out of???
rodrma - 11/13/2010 10:16 AM
wilve - what color are the pretty little clouds in your world? Pink? I don't care about anyone except my own. If it means they don't have to deal with or pay for a POS (prison/housing) the better. Forget rehabilitation. I'd rather supply the bullet. I'm realist. I adapt. My boys will be able to do the same. Like I said, it's a brutal world, not the one you wish it were. Have a marshmellow.
cher01 - 11/13/2010 10:37 AM
mmmmm, mmmmm, mmmmm(shaking my head) This has gotten WAY out of control. It is a tregedy for all involved. JUST STOP NOW!
cher01 - 11/13/2010 10:38 AM
ROCKY1 - 11/13/2010 12:31 PM
bobrrr - 11/13/2010 12:53 PM
Yo willve - you are deluded. The officer didn't shoot the kid because he was fighting. The kid got shot because 1) he disobeyed a police officer, 2) he evaded a police officer, and 3) he lunged at the police officer. I've taught my children to always obey those in authority. Apparently the parents here did not. And the kid paid the ultimate price for his own stupidity. Chances are this kid would have ended up in jail or in the electric chair anyway. Give the officer a raise and more bullets. Then get him back on duty ASAP.
ROCKY1 - 11/13/2010 12:56 PM
EVERYONE IS QUICK TO JUDGE... BUT NO ONE KNOWS WHAT REALLY HAPPENED!! F.Y.I. THAT TEEN WAS NOT IN PRISON/HOUSING OR JJA (Juvenile Justice Academy) THE NEWS MAKES IT SEEM LIKE HE WAS A TRUE CRIMINAL....HE WAS IN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL RIGHT ACROSS FROM HIS MIDDLE SCHOOL!.. WHERE KIDS MISBEHAVE IN SCHOOL AND ARE REFFERED TO THAT SCHOOL... AND IT HAPPENED AFTER SCHOOL HE WENT TO HIS FRIENDS HOME AFTER SCHOOL THEN THEY WERE SOME GUYS THAT HAD BEEF WITH THEM AND THAT'S HOW THE FIGHT STARTED! BETWEEN THE BOYS IT SO HAPPENED THAT THE COP WAS THERE AND THE KID DID NOT WANT TO GET CAUGHT BECAUSE THEY WOULD LEAVE HIM LONGER AT THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL FOR A MUCH LONGER PERIO.., SO HE RAN TOWARDS HOME AND THOUGHT HE WOULD HIDE SO HE WOULDN'T GET IN MORE TROUBLE!.. HE WASN'T A BAD KID! EVERYONE IS EASY TO JUDGE.. NO ONE'S SONS ARE PERFECT AND SHOULD NOT JUDGE OTHERS! AS FOR THE POLICE HE DIDN'T HAVE TO SHOOT HIM IN THE HEART...THE KID HAD NO WEAPON... THEIRS PEPPER SPRAY AND TAISER GUN!... HE WAS ONLY 14.. WHAT A COWARD IN HIS PART!..BUT HE'LL HAVE TO ANSWER TO GOD FOR THAT! AS THERE IS A SAYING GOES..."THOSE WHO KILL BY WEAPON, SHALL DIE BY WEAPON" AND ONLY THE LORD KNOWS THE REAL TRUTH!....
felontracker - 11/13/2010 1:13 PM
Gee Rocky...my condolences for the death of your son or nephew... You apparently don't know crap either... or do you? You sure seem to have a whole lot of details of what actually happened and why he was hiding. Or, are you another one of his homies that wasn't there for your BRO? But you failed to mention the girl he was beating up on in the middle of the street. The media HAS confirmed that he was a student at J.J.A. a school for thugs school districts have given up on. Con-Air Transit picks them up and drops them off in front of the Alternative School. He was no longer a student at Alternative School.
felontracker - 11/13/2010 1:17 PM
And why are you yelling Rocky??? Oh wait...you did whisper (Juenile Justice Academy) like it was a secret...
bobrrr - 11/13/2010 1:19 PM
Thanks, Rocky1, for clearing this all up by revealing everything that was going on in this kid's mind right before he was shot. Shame on us for making judgments without knowing all the facts that you were able to supply using your Vulcan mind link with the dead kid. You can spin it any way you want, but when a cop tells you to stop and you run, you forfeit all your rights. I don't care why he ran. Doing so proved he was stupid, and stupid gets killed. Too bad. By the way, SHOUTING IN CAPS is considered rude... or stupid. More Kool-Aid for you?
jrfive - 11/13/2010 1:25 PM
Not saying the kid didnt bring it on himself to a point, but, you're telling me a grown man was getting his butt kicked by a 14 year old kid so bad he had to shoot him? I'd be too embarrassed to show my face, much less continue in a career as a "peace" officer
ricardocabeza - 11/13/2010 1:48 PM
since when do these rent-a-cops carry guns? they have no authority and this time,he was out of jurisdiction.
kaylove01 - 11/13/2010 1:49 PM
Don't yall people have anything better to do then be on here and posting comments. This is my little cousin that you are talking about on here. Unless any of you stupid people were actually there to see what happened, then i suggest you shut the hell up. And who are any of you to blame the parents. You have no idea what went on behind closed doors or went on at home. And who the hell are any of you idiots to judge...there is only one person that is allowed to judge and that is god so just please everybody shut the hell up and let him rest in peace now!
Sharee - 11/13/2010 2:04 PM
If the NS Police officer was scared for his safety; why did he go after the boy into the neighborhood? Why wasn't a S.A.P. officer dispatched to take care of a matter that was at that point off campus. Obviously the NS Police officer's own feelings of rage and degradation of being overcome by a 8th grader had interferred with clear thinking. He was upset that this boy made him look incompitant as a officer. It was wrong for this young man to be fighting, it was wrong for this young man to choose to run. Yet the young man hadn't fatally hurt another human being. Afterall the boy paid with his own life for his mistake of having a fight and running away. I am appalled by the inhuman comments regarding this young man as if he was lower than an animal and deserved to die. This young man was a son, he was born into this world, he had rights as everyone has. Until proven guilty in a court of law. Shoot the boy in the leg to keep him from running, not take his life. As for the people that comment in such a brutal fashion; you must be seeing too much make believe tv shows. This is the real life. When you fire a gun at someone, they die. Not like on T.V. where they live to see another day. We as humans see so much of killing on T.V. in a daily basis that the young children that are growing up and seeing this are growing numb to the real world and numb to feelings of being a person. They have no sense of compassion and that life is something that is number one priority. God gives us a life. Therefore life is to be considered sacred. Our life; just like this young man's life. He may have been troubled. He had some problems. But no way did he deserve to die for a fight. I feel for the mother that through all this she alone will remember her son's first cry, the kisses and hugs at holidays, his voice that was silenced. Maybe the boy had made mistakes; but please in no way did it warrant his life. My prayers are with the family and I do pray for the N.S. officer.
cil492000 - 11/13/2010 2:23 PM
Sounds like this kid was another potential career criminal. Goos riddance!
smartypants - 11/13/2010 2:28 PM
Okay I understand he was 14, however a 14 year old can shoot and kill the same way an adult can. I'm sure the officer did warn the teen for him to come out of the shed with his hands visible. Now the fact that the teen chose to lunge at the officer was something way out of line. That is pure self-defense. However a life lost is always a tragedy so my prayers are with the teen’s family right now in their time of need. Unfortunately, teens/adults do view "school cops" as a joke (no offense). However they are the teen's elders and a part of the law enforcement so do deserve some respect. Not that I am happy that this tragedy happened but these teens do need to learn some respect. Hopefully this will snap them into reality that everyone has to pay consequences for their actions. Enough is enough recently some of the NISD high schools have been under lock down for either possible gun possession or toxic fumes dropped by a student. I mean come on people why are these kids getting so out of hand. Parents Man up already and take care of your kids!!!! Teach them.... that going to school is not a playground or a daycare...for us (Other parent/faculty/staff) to be taking care of them, they should have enough home training to know right from wrong!
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Update Northside Teen Shooting (http://http://www.ksat.com/news/25803403/detail.html), KSAT - San Antonio
The Bexar County Medical Examiner's office has released the identity of the 14-year-old boy who was shot and killed by a Northside Independent School District police officer on Friday.
According to the medical examiner, Derek Lopez, 14, was killed by a single gunshot wound fired by Officer Daniel Alvarado, 40.
The shooting happened shortly after 4 p.m. Friday in the Santa Fe subdivision, located on Roswell Canyon, near the intersection of Highway 151 and Potranco Road.
According to a police report, Alvarado was patrolling the neighborhood and saw Lopez assaulting someone. Alvarado began chasing Lopez on foot through the neighborhood.
According to the police report, which was released on Monday, Alvarado was patrolling the neighborhood and saw Lopez assaulting someone. Alvarado began chasing Lopez on foot through the neighborhood, but "lost sight of him."
A witness reported the teen was in a backyard at a house on Roswell Canyon.
The officer didn't see him at first, but "approached the storage shed to search further for the suspect announcing several times 'Police, Police.'"
The report also stated that the "(Lopez) lunged through the doorway at (the officer) intentionally knocking the shed door into (the officer's) face."
The report further details that "Fearing for his life, (the officer) discharged one round striking (the teen) in his torso."
Gonzalez said Monday that Lopez had been expelled from Pease Middle School and then from from a Northside alternative school and was attending the Bexar County Juvenile Justice Academy.
The San Antonio Police Department is investigating the shooting.
Alvarado has been with the Northside school district for 17 years and will remain on administrative leave until the investigation is complete.
Why was he still on the force? School police officer who shot dead 14-year-old unarmed pupil had been suspended four times (http://http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1391111/School-police-officer-shot-dead-Derek-Lopez-14-suspended-4-times.html)
By Oliver Pickup, Daily Mail Online, May 26, 2011
- Officer still in Police force - in administration role
- Daniel Alvarado had a history of not obeying orders
- He had been reprimand 12 times since 2006
A school police officer shot dead an unnamed 14-year-old pupil - and it has come to light that he had a history of disobeying orders and lying, and he had been suspended four times for insubordination.
School district police officer Daniel Alvarado killed Derek Lopez in November after being told to look after the victim Lopez had assaulted in the northwest side of San Antonio.
The 46-year-old disobeyed the order, and raced around the block looking for Lopez, who had run off having been told to 'freeze', and chased him into a backyard before fatally shooting the defenceless youth.
Lopez was known to be a troublemaker - he had had a troubled childhood, and had been expelled from one school and moved from many others before ending up at Bexar Juvenile Detention Centre in San Antonio.
On November 12 last year he punched an unnamed boy who was on a mobile phone - an act that Alvarado saw while in his police car.
The 17-year veteran ordered the pair to stop in their tracks, but Lopez ran off and after the police officer lost the teen on foot he called his office for help.
'I saw an assault in progress,' he told the operator. 'He punched the guy several times.'
This fact does not tally with the account of the boy who was assaulted, a schoolmate of Lopez's, who said: 'He just hit me once. It wasn't a fight. It was nothing.'
The operator ordered Alvarado to 'stay with the victim and ... concentrate on getting the info from the victim', according to mysanantonio.com.
The officer proceeded to take the boy into his patrol car and set off in search of the suspect, according to the police report.
He traced Lopez to a backyard shed nearby and shot him 'within 45 seconds of entering' according to the home owner.
While no-one by Alvarado saw the actually gun-shot, the owner, a retired nurse, thought it odd that the defenceless teen had been fired at.
Alvarado had already withdrawn his gun 'when he came up the driveway', she recalled.
After rushing out to the backyard with a towel to help the still-breathing boy, and applying pressure to the wound with the officer, she asked: 'Why did you shoot him?'
'He came at me,' he apparently told her.
In his report Alvarado wrote that he was approaching the shed with his gun drawn when the door flew open, hitting him in the face.
No witness recalled seeing any injuries to the officer's face after the shooting.
'The suspect bull rushed his way out of the shed and lunged right at me,' Alvarado said.
'The suspect was literally inches away from me, and I feared for my safety.'
The bullet was traced going through teen's chest as it ricocheted off the pancreas, colon, right liver and left kidney and exited the stomach.
A post-mortem noted a lack of gunpowder on Lopez's bloodstained T-shirt - the report concludes: 'There is no evidence of close range firing of the wound.'
The San Antonio Police Department have indicated that it was a 'justified shooting', however Alvarado has been moved to an administrative role - away from the action - after the incident.
And Bexar County lawyers have indicated that they are still investigating the death - as is Denys Lopez Moreno, the dead teen's mother, who asked a lawyer, Wally Brylak, to investigate.
And files, recently obtained by San Antionio Express News, show that the 46-year-old has been reprimanded on at least a dozen times since 2006 - and half of those occasions were because he had gone against orders.
In other cases, Alvarado failed to show up for assignments, and his supervisors appeared to suspect him of lying.
Further, documents reveal that Alvarado was suspended at least four times, and his supervisors warned him that he was close to being fired on four occasions.
However, Alvarado never was sacked.
In March 2006 one superior officer wrote an official letter to him and it read: 'Your complete disregard toward my directive was evident upon checking your reports that are still incomplete and in some cases not written at all.'
Some weeks later, Alvarado's supervisor scolded him for making 'no effort to complete said cases' and many other letters followed.
Many letters followed and in January 2008 he was suspended for one day for failing to show up for assignments.
'Any further incidents of failing to follow a directive, an assignment, or violating practices will result in immediate termination of your employment,' the suspension letter stated.
More violations followed - including two separate cases when Alvarado was suspended for collecting evidence that disappeared, including an MP3 player and fingerprint cards.
'They should've taken action a long time ago,' Mrs Moreno was quoted as saying on mysanantonio.com.
'He never followed orders. What makes you think he can deal with children?'
Spokesman for Northwest Independent School District, Pascual Gonzalez, said: 'We are aware of officer Alvarado's work history.
'While there are some documented incidents, it's important to note that they were administrative in nature, and had nothing to do with student safety.'
However David Klinger, a former police officer who's now a professor of criminology was alarmed by Alvarado's disciplinary history.
'It sounds like they knew this guy was a problem,' Mr Klinger told mysanantonio.com.
'If someone's insubordinate in a bunch of circumstances, it's logical to believe they'll be insubordinate in an important circumstance.'
Please notice that the last article is from a foreign source. I guess that they don't know how people at the top in a small community can protect their own despite their actions. While it seem that this keystone cop had been disciplined several times I am not surprised to see him on duty because we see the same type of system errors here. There are teachers, politicians, social workers and police officers who should have been given the boot decades ago, but they stay in their job damaging ordinary citizens because they have connections.
It is a tragedy for the boy and his family and I don't think that he would have got a chance if he had survived the encounter with the police officer. The system had it in for him and it was just a matter of time before he would have ended up in prison or at the morgue. It is the culture in the town which is the problem. If they have troubled kids who are hanging out in the streets after school they need to create either jobs or activities for them.
I will give three examples where we have solved some problems. In the town of Greve in Denmark they had problems with teenagers who lid fires in dumpsters putting property and people at risk. The solution was to invite every teen among the usual suspects in as cadet in the fire brigade. The number of fires are down 70 percent because the teenagers now get their adrenalin kick when they are away for weekends training to put out fires at test fields.
In the town of Farum in Denmark they had a bankrupted boat company and massive vandalism. Now the usual suspects are hired to maintain the boats and running a business where tourist can rent boats on a nearby like. The youth get some kind of bonus if the business goes well.
In the town of Oelstykke the youth burned down chairs and tables in the parks because they wanted to sit around a fire and drink beer. The officials dumped a massive pile of wood so the youth could use this wood instead of burning property. The vandalism is gone.
If the teenagers in this county is a problem active them with something useful instead of sending self-imposed supercops after them. It is just my opinion.
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Pics (http://http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1391111/School-police-officer-shot-dead-Derek-Lopez-14-suspended-4-times.html) from Oscars article above (2nd one), "Why was he still on the force? School police officer who shot dead 14-year-old unarmed pupil had been suspended four times (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=403667#p403667)" (by Oliver Pickup; May 26, 2011; Daily Mail):
(http://http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/05/26/article-1391111-0C47CA1600000578-489_224x423.jpg)
Northside Independent School District Police Officer Daniel Alvarado (above) shot and killed an unarmed student, Derek Lopez (below), in the backyard of a house
(http://http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/05/26/article-1391111-0C47CAC900000578-202_224x423.jpg)
(http://http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/05/26/article-1391111-0C482BFA00000578-65_468x304.jpg)
Lopez attended the Bexar County Juvenile Detention Centre - along with the boy he assaulted[/list]
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Finishing up the comments (http://http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/NISD-officer-shoots-and-kills-teen-after-chase/S0WjDN8bw02SaQVV4L9rjA.cspx) left for the above article in the OP, "NISD officer shoots and kills teen after chase (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=403647#p403641)" (11/12/2010, NEWS 4 WOAI), #s 41-60:
ROCKY1 - 11/13/2010 2:35 PM
falcontracker its not yelling.. its to get your attention!...and if you know so much of what happened!,, F.Y.I.! Alternative school is the Districts Alternative School every district has their own and you can be sent just for skipping school or smoking a dam cigarette!.. Which was the one that teen was in.. JJA Juvenile Justice Academy is different its where those kids that are worse and where all the in the districts send those that are more out of control.. and if he was beating the girl up.. well some girls are not so innocent some are just as bad or worse!.. and you weren't there or were you?.. So you don't know exactly what really happen or do you?...And I couldn't agree more with bobrrr.. When a cop tells you to Stop, yes everyone should obey the law.. but even an Old Grown Drunk Adult don't obey the cops!.. what makes you think that a stupid scared teen will.. rumors say he lunged at the cop were you there?.. you weren't there so you can't Judge dude.. unless you were?.. and I'm not Hommie or Bro, I don't go that rought!.. it seems to me that your the Hommie that thinks he knows more than everyone else of what really happen.. but I still say to everyone never judge.. you should judge yourself first!.. He was just a kid.. and we all have sons, brothers, nephews, so don't be Quick to Judge someone because this could happen to one you love the most then what!.. are you going to say he deserved it too!... That's right Shame on all who JUDGE Matthew 7:1-5 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
ROCKY1 - 11/13/2010 2:44 PM
I feel the pain of the loss of their love one.. My Prayers goes out to their Family... And for all those who judge him!....REMEMBER THIS! Matthew 7:1-5 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment YOU pronounce You will be judged, and with the measure YOU use it will be measured TO YOU!.
jrfive - 11/13/2010 2:46 PM
Hey SmartDookie, for someone whose entire post/rant was about not judging others, you sure spend a lot of time judging others. You might want to look up the word hypocrite. Look around, I'm sure there's a dictionary written in crayon you could understand. Might even have some pictures in it.
jrfive - 11/13/2010 2:59 PM
Dookie, hope you dont mind if i call you dookie. It sorta fits. If you read my post, without judging, you'd have been able to tell I believe the cop used excessive force. Sure the poor kid put himself in a dangerous situation, but it shouldnt have been a mistake that was bad enough to pay for with his life. I feel for his family, I'm sure he will be missed. As for all the silly, "you are dumb" comments, I rest my case. Hypocrite. Peace to the family.
ROCKY1 - 11/13/2010 3:02 PM
That's right! RedNeckRick.. rent-a-cop wants to feel like a hero or maybe wants a promotion to a real cop wanna be position!.. its so sad that Rent-a-cop feels like a real proud hero huh... for shooting a boy in the chest and killing him!
sa mike - 11/13/2010 3:07 PM
Man 'o man. A lot of hate being posted on this topic today. Folks, how about everyone taking a deep breath and then wait for the outcome of the investigation before venting your collective spleens??
ROCKY1 - 11/13/2010 3:16 PM
TRUTH OR NOT, NO ONE KNOWS THE DAMM TRUTH!.. SO DON'T JUDGE!
ROCKY1 - 11/13/2010 3:21 PM
OH.. 1smartDookie.. and you sure do know what the man feels right now.. huh.. I want to know why wasn't SAPD called first! answer that!
jrfive - 11/13/2010 3:27 PM
Ok Dookie, last post for you, i have to run. I think you'd be surprised to find out how much i would know about excessive force. Again, you jump to the assumption you know about me, while saying everyone else shouldn't assume. Hypocrite. While there can always be extenuating circumstances, facts are, 14 year old unarmed male vs. trained adult peace officer. I stand by my assumption. Again, to the family, I wish you the best in a horrible situation. Peace.
ROCKY1 - 11/13/2010 3:38 PM
I APOLOGIZE FOR EVERYONE!... PLEASE!.. NOW SHUT UP EVERYONE!..LET IT GO NOW... WE ALL HAD TO SAY HOW WE FELT!.. NOW LET THIS POOR BOY REST IN PEACE NOW!..WE SHOULD ALL PRAY FOR HIS FAMILY NOW.. AND MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY AND MAY THE LORD GIVE THEM COMFORT NOW!...
cher01 - 11/13/2010 4:00 PM
Cops are scary. I do not blame this young man for turning to run. Hell, if I saw a cop coming toward me, I'd run too, and I have no reason to run, other than being afraid. They used to be here to Protect and Serve. Now, their new motto is "To shoot and kill" The hell you have been thru in your short 14 years of life is now over. Rest in peace little boy.
Brokenhearted - 11/13/2010 4:09 PM
This is so sad that so many people express such negativity at such a sad moment. Truth of the matter is a young child was killed! There was another student who witnessed this all and stated the student was being harrased by another student who wanted to fight him. The child that was shot did not want to fight but started to defend himself. The cop showed up and he ran because he was on probation for some small crime he had committed and was scared to go to jail. They both jumped a fence and the cop was embarrased that the child was outrunning him so he shot him in the head. Now i do not know how true this is I do know the students who wittnessed it are traumatized and say the cop could of shot him elswhere to avoid killing him. As for you all thinking he was a thug you are wrong. Yes he made poor choices but was not capable of killing someone! The JJA can be court or school ordered and the students there have made poor choices and instead of you judging step up and help make a difference. It sickens me that many of you could be so heartless at a time like this, and I hope for your sake you will never have to go through something like this ever!!
Cheesylouise - 11/13/2010 4:48 PM
I feel bad for the family having to go through the loss of a child. Such a terrible story.
fed up - 11/13/2010 5:29 PM
Brokenhearted, your information is incorrect. Please don't publish what your don't know. You state yourself that you don't know what is true and what isn't. I cannot tell what because of the ongoing investigation but what you have written is off target.
Nasshi - 11/13/2010 6:20 PM
It says in the story it's not yet clear if the teen had a weapon. Unless this boy had a gun, or was coming at the officer with an axe.. I'd have to say a headshot seems excessive. I wasn't there, nor am I a cop, but I'd imagine that officer is suffering a bit for having made that choice... justified or not. Noone becomes a cop for the joy of shooting children. My question is, where was the tazer?
RedNeckRick - 11/13/2010 6:44 PM
Amazing how my comment about how a rent-a-cop was allowed to act as a certified law enforcement officer was deleted. Again, the rent-a-cops for the district should and an are only certified in school zones and on campuses. Any action outside those parameters are subject to local law. If assaulting anyone outside those parameters, the individual should and will be subject to the statue that is set for all citizens.
WillisJordan - 11/13/2010 7:18 PM
They do a lot of deleting in these parts, Rick. They aren't too in to freedom of speech. Sometimes, you will have a hard time figuring out why you were deleted. I think they let a lot of people at their station have access to this site and I suspect some of them are just the kind of people who will delete you if they disagree with you. That's pretty cheesy.
SAdweller - 11/13/2010 7:48 PM
Northside Independent School District police officer had no right to chase and kill the teen
SA Native - 11/13/2010 7:58 PM
NISD is going to fire the Police Officer. You know how hard it is to keep a revenue producing child in school now a days. We I went to school besides the rocks we used to write with, if a kid did something wrong, you were really suspended. Now they want the kid to be in alternate school to keep the revenue. What ever happened to do the crime do the time?
sant0rum - 11/13/2010 8:07 PM
Alvin, you need to stop posting this stuff about devils and angels. This story was about a conflict between the police and some teenager. Shame on you for suggesting it had something to do with the Catholic church and confession. It's not a lost symbol, unless you mean about your mind, fool.
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More comments (http://http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/NISD-officer-shoots-and-kills-teen-after-chase/S0WjDN8bw02SaQVV4L9rjA.cspx) left for the above article, "NISD officer shoots and kills teen after chase (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=403647#p403641)" (11/12/2010, NEWS 4 WOAI), #s 61-80:
Foxfire7 - 11/13/2010 8:07 PM
A loss of one so young makes you wonder what happened in this boys life to end up being shot dead. Out of control and then out of luck. Many young boys grow up in such toxic environments these days that it is no surprise when this happens. He probably never had a chance.
sant0rum - 11/13/2010 8:14 PM
Thanks, Foxfire. I think a lot of America does not understand George Bush and what he did for this country. Your insight is astounding. I saw the report last week where his Mother showed him the fetus in a jar after she had a miscarriage.
DunoNuthin - 11/13/2010 8:59 PM
LOL at the comments on both sides. Fact of the matter is, it sucks ass that a kid of 14 was killed by a peace officer. Sadly, if it didn't happen now, it was only a matter of time. Seems this kid was well on the road to being a career criminal.
justplaintired - 11/14/2010 12:30 AM
RedNeckRick, You're posting things you obviously don't know anything about. School officers are TECLOS certified. That means they are police officers. They are empowered by the State of Texas to enforce any and all laws. Now what school policy is, can be a different story. Folks like you need to just read the story and reframe from commenting.
Dog Mama - 11/14/2010 1:51 AM
Who is this NISD police officer that shot and killed a young student. Please,the police alway say they feared for their life of some silly excuse that justifies their actions. We need this officers picture posted so that all of San Antonio will know the Teen Killer wannbe cop is; and God Bless the young boy's mother.
proudnative - 11/14/2010 2:19 AM
hey redneck ... kindly wake up and get an education PRIOR to posting some silly comment about "rent a cops" when you obviously know NOTHING about who these police officers are! The fact is that every NISD officer is a certified peace officer and I can attest to their commitment to children! The THUG in question may have been young, but was not someone you would even open your door to, much less welcome into your home. This was a hardened criminal, destined to create chaos and destruction in a civilized society..... ie: no loss!
retiredgolfer - 11/14/2010 4:59 AM
Deepcscott - 11/14/2010 8:19 AM
You get home from the juvenile jail school because you were expelled from the public school, you can't seem to keep your hands to yourself and punch some other kid at the bus stop, you run from the police and then fight the officer. What other way was this going to turn out? The officer saved the tax payer money in jail lodging, court time, clothing and upkeep of another punk that couldn't get in line with the rest of society, because he doesn't need to follow the law like the rest of us. Too bad, so sad. No excuses.
WillisJordan - 11/14/2010 8:38 AM
He was 14 years old, in a fight and he ran away from the police. That kind of behavior deserves a good spanking. I know there are some unusually large 14 year olds who could pose a risk for a grown man in a fight, but there aren't many. I haven't seen anything that says what a big, hulking brute he was. I'm not going to jump to conclusions, but there needs to be a really good excuse from this policeman that I am waiting to hear. It is pretty hard to imagine a scenario where this grown man, who knew where the kid was and couldn't be ambushed by him, had to shoot and kill a 14 year old boy. I was never violent and never a fighting type, but I was a nasty little turd and I can't remember how many times I got thrown out of school. Today I own two businesses, employ a number of people, pay taxes and have kids and grandchildren of my own. If the police killed little 14 year old turds for running from the school police when I was this kid's age, they would have done me in 40 years ago.
sandymike - 11/14/2010 10:09 AM
justplaintired, though i disagree with redneck ricks comments, i would like to welcome you to AMERICA, where we all get to have and voice out opinions. its called freedom. just because you don't like or agree with a comment made by someone else doesn't mean he or she doesn't have the right to post it. proudnative just because they have a teclos cert doesn't mean they are good police officers. a good many of them are thugs that we've given the authority to carry a gun and enforce way more laws then we should have to begin with. i am a truck driver (fuel hauler with a haz mat endorsement) with four million accident free miles. those certifications (class a cdl and haz-mat endors.) don't mean squat when it comes to what kind of driver i am. fact is i see an awful lot of truck drivers out ther who have no bus. being there. same thing with cops just because they have the certification doesn't mean they should be there. it doesn't make them good cops.
sandymike - 11/14/2010 10:13 AM
wow, they deleted redneck ricks comment but not 1smartdookie's, WOW
Joe Hill - 11/14/2010 11:36 AM
I don't know what to think about this killing. I do know this. There is a fascist hiding out at WOAI and that fascist likes to delete anything a man writes if the fascist doesn't like it. It goes on all the time. The government ought to sieze this site and make it more amenable to the needs of the People. Fascists Out! Dare to struggle; Dare to Win!
infamousdb - 11/14/2010 12:02 PM
infamousdb, Criminals are born out of an environment of oppression. No, means to accomplish anything causes adverse reasoning. As for this Kids future, he doesn't have one now should be the focus of a human response. Shame on all you fools'
sa mike - 11/14/2010 12:44 PM
joe hill- come down off your "all power to the people" rant. Posts get deleted because some idiots can't or won't abide by the rules. Click on the "Report User" icon and you'll find out why things get taken down. There's been a lot of ranting and raving on this topic in the past 24 hours and to a degree that's good. It lets people vent their frustrations. Where the line is crossed is profanity and making threats. If you have any other questions about why certain posts are taken down, ask Alvin Moss. He's an expert. His main problem with posts is that he can't or won't stick to the topic. He just goes off on his pre-programed rant, no matter what the topic.
felontracker - 11/14/2010 12:44 PM
If you only knew how many of these school cops ARE retired SAPD, Bexar County, Dallas, Houston police officers not to mention police officers that have worked for other municipalities, DPS and other states. Many are also retired military police with over twenty years of service and training and have been to war and back in Iraq and Aphganistan. Many of these officers ARE verteran officers that have paid their dues on the streets and in the dunes. I did some research and read some bios. Every School District Police Chief In San Antonio and Austin has been a high ranking officer at either SAPD or another large municipality. School district police officers are certified pease officers 24/7 and have the same authority as SAPD or Bexar County. This reminds me of the SAISD officer that shot and killed that guy who was breaking into cars at a middle school a few years back. That thug was out on parole for the same crime he was doing when the officer shot and killed him. He was shot just prior to running down the officer with his car. But wait...he was a good boy said his mommy. Yea right! a real model citizen who may have even run for mayor. Gee, where can I get his campaign sign to put in my front yard. These guys were just another thug that refused to obey the officers commands. In both situations the thug went at the cop. The other with his car and this one lunged at the officer from a shed. That is something you just don't do. These officers had to make a split second decision. The comments were the same then as they are now by many of you misinformed folks. He was a trigger happy cop, rent a cop, they have no business carrying guns, he was out if his jurisdiction etc. Again as I had posted earlier,If it would have been the homeowner that shot and killed this thug for being in his shed, you all would have been cheering another win for the good guys. That officer then and this officer now did their jobs and took another criminal off the streets. CASE CLOSED.
proudnative - 11/14/2010 1:16 PM
to those of you who think that this kid deserved a "spanking" or some other slap on the wrist .... Please know that it takes acts of MAJOR violence etc to get yourself expelled from Alternative school. Kids are sent to alternative because they are dangerous to either themselves or to their classmates, they get expelled from there and sent to JJA because they are seriously out of control! There is a limit to what public schools should have within their walls .... this kid was beyond those limits. I assure you that you would NOT have wanted this THUG anywhere near you and certainly not near innocent children.
bobrrr - 11/14/2010 2:22 PM
Give the cop more bullets and put him back on the streets ASAP.
hockey fan - 11/14/2010 2:39 PM
Felontracker, Thanks for the research. Lets wait for the investigation to conclude before we pass judgment. Two families are devastated this weekend, and all many can do is make statements based on facts that we do not have.
sa mike - 11/14/2010 5:04 PM
hockey fan- At last a voice of reason! Thank-you, you're a rare rational voice on this topic today.
SANANTONIO1 - 11/14/2010 8:51 PM
my kid goes to the same school(pease)same grade as that boy was. that boy didnt have to die and the cop shouldn't have fired the gun unless the boy had a weapon. i feel so bad for the family that has to go through the lost of the boy.):
© 2010 Newport Television LLC
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Comments (http://http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/NISD-officer-shoots-and-kills-teen-after-chase/S0WjDN8bw02SaQVV4L9rjA.cspx) left for the above article, "NISD officer shoots and kills teen after chase (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=403647#p403641)" (11/12/2010, NEWS 4 WOAI), #s 81-100:
Brokenhearted - 11/14/2010 9:41 PM
You guys make me so mad!! KNow your facts!! Kids can go to JJA for numerous reasons, one court ordered two school ordered! Alot of them were tired of being bullied so they took a weapon to protect them self! My child was there because someone handed them tylenol and they were caught with it!! KNOW YOUR FACTS!!!
Esther - 11/15/2010 8:16 AM
My heart goes out to this boys family. This is a heartbreaking loss that no parent should have to go thru. I see alot of comments focusing on his age, and I'd like to point out that I'm sure this cop wasn't aware this kid was 14. And even if he did know, there is no way he could have known the kid was not armed. Had this kid been at home where he belonged, maybe this ugly incident could have been avoided.
wilkim45yes - 11/15/2010 7:41 PM
WOW I AM SPEECHLESS! Just saw this kids mom on KSAT12 at 6pm. She's crying to the camera's PROCLAIMING her son was "GOOD BOY". I wonder what HER DEFINITION of a "BAD BOY" is?
wilkim45yes - 11/15/2010 7:51 PM
@felontracker: In OUR WORLD you are absolutely right. In THEIR WORLD (those who are bashing this Officer) your post is falling of deaf ears, these people remind me of a book I read several years back titled PIGS DON'T KNOW PIGS STINK.
suninnovember - 11/15/2010 11:35 PM
I knew this child personally. It makes me sick to my stomach to hear that a FOURTEEN YEAR OLD UN-ARMED boy was SHOT DEAD! Not shot to be IMMOBILIZED! What happened to the tazer or pepper spray, even baton for heaven's sake?? Was this officer not trained!? If the boy had a weapon wouldn't the officer had said so? This alone doesn't justify him having to be shot as a way defense. Anyone knows when a person carries a powerful weapon like a gun a sense of power can overcome even the most timid person. For this I say two things, Training and Lose your EGO! As for all the commentors on "ridding this place of another future criminal" and "human waste" it makes me sick to know there are people out there that hurt others for pure enjoyment or selfish gain and by every thread of being I feel they deserve to be put out, but definately not this boy! As a child, he grew up in a rough family environment with not much affection and encouragement from the people he needed it from the most which made him express himself the only ways he knew he could. With the given circumstances over the years, it hurts to think that maybe I COULD have been a good alternative influence on him. We don't see something coming until it has already past. If you're reading this and you feel that you have something to share, by all means, don't be like me and regret missing that chance. I want to shed light on a truth. This boy was still VERY YOUNG, at any point in his life SOMETHING or SOMEONE could have shown him something to strive for. SOMETHING he didn't see within himself SOME BRAVE SOUL could have helped him see it. GOD BLESS the all the great teachers of this planet on salary or voluntarily helping someone see their own potential. It really doesn't take much effort to make a WORLD of difference in someone's life. Saying these words are all I can do now with a heavy heart. THANK YOU all the good people who have a soul. Keep speaking and typing your words of love and faith. This world needs YOU!
suninnovember - 11/15/2010 11:45 PM
May you Rest In Peace Derek Lopez. God knows you will be missed!
suninnovember - 11/15/2010 11:58 PM
As for the running away from an officer of the law, please tell me what fourteen-year old who already sees himself getting into MORE trouble WOULDN'T RUN and HIDE out of FIRST REACTION? Let's get back in touch with REALITY PEOPLE, human instinct + a child mentality = MISTAKES. WE ALL KNOW THAT! It's up to the adults with their entrusted power to make the WISE judgements!
speakonit - 11/16/2010 12:44 AM
TO ALL OF THOSE WHO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE COP,THE KID,HIS PARENTS. DID YOU KNOW HE WAS TRYING TO GET THE OFFICERS FIREARM???? DID NOT THINK SO! HE IS A POLICE OFFICER. NOT ALL ARE GOOD, BUT NOT ALL ARE BAD. ITS CALLED A LIFE OR DEATH DECISION.IF HE GOT THE GUN HE MAY HAVE BECOME A COP KILLER. DO WE NEED MORE COP KILLERS? DO WE NEED MORE KIDS IN PRISON ON DEATH ROW? EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO THIER OWN OPINION. BUT REMEMBER YOU WERE NOT THERE!!!
speakonit - 11/16/2010 12:52 AM
SUNINNOVEMBER I WAS RAISED IN A ROUGH AREA,S.PRESA AND SOUTHCROSS. I WAS SHOT IN A DRIVEBYE,AND HAVE BEEN IN MORE FIGHTS THAN I CAN REMEMBER. I RESPECT POLICE, AND DO NOT RUN FROM THEM. I HAVE HAD A HARD LIFE, AND STILL HAVE A HARD LIFE. ITS NO EXCUSE TO COMMIT CRIMES. IM SORRY DEREK LOST HIS LIFE, BUT DID HIS PARENTS TEACH HIM RIGHT FROM WRONG????
TexCountry - 11/16/2010 7:34 AM
Well one less THUG to worry about!!!!!!
felontracker - 11/16/2010 9:21 AM
@wilkim45yes, Just like the other momma a few years back...He was a good boy. A good boy that was out on parole for the same offence he was commiting when the officer shot him for running him down with the car. I sure wish I could see one of this kid former teachers post a character reference for this kid. I heard that this kid had been arrested several times for assault, disorderly conduct fighting, graffiti and drug possession. He was "allegedly" also a member of some gang that goes by the initials S.R. Oh yea, a real model citizen. Let's see what we have so far on the day leading up to his death. 1. Assault on someone 2. Disobeyed the orders of the police officer that "WITNESSED" the assault in progress 3. Resisting detention or arrest when he ran from the police 4. Burglary when he broke into some homeowners shed who didn't know him from squat. 5. Assault on a Police Officer when he kicked the door and hit the officer in the face after the officer clearly identifyed himself as "POLICE" "POLICE" 6. Possibly went for the officers gun. WOW! He really was a good boy Mommy & Grandma. I'm gonna have to buy that book you mention. "Pigs Don't Know Pigs Stink" To suninnovember...funny how you folks always seem to come out when it's already to late. Gee...what if I would have intervened ??? We'll never know now will we...
ROCKY1 - 11/16/2010 10:25 AM
EXCUSES...EXCUSES.... THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO KNOW... HOW MANY TIMES THIS NSISD COP HAS USED EXCESSIVE OE EXTREME FORCE OR HAS GOTTEN OUT OF CONTROL ON THE STUDENTS?.. HOW MANY TIMES HE HAS FEARED FOR HIS LIFE WITH A KID?.... DOES HE THINK HE'S SUPER COP? " IF YOU RUN.. I'LL KILL YOU BOY!"... IF HE FEARS TEENS SO BAD THAT HE HAS THE NEED TO PUT THEM DOWN.. HE NEEDS TO GET A NEW CAREER!...I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT HE WOULD DO AS A SADP OFFICER!.. WE ALL LIKE TO SEE HIS TRACK RECORD!.. ALL STUDENTS SHOULD ALL COME OUT AND SAY OR HE'LL KEEP DOING THIS!.. OR THEY MAYBE NEXT!...
ROCKY1 - 11/16/2010 10:27 AM
EXCUSES.....EXCUSES.... THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO KNOW... HOW MANY TIMES THIS NSISD COP HAS USED EXCESSIVE OR EXTREME FORCE OR HAS GOTTEN OUT OF CONTROL ON THE STUDENTS?.. HOW MANY TIMES HE HAS FEARED FOR HIS LIFE WITH A KID?.... DOES HE THINK HE'S SUPER COP? " IF YOU RUN.. I'LL KILL YOU BOY!"... IF HE FEARS TEENS SO BAD THAT HE HAS THE NEED TO PUT THEM DOWN.. HE NEEDS TO GET A NEW CAREER!...I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT HE WOULD DO AS A SADP OFFICER!.. WE ALL LIKE TO SEE HIS TRACK RECORD!.. ALL STUDENTS SHOULD ALL COME OUT AND SAY OR HE'LL KEEP DOING THIS!.. OR THEY MAYBE NEXT!...
mdvball17 - 11/16/2010 10:33 AM
My comment goes out to all you heartless people posting comments about a child and a family you DIDN'T know from squat.....Who are you to judge these people?? Did you live in their home? Were you there for the past 14 yrs of this boys life. I didn't think so. The last time I checked the only person who has a right to judge people is God. So stop passing judgement on people you dont even know. What does this tell me about how you people were raised? I mean, didnt your parents ever teach you not to judge people. Were you raised so perfect that you never got into trouble? C'mon lets be real no one has perfect parents. I hope none of you heartless people have children. I'd hate for something like this to happen to your child whether an accident or not and see how you would like it when people post such ugly things about your child or about you and your parenting skills. If your gonna post something have some consideration about the pain that Derek's family is going through. To Derek's family....My thoughts and prayers are with you through this terrible tragedy. May God give you the strength to get through it all. God Bless you and your family.
felontracker - 11/16/2010 12:54 PM
This goes out to mdvball17... Read THIS and try to dispute it! A felon in the making since the age of 9.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_ ... 98319.html (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/teen_shot_by_northside_police_officer_identified_108198319.html)[/list]
mdvball17 - 11/16/2010 3:48 PM
@Felontracker.....Who do you think you are to sit a judge this kid? Alot of kids go through rough phases in their lives the way Derek did. That does not make them felons. I have seen kids go through life's hardships and turn out to be very respected men. I can only sit here and wonder if you have nothing better to do than sit and judge people. Derek may not have been a role model kid and I never said he was but he did not derserve this. There are different ways this could have been handled and it wasn't. That was poor judgement of the officer. You must not have kids or not know what it's like to lose a child. If this was your child you would be singing a different tune. And I'm sure all the hurtful comments these ignorant people are leaving would hurt you just as much as they are hurting Derek's family.
suninnovember - 11/16/2010 7:34 PM
felontracker, have you ever heard the phrase "It takes a village to raise a child". I'd like you to remember a time in your life that someone, other than your family members, inspired something in you in one way or another, no matter how small or large the inspiration was. Not all people have those kinds of blessings in life. By no means am I pointing fingers to ANYONE, parents, grandparents, ect. are NOT perfect nor should we ever expect them to be. All I'm saying is it never hurts to reach out of our own comfort zone. Maybe it would be a good idea to read that pig book because it might teach you something about yourself.. heartless.. let's hope you never have to be judged the way you do to others. If you think you have something to teach someone it wouldn't be a bad idea to volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Life is never going to be black and white and we should keep that in mind. Nor is life or opportunities the same for everyone so we CAN'T sit here and judge another fellow human being. We can't know what we would have done in the exact same circumstances. All we can do is keep our faith in humanity and inspire that faith in others. Use your talents to help others instead of sitting smugly thinking "well we're safe for now" "I've got my fence, cameras, and gun, we should be good". Let's not forget we might be being tested in this life. Rest in Peace Derek Lopez.
suninnovember - 11/16/2010 7:58 PM
Oh and I revoke my earlier comment on "..environment with not much affection and encouragement from..." I'm sorry for offending anyone having said this and you're right, I WASN'T there for all 14 years of his life so I DON'T know everything and I am no one to talk. I was just feeling enraged and helpless so please accept my appology. I meant no harm.
elontracker - 11/16/2010 10:34 PM
Apparently you (suni/mdvball) didn't read the mysanantonio.com story I linked in my earlier post. Just copy and paste the link to your address line it will take you straight there. This is coming from an interview with Northside I.S.D. Public Information Officer Pasqual Gonzales. This kid was kicked out of elementary school at the age of nine. Come on people...who gets kicked out of elementary school. Oh yea! a future felon. He has multiple arrests for assault and fighting. He has felony charges and/or convictions for graffiti and drug possession while attending alternative "Middle School" which was what had him sent to J.J.A. "Juvenile Justice" Academy...a state school for felons. He was recently kicked out of J.J.A. Come on folks! That is strait from the School District's go to guy. Next thing you're going to post is that Pasqual Gonzalez is a lier and also not telling the truth. This police officer did our city justice and saved us law abiding tax paying citizens a ton of money that would have been used to house, feed and try to rehabilatate this felon. Apparently you also did not understand the metaphore...pigs don't know pigs stink...or here's an easier one for you...birds of a feather, flock together... Still don't get it? I know, I know...they were only little felonies.
mdvball17 - 11/17/2010 4:19 PM
@Felontracker......You are one ignorant human being. I read your link and I saw wat it said about Derek but that doesnt give me a right to sit here and call him a felon. One thing that you need to keep in mind is that God see's everything. I hope you never endure the pain that Derek's family is going through. I also hope you are never judged in the manner that you are judging him. Since you have no compassion regarding this situation at least have some damn respect. It's ignorant and judgemental people like you that make kids like Derek and the world we live in that much harder to deal with. May god bless your heartless soul.
© 2010 Newport Television LLC
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(Probably last) comments (http://http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/NISD-officer-shoots-and-kills-teen-after-chase/S0WjDN8bw02SaQVV4L9rjA.cspx) left for the above article, "NISD officer shoots and kills teen after chase (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=403647#p403641)" (11/12/2010, NEWS 4 WOAI), #s 101-104:
suninnovember - 11/17/2010 7:56 PM
Felontracker, I got the whole pig & bird metaphors. Look, I don't condone the actions of a misbehaving child. But there are other ways of handling our troubled youth, and I guarantee shooting all of them is not the solution. Do you see what I'm saying? I understand that he was causing trouble for himself since he was younger, but what about the officer who is supposed to be trained to handle young "trouble makers" like himself. If my kid went to a school that hired officers who were ready to use deadly force to handle any situation do you think I'd be confident, knowing all the values I show him or her, to let them attend such a place? I know right off the bat I'd be thinking, "What if my good kid happened to get caught up with the wrong people and he or she was targeted by deadly force because of it?.." I know they would be trying to dig up all the dirt possible on my child to justify the sloppy mistake of an officer. I'm also pretty sure if this child belonged to someone in the police force they'd also be singing a different tune. Yes this one had behavioral issues, but by the way you speak it sounds like you aren't aware of the power of influence. I, like yourself, don't want to pay for the actions law violators, but what do we do to help the situation besides cheer on the sidelines for either side? Believe it or not, this whole thing opened my eyes a little on what I CAN do, and trust me, I will live everyday of the rest of my life trying my best at it. People CAN change, we don't spray all the bad ones hoping no more will ever show up. We can't keep doing what doesn't work..I hope you understand where I'm coming from. If anything, I hope God touches your heart and make you realize some things you might be missing out on. God Bless
lovemylife2 - 11/19/2010 12:42 AM
IF THE BOY REACHED FOR THE GUN HOW THE HECK DID THE OFFICER SHOOT HIM IN HIS CHEST????? I DONT BUY THAT STORY, AND AS MOST SAY HE WAS A "BAD KID, FUTURE FELON" YOU DONT KNOW THAT FOR SURE, HOW MANY OF YOU WERE GANG MEMBERS, PUNK ROCKERS, HIPPIES, ETC??? WE ALL GO THROUGH PHASES IN OUR LIVES I KNOW I DID. CHANCES ARE HE COULD HAVE REALIZED HIS BAD PATH ONE DAY AND BE A DR, LAWYER, PROBATION OFFICE, "NISD OFFICER". WHO KNOWS BUT BECAUSE OF A SMALL INCCEDINT HE IS GONE NOW, TO A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE EVEN OUR FATHER "THE ONLY ONE WITH RIGHT TO JUDGE" HAS FORGIVEN HIM FOR HIS MINOR WRONGS IN LIFE AND HAS TAKEN HIM INTO HIS ARMS. AT 14 YOUR STILL GROWING, MATURING SEEING WHO YOU WANNA BE. I ASK MY 13 YEAR OLD SON WHAT HE WANTS TO DO IN LIFE AND HES NOT EVEN SURE YET. COME ON HE GOT IN A FIGHT AND RAN AWAY FROM A COP CAUSE HE DIDNT WANT TO GET IN TROUBLE. WHO WOULDNT TRY AND RUN? ITS SAD EVERYONE IS BLAMING THE MOTHER I DONT THINK SHE DESERVERS THAT, IT IS HARD RAISING TEENS AND ESPECIALLY BOYS. SO INSTEAD WE SHOULD ALL GIVE OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE MOTHER JUST IMAGINE FINDING OUT YOUR SON WAS SHOT HOW WOULD YOU FEEL?? GOD BLESS THE FAMILY OF THIS BOY I HOPE JUSTCE IS SERVED AND THE OFFICER PAY FOR HIS WRONG ACTIONS. "DEREK RIP"
ferguson - 5/28/2011 3:03 AM
i'm sure as the officer was chasing this kid through the neighborhood he was yelling questions like, "Hey were you convicted of any crimes or kicked out of school?" how the hell did the officer know who the kid was and that he was dangerous? so dangerous he had his gun drawn ready to blast the kid. i'm sure the kids record came out AFTER he was killed. so the shooting cannot be justified based on his criminal record imo.
Ltl Professor - 5/28/2011 10:26 AM
This boy's actions and reputation reminds me of my brother. He was always in trouble and was expelled from 10th grade. After getting his GED to join the Marines, they straightened his butt out in about 24 hours, or else. He became a good Marine, and from there he got a degree in Engineering and became a darned good Engineer. I don't know what this kid could have done, but I doubt that killing was the answer. This cop is symptomatic of the growing police state in America. Everyone, cops included, should be held responsible for the consequences of their actions. This cop should be charged and tried for manslaughter.
© 2010 Newport Television LLC
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Here's a few more articles from shortly after this tragedy occurred:
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San Antonio Express-News
Northside ISD officer shoots man (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Northside-ISD-officer-shoots-man-810628.php)
A police officer with the Northside Independent School District was involved in a fatal shooting on the far West Side Friday afternoon.
By Guillermo X. Garcia
Published 04:16 p.m., Friday, November 12, 2010
A Northside Independent School District police officer fatally shot a youth after chasing him in a far West Side neighborhood late Friday afternoon, San Antonio police said.
The officer was in the neighborhood responding to a burglary call and was chasing someone who had been involved in a fight, authorities said.
The youth hid in a shed outside the house where the shooting occurred in the 200 block of Roswell Canyon, police spokesman Matthew Porter said.
When discovered, the suspect lunged at the officer, who fired once, said Pascual Gonzalez, the school district's public information officer. Gonzalez said he was "school-aged" but not a Northside student.
The names of the officer and the youth were not released.
It was the second officer-involved shooting in as many days. On Thursday, four San Antonio police officers were shot while executing a search warrant at a suspect's East Side home. The suspect was apprehended at the scene.
© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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San Antonio Express-News
The shock lingers after teen's death (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/The-shock-lingers-after-teen-s-death-812284.php?showFullArticle=y)
A tense quiet settled over the Trails of Santa Fe on Saturday, a day after a deadly confrontation between a Northside Independent School District police officer and a teenager.
By Guillermo X. Garcia
Published 09:42 p.m., Saturday, November 13, 2010
A tense quiet settled over the Trails of Santa Fe on Saturday, a day after a deadly confrontation between a Northside Independent School District police officer and a teenager.
For residents of the tree-lined neighborhood dominated by two-story brick homes, the memory of why dozens of police cars, ambulances, TV trucks, glaring lights and helicopters whirring overhead were there remained fresh:
A 14-year-old was shot dead.
"This area is so quiet, I still can't get a handle about what happened," said one woman, walking hand-in-hand with her husband Saturday evening less than 25 yards from the crime scene, a backyard in the 200 block of Roswell Canyon. "Everybody knows each other, and it is so hard to accept that this actually happened here."
Like many of her neighbors, the woman wanted to talk - but did not want to be identified because everyone knows one another, or because they know, and did not want to upset, the family of the dead teenager.
Authorities said they would not release his identity until Monday.
Officials said the boy's autopsy was performed Saturday.
However, they also will not release the findings - or the name of the police officer - until Monday.
San Antonio police are investigating the case, even though the officer involved was a member of a school district police department.
School district police are responsible for providing security on school campuses.
They also patrol within the district's boundaries.
Because they are commissioned peace officers, they can respond to calls in areas adjoining their district, and sometimes are called on to assist local police.
The officer had been on patrol duty Friday, NISD spokesman Pascual Gonzalez said.
"For now, we want to protect (the officer) this weekend and give him time to deal with this very devastating incident," he said.
Gonzalez noted the incident was the first time in a decade a school district officer had pulled his weapon, and it was perhaps the first time a district officer had killed a suspect.
He added that the veteran officer, who is being provided counseling, is "deeply traumatized by this."
Gonzalez said the incident began when the officer happened upon a fight between two boys.
"One youth ran and the officer pursued him," he said, but the officer lost sight of him.
He said a homeowner flagged down the officer and told him someone was hiding in his backyard shed.
Gonzalez said that as the officer approached, the youth "pushed open the shed doors and somehow lunged at the officer," which triggered a brief scuffle that ended when the officer fired once.
It was not clear when the officer pulled his weapon.
© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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San Antonio Express-News
Teen shot by Northside officer identified (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/education/article/Teen-shot-by-Northside-officer-identified-813859.php)
Authorities said Derek Lopez, 14, was shot by a Northside ISD policeman Friday.
By Eva Ruth Moravec
Published 10:33 a.m., Monday, November 15, 2010
Authorities have released the name of a teenager killed by a Northside Independent School District police officer Friday.
Derek Lopez, 14, was shot to death in the side yard of a far West Side home Friday around 5:05 p.m., according to a San Antonio Police Department incident report.
Officer Daniel Alvarado, 45, is on paid administrative leave while SAPD investigates the shooting. A 16-year veteran of the force, Alvarado was assigned to the patrol division and was in full uniform in a patrol car Friday afternoon, school district spokesman Pascual Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez and San Antonio police said Alvarado was patrolling an area near Pease Middle School on Friday when he came across a fight at a bus stop at Hunt Lane and Santa Fe Ridge.
Witnesses told police Derek struck another boy in the face with the back of his hand. Alvarado tried to detain the teen, who ran across the street and into the Trails of Santa Fe neighborhood, the report states.
Alvarado took a witness to the fight along with him as he tried to find Derek in the residential area, police said.
Neighbors then told Alvarado that Derek was hiding in a backyard in the 200 block of Roswell Canyon, where someone inside that home had already called 911 to report a possible burglary in progress.
Alvarado searched the yard but couldn't find the boy, police said.
He reportedly announced, "Police, police," several times before peering into a shed where Derek was hiding. According to police, Derek was crouching on the ground and then lunged through the shed's door, knocking it in Alvarado's face.
Alvarado, "fearing for his life," discharged one round, striking Derek in the chest, the incident report states. He then conducted cardiopulmonary resuscitation until EMS arrived, police said.
As originally published, this story contained an error. (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/about_us/corrections/article/Corrections-Nov-15-21-2010-823270.php)
© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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"As originally published, this story contained an error."[/list]
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Corrections: Nov. 15-21, 2010 (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/about_us/corrections/article/Corrections-Nov-15-21-2010-823270.php)
mySanAntonio.com posts corrections from the San Antonio Express-News and mySA.com every weekday.
mySanAntonio.com
Published 01:17 a.m., Saturday, November 20, 2010
SATURDAY
• Because of incorrect information provided to the newspaper, a story in Tuesday's Express-News and on mySA.com misstated the age of a Northside Independent School District officer involved in a fatal shooting. He is 45.
© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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Comment (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/education/articleComments/Teen-shot-by-Northside-officer-identified-813859.php?gta=commentlistpos#commentlistpos) left on the above article, "Teen shot by Northside officer identified (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&start=15#p403720)" (by Eva Ruth Moravec; Nov. 15, 2010; San Antonio Express-News)
512-220-2427 · 10:57 AM on December 17, 2010
"fearing for his life", well as a supposed veteran police officer this officer knows all the "catch phrases". As a former law officer, now school teacher, I have made significant changes inmy views & interactions with youth. For one, I know that my employement duties end,when the student is off campus. Too bad for this teen that this officer decided to take matters into his own hands instead of waiting for backup. If the child is inside a shed, just wait him out. Also, consider where you are and the type of students you will encounter. An alternative school means children w/behavior issues - that's why they get assigned to this school.It doesn't take a genius to know that these type of kids push the limits & typically have authority issues too. So sad that the school admistrators provide such inadiqaute training to insure that our kids make it home afterschool.
© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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San Antonio Express-News
In teen's shooting, how did we get here? (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/In-teen-s-shooting-how-did-we-get-here-814738.php)
Veronica Flores-Paniagua: It should not have taken three days for officials to release the name of the Northside Independent School District police officer who last Friday shot and killed a 14-year-old boy.
By Veronica Flores-Paniagua
Published 09:35 p.m., Monday, November 15, 2010
It should not have taken three days for officials to release the name of the Northside Independent School District police officer who last Friday shot and killed a 14-year-old boy.
In explaining its decision not to publicly release - until Monday - the name of the officer, NISD spokesman Pascual Gonzalez said the district wanted to protect Daniel Alvarado, a 16-year veteran, so he could have time to "deal with this very devastating incident." But imagine the trauma to the boy's family. Who protected them?
The litany of blame - and the list of questions - grow from there.
Derek Lopez shouldn't have run from Alvarado. (Already expelled from Northside schools, was the eighth-grader heading for more trouble?)
Alvarado, too, should have taken appropriate precaution before peering into a storage shed where the teen was hiding. (Why didn't he wait for backup?)
Lopez, whatever his faults or fears, should have responded in a more docile way to the officer's calls of "police, police." (Why didn't he simply call out that he was unarmed and that he was coming out with his hands up?)
Alvarado shouldn't have drawn his gun. (He told investigating officers that he witnessed Lopez delivering a backhand slap to another boy. For this, was the use of deadly force necessary?)
Lopez shouldn't be dead. (How did we get here?)
Even in hang-'em-high Texas, many still have the decency to feel deeply troubled by what happened in that far-West Side backyard Friday. For some, it's still unnatural for a teen to be shot dead by a cop, even with the proliferation of gun-toting school district police departments in the past 20 years. But was this really so unforeseeable?
Those who follow the so-called "School-to-Prison" pipeline, the euphemism used to describe the growing reliance on school district police to do what educators did themselves not so long ago, suggest that a confluence of circumstances led to Friday's incident.
"You put a ton of enforcement, and what are they going to do? Enforce things," said Lisa Graybill, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, which last month hosted a seminar on use of school district police. In other words, what once brought after-school detention now invites harsher punishment. What once prompted an assistant principal to haul a kid into the office now has the medical examiner performing an autopsy on an eighth-grader.
"We're headed in the wrong direction, and as a result this kid is gone," Graybill said.
Use of deadly force by school district police officers is, fortunately, uncommon in San Antonio. A check of Northside, North East and San Antonio school districts, the city's three largest, revealed only two incidents that officials could recall. Friday's was one and another, about five or six years ago, involved an SAISD officer and an adult car-burglary suspect who wasn't a student.
Graybill isn't dismissive of the dangers that some public school campuses are forced to deal with. Her mother once taught in a public high school, so she has a healthy respect for school discipline problems.
But surely there is a saner - and safer - middle ground. One that doesn't involve a gun. Or a dead 14-year-old.
[email protected]
© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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KSAT.com - San Antonio
14-Year-Old Shot, Killed By Police Officer Identified (http://http://www.ksat.com/news/25797958/detail.html)
Northside Independent School District Officer Shot Teen After Chase
POSTED: Monday, November 15, 2010
UPDATED: 6:44 pm CST November 15, 2010
(http://http://www.ksat.com/2010/1116/25803379_240X135.jpg)
SAN ANTONIO -- The Bexar County Medical Examiner's office has released the identity of the 14-year-old boy who was shot and killed by a Northside Independent School District police officer on Friday.
VIDEO News coverage: Watch Stephanie Serna's 5 PM Report (http://http://www.ksat.com/video/25802523/index.html) | Watch Isis Romero's 6 PM Report: Derek's Mother Speaks Out (http://http://www.ksat.com/video/25803466/index.html)
According to the medical examiner, Derek Lopez, 14, was killed by a single gunshot wound fired by Officer Daniel Alvarado, 40.
The shooting happened shortly after 4 p.m. Friday in the Santa Fe subdivision, located on Roswell Canyon, near the intersection of Highway 151 and Potranco Road.
According to the report, which was released on Monday, Alvarado was patrolling the neighborhood and saw Lopez assaulting someone. Alvarado began chasing Lopez on foot through the neighborhood, but "lost sight of him."
A witness reported the teen was in a backyard at a house on Roswell Canyon.
The officer didn't see him at first, but "approached the storage shed to search further for the suspect announcing several times 'Police, Police.'"
The report also stated that the "(Lopez) lunged through the doorway at (Alvarado), intentionally knocking the shed door into (Alvarado's) face."
The report further details that "fearing for his life, (Alvarado) discharged one round striking (Lopez) in his torso."
Gonzalez said Monday that Lopez had been expelled from Pease Middle School and then from from a Northside alternative school and was attending the Bexar County Juvenile Justice Academy.
"My son didn't deserve that ... he was a good kid," said Denise Moreno, Lopez's mother. "He was very good. Everybody who knew my son knew that he was a loving kid and he did for everybody, so I don't appreciate anything bad that they're saying about my son."
Moreno said she has not been given a lot of details about the shooting and has not had a chance to view her son's body.
The San Antonio Police Department is investigating the shooting.
Alvarado has been with the Northside school district for 17 years and will remain on administrative leave until the investigation is complete.
The family is planning a rosary for Lopez at Puente and Sons Funeral Home. He will be buried on Saturday.
Reporters Stephanie Serna and Isis Romero contributed to this story.
Previous Stories:
- Officer Shoots, Kills 14-Year-Old (http://http://www.ksat.com/news/25778915/detail.html)
©2011, KSAT - San Antonio
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Comments (http://http://www.ksat.com/news/25797958/detail.html#comment-97615615) left for the above article, "14-Year-Old Shot, Killed By Police Officer Identified (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=403827#p403783)" (by KSAT News staff with Stephanie Serna and Isis Romero; Nov. 15, 2010; KSAT), #s 1-25:
ldsok · 9 months ago
another tragedy because of inattentive and irresponsible parents...poor kid
Guest · 9 months ago in reply to ldsok
This comment was flagged for review.[/list]
ldsok · 9 months ago in reply to Guest
sad situation all around...14 geez...
navychic · 9 months ago in reply to Guest
What do the democrats have to do with the hypothetical looser dad? A bit random, don't you think...?
Guest · 9 months ago in reply to navychic
This comment was flagged for review.[/list]
navychic · 9 months ago in reply to Guest
Whatever. Sounds like the long way around to reaching a soap box. I didn't read anything about this kid's parentage or even that he is black-just troubled-I mean "at risk". Republicans must be handing out crystal balls with the democrat bashing propaganda...missed mine. maybe cuz i'm not white...or wealthy...or a man.
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Guest · 9 months ago in reply to navychic
I see the facts bear me out. It is a burden at times being right all the time.
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big_pun · 9 months ago in reply to Guest
You sir are a moron, this has nothing to do with politics
Guest · 9 months ago in reply to big_pun
It has everything to do with politics. Policy. Values. Standards. Accountability. Education. Responsibility. All things that are contrary to the democRAT code of conduct. You rely on stupid shallow minded people. Dependence is the wellspring of you tards. There is a political slant on everything.
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DL2brother · 9 months ago in reply to ldsok
how would you feel you go to pick your child up from school no where to find them and next thing you know homicide officers are your door step? His mother picked him up everyday after school! Regardless of what went wrong to cause this whole tragedy the officer had no right to shoot and kill Derek. His mother and step father were very involved in his life. I know of alot of freinds who raise theri kids the best they can and have ended up using drugs or ended up in jail... it has nothing to do with the way a child is being raised!!! and still dont know where they went wrong. so before you state that his parents were inattentive or irresponsible read your facts!!!!
timmer1001 · 9 months ago in reply to DL2brother
You know a lot of good parents who raised their kids the best they can then they end up in jail??? Do you see the irony in that?
the best they can is not good enough. This punk got what he deserved. I feel bad for the cop
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ldsok · 9 months ago
I know sad situation all around...
mart2001 · 9 months ago
Democrat social engineering? Please people say this 10 times, maybe you'll understand what it means: I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul
CISCOKID1 · 9 months ago
Texas3Step · 9 months ago
It is a sad situation, but if the kid was assaulting someone and then ran from the police, he dealt the play. This is sad for those who loved him, if anyone, and for the officer, who, no matter how justified, has to deal with the pain of having taken a young life.
David · 9 months ago
why would a cop has his gun drawn on a student?? makes no sense. At this point it doesnt matter if the kid had a father or not.....highly irrelevant and ignorant comment. just sayin...
jbjaybird1 · 9 months ago in reply to David
A student can kill just like any other pos. Most all thugs were "students" at one time or another. I feel bad for the young man and the officer. The young man lost his life but the officer will have to think about it for the rest of his life. So sad for both of them.
timmer1001 · 9 months ago in reply to David
The kid was a punk and he was violent and he assaulted the cop... of course the cop fires.
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big_pun · 9 months ago
This young boy was dealt a cruel life. No matter what ignorant things he did in life, he did not deserve to leave this earth yet. Contrary to what many may believe "he got what he deserved" this was just a child who did not have a full chance to grow up yet. One of the many reasons why officers at schools should not have firearms, it should be left up to the professionals. My heart goes out to his parents.
Beckster05 · 9 months ago
Why don't they say What really happend the Heroic story of Derek Fighting someone for Domestic Violence being put upon a Girl... That's why he assaulted that guy and then ran off when he saw the cop. That N.I.S.D. Cop seriously didn't need to end a Young man's Life the way he did, Don't they teach cops how to shoot??? Apparently not, they show them how to murder!!! And after searching Derek they Found NOTHING, No drugs or Weapons. But yet the N.I.S.D cop was being assaulted by Derek.
mentalmessiah1 · 9 months ago in reply to Beckster05
Well gee Beck! If this sh**head derek was soooo rightous ( as you depict him to be ) then why didn't he cooperate with the officer instead of running? Had he cooperated, he would still be here right? Yes he would. And who made this kid the Defender of the Abused? And they do teach them how to shoot...after all, he took the little bas*ard out with ONE shot didn't he?
True-Native-Texan · 9 months ago in reply to Beckster05
When a person chooses to flee a cop for any reason, that sure makes one wonder just what they are running from and what they are up to, then he hides in a shed?? Come on, are you really that nieve to think all this kid was doing was protect some girl from being assaulted but some other thug??? I would have thought the kid was smart enough to stick around, explain to the cop what was taking place (after all he had a witness supposedly) and have the cop pat him on the back and compliment him for doing the right thing. No, he takes off like a criminal, hides in a shed then kicks the door open trying to knock the cop off balance so he could run some more. Really smart punk!!
pedroandblue · 9 months ago in reply to Beckster05
You would think if this were the actual case, Derek would RUN to the Police Officer and explain the situation.
Wait he did run, but the opposite way.
Derek is the same type of kid that killed that taco vendor, viola barrios, and that other crazy kid who killed his mother and tried to cart her down the stairs.They all shared the same thing-violence.
timmer1001 · 9 months ago in reply to Beckster05
I am glad they teach the cop how to shoot. One shot, One win. We are all better off now
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Beckster05 · 9 months ago
Seriously what kind of Training do N.I.S.D cops get??? To just shoot or to Kill??? I don't get why the focus is mainly on the supposed Assault that was given to the Cop, but no one really focuses on the Heroic action of Derek fighting with someone for Domestic Abuse on a girl, and then after that he saw the cop and took off running. Regardless Derek's background , when he was searched he possesed NO WEAPONS and NO DRUGS. Honestly was this the best way to deal with a young man that stood against domestic violence and now won't ever see the light of day again.
©2011, KSAT - San Antonio
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Comments (http://http://www.ksat.com/news/25797958/detail.html#comment-97615615) left for the above article, "14-Year-Old Shot, Killed By Police Officer Identified (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=403827#p403783)" (by KSAT News staff with Stephanie Serna and Isis Romero; Nov. 15, 2010; KSAT), #s 26-50:
timmer1001 · 9 months ago in reply to Beckster05
Beckster:
Wasn't this punk kicked out of numerous schools and "attending" Bexar County juvenile academy? Yes, a stellar career for a good boy. Oh, wait, he was a local punk. I am glad this criminal was stopped at 14 rather than at 20 after he raped my daughter.
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cil492000 · 9 months ago
I'm sure Derek was just a confused altar boy/choir boy/boy scout on his way to help feed the poor.His rap sheet probably says it all.
Frances · 9 months ago
Why was an NSID cop patrolling the NEIGHBORHOOD? Even if the kid were such a miserable character something here does not compute.
True-Native-Texan · 9 months ago in reply to Frances
I don't know what SAPD's regulations are about these School security officers pulling off campus duty but this could have been his neighborhood and if the community was having theft and burglary problems, chances are he was keeping an eye on the neighborhood and was probably justified in doing so. When I was a deputy, I use to keep an eye on my neighborhood and I had every right to do so. The only thing the sheriff and constable required us to do was to check in and let them know if anything was wrong so our butts would be covered in case of something like this. You can be placed on duty immediately upon request from your superior officers, I had to do it a couple of times.
pedroandblue · 9 months ago in reply to True-Native-Texan
A Texas Peace Officer can arrest in any county in the state of Texas for all offenses except for traffic.
It was an offense within view and it is his literal duty to take action.
They are not security officers, they are actual TECLEOSE licensed Peace Officers. The same license SAPD, BCSO (except some deputies are not licensed PO's because they are detention officers) and other Police Officers are required to have.
Frances · 9 months ago in reply to pedroandblue
Thanks to those of you who were gracious enough to explain what I really didn't understand without calling me names.
pedroandblue · 9 months ago in reply to Frances
Frances don't be deterred by an occasional online-warrior. They are harmless to everyone and only harmful to themselves because they have to live with that misery. :)
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mentalmessiah1 · 9 months ago in reply to Frances
Francis...what doesn't compute is your lack of intelligence. School district patol officers are ALWAYS in the neighborhoods. Where do you think most of the schools are?
emergencyops · 9 months ago in reply to Frances
Patrolling for truants, perhaps. Like Texan said, the neighborhood could have been experiencing theft and burglary problems. Some school police officers are called upon by city police to assist them. Maybe SAPD requested an extra set of eyes and ears in the area surrounding the school. Sadly, the child was heading down the wrong path and it all came to an end in someone's backyard.
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pedroandblue · 9 months ago
The memoirs of Viola Barrios comes to mind when situations like this arise. It was a matter of time before the wanna-be politicians came in with ignorant comments. Thankfully they are not real politicians-only in their little minds.
True-Native-Texan · 9 months ago in reply to pedroandblue
Whether we like it or not, politics plays a big part of such tragedies as this, if politicians would get it out of their criminal minds that they know how to raise our children better than the parents do and start leaving the raising of kids in the hands of parents, not teachers and politicians, then you could blame the parents. Instead, we have everyone raising kids today besides the parents and threatening parents with prison or fines if they use corporal punishment on a child or in any way deprive the kid of any of his toys when he does something bad and gets in trouble. If the governmet wants to take over raising our kids, then they are the root of the fault of how these kids turn out, get off the backs of the parents, you can't have it both ways you moron politicians.
That is my feelings to where politics fit into these bad situations, maybe you have a different view, if so lets hear it, ok? We have given government way too much say so and control over our lives and decision making, this is the result as I see it.
pedroandblue · 9 months ago in reply to True-Native-Texan
TNT they do play a part in this situation, but not in an ignorant way as some have been protesting. I agree with your comment, but some of these other people are just loony tunes with the political sword.
I used to get whooped and it did me well. I made it passed 14. Heck I remember I used to get licks from the coach for getting a D while playing sports.
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i308i · 9 months ago
1) TEEN FLEES FROM THE POLICE OFFICER, 2) TEEN BREAKS INTO SOMEONE'S SHED, 3) TEEN SCUFFLES WITH POLICE OFFICER, 4) TEEN EXPELLED FROM SCHOOL...Well there you have it, I NOW KNOW HOW HIS PARENTS RAISED THIS TEEN.
jrod · 9 months ago in reply to i308i
He was a student at JJA Juvenile Justice Academy you got mess up a whole lot to get there!
deltadart · 9 months ago in reply to jrod
yep...JJA only accepts the "Best of the Worst " to attend thier campus!
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monimor · 9 months ago
I happen to work for a school district and let me tell you..these kids now a days are just horrible. These school district officers in Middle and High schools have to put up with alot. It's not just boys, the girls are just as bad. I am not saying that the officer had the right to shoot this boy but maybe the boy would still be here if he had not ran. Obviously, he was running because he had been in trouble already. It all goes back to the parents and how they raise kids these days. Parents: YOUR KIDS ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS! Teach them to respect adults and most importantly, teach them to break the cycle and do something with their lives.
Chico09 · 9 months ago in reply to monimor
Exactly, people are starting younger and a lot of what I've witnessed are parents that are just into their own lives and let their kids do whatever they want as long as the parents aren't bothered.
mentalmessiah1 · 9 months ago in reply to monimor
i308i · 9 months ago in reply to monimor
monimor: YOU HAVE THE RIGHT IDEA. However I don't see many family's who have Aunti's in Bel Air who would be WILLING to take in a THUG, a good kid yes. I am referring to the sitcom Prince of Bel Air (Will Smith).
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True-Native-Texan · 9 months ago
Because of such incidents as you had at Columbine High in Colorado, I would imagine schoold districts now have a different attitude about their campus police officers being armed. What good is a campus police officer when he has a can of mace and a night stick and you have a student or students pull off what these two did at Columbine. Columbine is just one single isolated example, there have been dozens across this country just in the past ten to twelve years. Do I like the idea of armed police officers on our school campuses, not really but do I want someone to be able to stop a drugged out gun blazing punk like those two at Columbine were.....absolutely!!! Society has created these problems, now we have to do what is necessary to control it and protect the overwhelming majority of our school kids. Like the ole saying goes.."I'd rather have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it". With the extremely high abuse of drugs today, we have to adapt and change policies to deal with it, armed security guards at our schools is unfortunately one of those changes so we might as well get used to it.
Chico09 · 9 months ago
Where are the parents in all this? I have a 14-yr-old boy and he does not and would not act like this. Sad that anyone can have a child, but so many choose not to be parents that nuture and care for their offspring. Sounds like this kid was headed down the wrong path and it ended before he could really do some damage.
big_pun · 9 months ago
So you're saying Officer Alvarado, a trained professional, who probably weighs 265 (give or take a few doughnuts) was unable to apprehend a 14 year old kid that he had to use brute force by killing him. According to the report Alvarado fired one shot in self defense, question is was he firing the shot to try and scare Derek Lopez or did he fire the shot to intentional hit him. I would like to personally see Officer Alvarado face the kids family face to face and explain how he killed their kid.
deltadart · 9 months ago in reply to big_pun
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big_pun · 9 months ago in reply to deltadart
It's nice to know that you support the act of murdering kids just because of his troubled past. I hope you don't have any kids of your own and if you do should something tragic like this happen to your kid one day I hope you suffer, or even more, than what his parents are going through right now.
pedroandblue · 9 months ago in reply to big_pun
Hate to say this but if the parents cared, they would have had that kid under control since birth and that kid would still be alive.
I have pitbull dogs and believe it or not, they are more trained and disciplined than most kids and that training comes from me, but dont assume I wouldn't put them down if they became a threat to myself or any other person.
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©2011, KSAT - San Antonio
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Comments (http://http://www.ksat.com/news/25797958/detail.html#comment-97615615) left for the above article, "14-Year-Old Shot, Killed By Police Officer Identified (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=403827#p403783)" (by KSAT News staff with Stephanie Serna and Isis Romero; Nov. 15, 2010; KSAT), #s 51-75:
pedroandblue · 9 months ago in reply to big_pun
Big_pun you have to understand and I stress the word "understand". It is ones personal choice to have children or animals, but for others that cannot have children and opt not to adopt they turn to pets for companionship.
This is where the "responsibility" as for ANYTHING that is capable of doing harm comes into play. The problem with you is you assume, then not want to assume. You have to make up your mind which side of the fence you are on-but at the end of the day it is my right to "assimilate" dogs and kids being the same because I know for a fact my dogs are worth more than that kid that killed Viola Barrios, better than those parents who buried their children under a home. So tell me something factual that way you will not have to assume, then not assume.
deltadart · 9 months ago in reply to big_pun
LOL...big-pud...it's because of pathetic little germs like you is why more and more trailer parks are going up. If this kid had beat the s*it out of your kid (like he's done to many others) you would be on the other side of the fence. And I do have kids...none of which have EVER been foolish enough to do anything like this...why? because I raised them to respect figures like teachers, police officers, etc... So, again, get back to your trailer and be quiet.
thejugfather · 9 months ago in reply to big_pun
you know i work with kids day in and day out...and it pains me to say this but there are those that you can look in their eyes and know that there is no saving them. they are taking up space and shuffleing through the system and buying time when they can drop out and start their real careers as hard core criminals. sad but true so drop the holier than thou routine because some people put up with these little hooligans EVERYDAY and you better bet your bottom dollar that we try everyway to save them but there are some that just don't WANT to be saved or could care less what you say or how much you try!
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timmer1001 · 9 months ago in reply to big_pun
I am glad Alvarado is a good shot. He deserves a medal and our appreciation
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Beckster05 · 9 months ago
Wow amazing how Cruel society can really be!! Many of ya'll seem to be Ok with the fact of a Troublesome 14 year old loosing his life, UNBELIEVABLE. Like I mentioned before regardless his background history , he deserved to live his life just like any so called Criminal. We pay taxes for them Child Molesters, Women Rapist, and just plain cold killers to live in a cell for the rest of their lives, but let me get this straight, It's ok for a 14 year old to be shun away forever from ever becoming something in life and having that chance to turn his life around??
Guest · 9 months ago in reply to Beckster05
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thejugfather · 9 months ago in reply to Guest
and you? you must be a plain old idiot!
what did your post have to do with ANYTHING i said OR what the person siad above me? do us all a favor and go back and bury your head in the sand.
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True-Native-Texan · 9 months ago in reply to Guest
You liberals love Hitler apparently, your always bringing up his name. You know how to the "heil hitler" salute too?
Guest · 9 months ago in reply to True-Native-Texan
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True-Native-Texan · 9 months ago in reply to Guest
No actually my grandpa would have shot morons like you because of the uniform you were wearning...kee it up greezer.
timmer1001 · 9 months ago in reply to Guest
Sausages are really good.
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True-Native-Texan · 9 months ago in reply to Guest
You liberal morons love that name don't you, your always bringing it up on these sites. You know how to do the "heil hitler salute" yet?
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Vidal · 9 months ago in reply to Beckster05
If anything the school should invest in non-lethal ways to apprehanend suspects in expample tazor,rubber bullets. Or they should retrain the police officers on rules of engagment. If there was no weapons why was a shot fired? I think the school should invest on keeping accidents like this from happening
theone1tocall · 9 months ago in reply to Vidal
what do u know bout non lethal weapons
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Beckster05 · 9 months ago
Wow amazing how Cruel society can really be!! Many of ya'll seem to be Ok with the fact of a Troublesome 14 year old loosing his life, UNBELIEVABLE. Like I mentioned before regardless his background history , he deserved to live his life just like any so called Criminal. We pay taxes for them Child Molesters, Women Rapist, and just plain cold killers to live in a cell for the rest of their lives, but let me get this straight, It's ok for a 14 year old to be shun away forever from ever becoming something in life and having that chance to turn his life around??
timmer1001 · 9 months ago in reply to Beckster05
Why did he deserve to live exactly? He became all he could be come.. a scumbag punk
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Cozmo · 9 months ago
Unfortunately kids do not know what consequences are anymore, maybe his parents don't either. Whatever his situation, it doesn't seem as if his parents were trying to help him. As for the cop, he has to live with it, his decision had to be made in a split second and now he's dealing with the consequences of his actions.
i308i · 9 months ago
WOW I AM SPEECHLESS! Just saw this kids mom on KSAT12. She's crying to the camera's PROCLAIMING her son was "GOOD BOY". I wonder what HER DEFINITION of a "BAD BOY" is?
mentalmessiah1 · 9 months ago in reply to i308i
Well of course he was!! Thats why he was expelled and was going to JJA!!
Guest · 9 months ago in reply to i308i
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pedroandblue · 9 months ago in reply to Guest
Sheesh man, look beyond the denial and realize the facts. How much more evidence do you need to show this kid wasn't exactly UTSA material? He couldn't even muster PUBLIC SCHOOL without getting in trouble and expelled TWICE!
You can get upset and try and validate this kids history, but how can you doubt he didnt attempt to assault the officer when he was already involved in an assault which created this whole incident.
The kid learned this from somewhere and I am willing to bet alot of it came from home.
True-Native-Texan · 9 months ago in reply to pedroandblue
I agree with ya 100% on this one pedroandblue.
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©2011, KSAT - San Antonio
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Comments (http://http://www.ksat.com/news/25797958/detail.html#comment-97615615) left for the above article, "14-Year-Old Shot, Killed By Police Officer Identified (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=403827#p403783)" (by KSAT News staff with Stephanie Serna and Isis Romero; Nov. 15, 2010; KSAT), #s 76-100:
Guest · 9 months ago in reply to Guest
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True-Native-Texan · 9 months ago in reply to Guest
Your sure seem to be hung up on that "nazi" bs, you sure must have a deep love for the organization. I didn't really know there were Mexican Nazi storm troopers, guess I was wrong, huh?
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Guest · 9 months ago
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lakers7 · 9 months ago in reply to Guest
I have to agree with the conservative Klan here.
He was basically a Punk with no respect for authority.
We may disagree but you have to draw the line somewhere and trying to take a gun or even taking on a Cop is complete disregard for authority.
Guest · 9 months ago in reply to lakers7
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lakers7 · 9 months ago in reply to Guest
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True-Native-Texan · 9 months ago in reply to lakers7
Things like this should not be a liberal/conservative issue, right is right, wrong is wrong and criminals are still criminals, no matter who they are, their color or their ethnic background. Those things have nothing to do with politics or political views.
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mountainsurf · 9 months ago
SURE ENOUGH- My wife was at UTSA and the "hunger strikers" are back claiming 6 days! What a joke, they were no where to be seen over the weekend. So I take from this that illegals are also liars and frauds
True-Native-Texan · 9 months ago in reply to mountainsurf
My neice lives with us and she is attending UTSA and she also feels most of these are illegals themselves and are just trying to stir up trouble. I think somebody should call ICE or the border patrol and have their green cards checked, probably don't even have any. It's always law breakers who want the laws changed in their favor, huh?
i308i · 9 months ago in reply to True-Native-Texan
THE SYSTEM IS BROKE: REMEMBER THIS STORY?June 10, 2009, KSAT12 ran this story, WHY WAS SHE NOT ARRESTED, DEPORTED AFTER BEING INTERVIEWED BY THE MEDIA? 5 will get you 10 she is STILL IN OUR country ILLEGALLY.....Deportation Delayed For St. Mary's Grad
POSTED: Wednesday, June 10, 2009
UPDATED: 4:42 pm CDT June 10, 2009
SAN ANTONIO -- A St. Mary's University graduate who faced deportation has been granted a continuance by a federal immigration judge.
Benita Veliz, an undocumented immigrant, was born in Mexico and brought to the United States when she was 8 years old. She was detained during a January traffic stop revealed her immigration status.
"My story is ... just sometimes I look at other people and I think, they are so much more deserving to have the opportunity to get a green card, but in representation of them, I would say don't give up, fight for the DREAM act," she said. "This is the year that I really believe that it can happen."
Veliz, a valedictorian at Jefferson High School and an honors graduate from St. Mary's University earlier this year, said she was hoping for a continuance to buy enough time for Congress to pass the DREAM Act (S.729), a bill that would allow undocumented immigrant students who have grown up in the United States to apply for temporary residency status and eventually become a citizen with college attendance or military service.
"As we got closer to June, I was more anxious and more scared about what the decision could be, but knowing now that I have three additional months will be extremely helpful," Veliz said.
When asked why she hadn't previously applied for residency, Veliz referred questions to her attorney, who declined to comment. Supporters have previously said that Veliz's undocumented status prevented her from applying for residency
pedroandblue · 9 months ago in reply to i308i
This is just part of the problem. How many Islamic Middle Easterners are here without permanent residence? They get a VISA to come to USA and they setup a Store/Motel/Mosque and go about their business without being deported.
i308i · 9 months ago in reply to pedroandblue
TRUE, but to go on Television and admit they are here ILLEGALLY with NO FEAR of deportation, this just chaps my grits. IN A PERFECT WORLD she would have been snatched up that same afternoon after her TV interview and SHIPPED BACK TO MEXICO.
True-Native-Texan · 9 months ago in reply to i308i
Yeah, you would think so huh? Think maybe UTSA has gotten on that "politically correct" bandwagon too?
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True-Native-Texan · 9 months ago in reply to pedroandblue
Obama brought in over 200 thousand of those ragheads from Palestine right after Israel bombed the hell out of them and without any background checks. Do you know what organizations most of those palestianians belong to....Hamas, Al Quida and the Taliban, now we got thousands of them here building bombs in their basements that are being paid for by the government....wonderful, huh? And people actually are stupid enough to wonder why everyone is concerned about this Kenyan born socialist?
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i308i · 9 months ago
June 10, 2009, KSAT12 ran this story, WHY WAS SHE NOT ARRESTED, DEPORTED AFTER BEING INTERVIEWED BY THE MEDIA? 5 will get you 10 she is STILL IN OUR country ILLEGALLY.....Deportation Delayed For St. Mary's Grad
POSTED: Wednesday, June 10, 2009
UPDATED: 4:42 pm CDT June 10, 2009
SAN ANTONIO -- A St. Mary's University graduate who faced deportation has been granted a continuance by a federal immigration judge.
Benita Veliz, an undocumented immigrant, was born in Mexico and brought to the United States when she was 8 years old. She was detained during a January traffic stop revealed her immigration status.
"My story is ... just sometimes I look at other people and I think, they are so much more deserving to have the opportunity to get a green card, but in representation of them, I would say don't give up, fight for the DREAM act," she said. "This is the year that I really believe that it can happen."
Veliz, a valedictorian at Jefferson High School and an honors graduate from St. Mary's University earlier this year, said she was hoping for a continuance to buy enough time for Congress to pass the DREAM Act (S.729), a bill that would allow undocumented immigrant students who have grown up in the United States to apply for temporary residency status and eventually become a citizen with college attendance or military service.
"As we got closer to June, I was more anxious and more scared about what the decision could be, but knowing now that I have three additional months will be extremely helpful," Veliz said.
When asked why she hadn't previously applied for residency, Veliz referred questions to her attorney, who declined to comment. Supporters have previously said that Veliz's undocumented status prevented her from applying for residency
thejugfather · 9 months ago in reply to i308i
WHO CARES!
and what does that have to do with the topic at hand....moron
i308i · 9 months ago in reply to thejugfather
@ thejugfather: my bad, was meant for T-N-T , we had a discussion going on not related to this story. ( LOL on the moron reference)
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Sumerian_Man · 9 months ago
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cheetoh15 · 9 months ago in reply to Sumerian_Man
There is NOTHING that this boy, and that's what he was a boy, did that deserved a bullet in the chest. Maybe if he had just killed somebody or had come out holding a gun but none of that was the case. There had to have been something different that this police man could have done. To Derek's Mom, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
thejugfather · 9 months ago in reply to cheetoh15
this "boy" was caught assulting another person and fled from police!?! what about that DOESN'T justify what he got?!? sapd shoot people for WAY less than this "boy", as you call him. he was OBVIOUSLY( just look and the photo of him) a gang banger and had already been EXPELLED from middle school. trust me he wa NOT on his way anywhere but jail or the morgue!
BlueIon · 9 months ago in reply to cheetoh15
Yeah would have been nice if the school police had a taser to use as less force, but the school system doesn't allow the police to carry a taser. So a gun s all they have to control an assault. Blame the school. The police man did his job. The job he's been doing for 17 years.
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Guest · 9 months ago
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thejugfather · 9 months ago in reply to thejugfather
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thejugfather · 9 months ago in reply to Guest
and you are the leader of the bury my head in the sand and let these little dirtbags run the city club!
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©2011, KSAT - San Antonio
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Comments (http://http://www.ksat.com/news/25797958/detail.html#comment-97615615) left for the above article, "14-Year-Old Shot, Killed By Police Officer Identified (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=403827#p403783)" (by KSAT News staff with Stephanie Serna and Isis Romero; Nov. 15, 2010; KSAT), #s 101-125:
It's A Fact Jack · 9 months ago
60% of all tweets come from third-party apps,,,fact
Guest · 9 months ago in reply to It's A Fact Jack
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It's A Fact Jack · 9 months ago in reply to Guest
How hard is it to comprehend a fact to you? it's just a fact jack! and a fact is for you to like it or not. read some facts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! instead of some bull sh!t once in a while.Thank You!
Guest · 9 months ago in reply to It's A Fact Jack
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It's A Fact Jack · 9 months ago in reply to Guest
Fact: you are in denial with yourself as an aszman that loves to be poked in the end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! goodnight !!!
i308i · 9 months ago in reply to Guest
5 will get you 10 that terro8 is in FACT a 40+ year old single female, weighing in at 270 lbs, that has her eyebrows and lips tattooed. If she were good looking she would be 1) out clubbing, or 2) married, certainly NOT ONLINE on a MONDAY NIGHT AT 11:26PM, making all those hate comments towards the male bloggers.
Guest · 9 months ago in reply to i308i
It's A Fact Jack · 9 months ago in reply to i308i
Fact: On the reply last night I did not mean to post it on you.Fact: Wrong post so in fact I'm sorry! Thank You!
i308i · 9 months ago in reply to It's A Fact Jack
No apology necessary, I too on more than one occasion have posted a comment in error. I now wish to Thank you for your consideration in feeling you needed to apologize. It is refreshing to communicate with someone who is not using profanity & insults to get their point across. Have a Good Evening.
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pedroandblue · 9 months ago in reply to Guest
I just have one question. It is obvious you are a female due to the massive use of the word jerk, but I would like to know how you are related to the deceased. That is obvious as well-unless you are embarrassed to admit it I could understand.
Ok I will check in the morning for the response.
Thanks and goodnight all.
i308i · 9 months ago in reply to pedroandblue
I arrived at the same conclusion, however it was brought to my attention that I was incorrect. Boy/girl would be a more accurate description. Over the past few months I have observed family & fellow criminals come to the defense of their fallen CRIMINAL.
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pedroandblue · 9 months ago in reply to Guest
I could understand your inability to admit relationship because it is in your families blood to run and hide, but your comments betray you.
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MsBA · 9 months ago
My condolences go out to the family of this young child. Although very young in age, he seems to have had a bad record. Parents need to be more active in their child's life and maybe prevent an unfortunate situation.
CA · 9 months ago
A child is dead. A mother mourns. The only question I ask is, "Was all of this necessary?" was it necessary to chase a child that is not on school property? Yes there are many kids with disciplinary problems, but is death the suitable solution? I think active engagement is perhaps a better solution. Alternative schools are about as effective as the Justice system that often is a revolving door, which mainly ignores problems at hand. These problems are usually either medical or psychological. Thus people with drug convictions are not offered medical treatment, they are offered lockup, and often are mixed with hardened criminals that only worsens their situation. The same can be said about the Juvie system. It does not answer the medical issues these children often face, as there is no money to provide adequate care. Furthermore Americans voted to throw out Health Care reform. Thus children with medical issues are thrown into a system which often makes them worse. A system which often forces good kids with medical problems to fraternize with hardened criminals. Is this truly how you want your tax dollars spent? Children at this age are susceptible to quite a bit. The first often is acceptance from a group. In this community I would assume it would be a gang of some sort. They seek something they lack. Many who join gangs seek a family acceptance that they feel they do not have. Many single mothers have a hard time raising such children as they do all they can, but they children still look for a father figure, which gangs often seem to fill adequately. Psychological programs such as mentoring programs often provide an viable alternative. Such programs can often utilize children's interests as means of gaining their trust. In every instance there are those who are part of the solution, and those who are part of the problem. I would like to think of myself as part of the solution. in closing, although you can lead a horse to water, it is impossible to force that horse to drink. Thus, I can impart knowledge to you, but what you do with it is entirely up to you. My two cents
Catalina36 · 9 months ago in reply to CA
All of these programs you mention already exist and they don't cost taxpayers anything. We call it parenting.
Texas3Step · 9 months ago in reply to CA
The officer chased the kid because he caught him in the act of assaulting someone. The little angel was already in the system. Perhaps he could have turned his life around; we all hope the young ones do, but this boy attacked someone else, and he fought the cop. He knew those things were wrong, but chose to do them anyway. It is a shame that he was shot, but he dealt the play.
john17000 · 9 months ago in reply to CA
Oh please money to help these kids. all it would take is for the fathers that breed these little devis is to step up and take care of their kids and the mother she let him run the streets, well he met his fate, you play in the field and a snake might bite you. thank god the taxpayers do not have to pay to house this thug throughtout his life in the penal system.
Guest · 9 months ago in reply to CA
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©2011, KSAT - San Antonio
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Comments (http://http://www.ksat.com/news/25797958/detail.html#comment-97615615) left for the above article, "14-Year-Old Shot, Killed By Police Officer Identified (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=403827#p403783)" (by KSAT News staff with Stephanie Serna and Isis Romero; Nov. 15, 2010; KSAT), #s 126-150:
Billy · 9 months ago
Everyone that has comments about this story whether you are for it or against it. "TURN" it the other way around. If the officer was shot by the 14yr old what would you say???
Sumerian_Man · 9 months ago
terro8 has a feeble mind and can't comprehend that these little thugs just progress to worse crimes as they get older and cop killing. He especially hates when he is wrong (which happens every time he makes or responds to comments. He fell out of the stupid tree and hit every branch on the way down
lakers7 · 9 months ago
This comment was flagged for review.[/list]
john17000 · 9 months ago in reply to lakers7
AMEN TO THAT, IT JUST SAVED THE TAXPAYERS A LOT OF MONEY.
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Mrhu1 · 9 months ago
yes bad kid blah blah, so now they could
go kill all 14 yr olds with bad records. Or
forgetting the fact that either their armed
or unarmed. yes NISD will say that a17
yr veteran follows policys, and yell police!
17 yrs at a job you need a reason to fire
a weapon. we people that commented
weren't there if he followed rules and procedures.
the bottom line he shot an unarmed suspect.
Mrhu1 · 9 months ago
And by the way police get paid for the responsiblities.
they get paid to know when to shoot. Or
use deadly force.
jrod · 9 months ago
In order to end up at the Juvenile Justice Academy (JJA) you got mess up bad and repeatedly. Thats means you blew a 3rd and 4th chance at regular school. You messed up 3rd and 4th chance at alternative then you end up at JJA. The whole way making the teaches and staff misserable.
Rabble_Rouser_Extraordinaire · 9 months ago
A terrible thing for both parties. Best wishes and prayers to all.
big_pun · 9 months ago
It's amazes me how all these NISD employees are coming on here and bashing this 14 year old kid. Remeber after all his is still a kid no matter how bad his record is or how big his appearance may seem. Where's your compassion and sympathy for your job. I'm assuming all you that are siding with the officer are also setting precedence for child abuse. What happen to the days when teachers really cared about students no matter how bad they were.
lenny66 · 9 months ago
KSAT. You are getting as bad as WOAI on your personal censorship issues. My post was not derogatory or disrespectful. I stated my personal perspective on this issue and you removed my post. If you are going to be doing this, might as well just stop asking for readers input on any story. Thanx for nothing. Lenny66
shadeth · 9 months ago
News Flash to the mom: "good kids" don't run from the cops.
john17000 · 9 months ago in reply to shadeth
Good kids don't get kicked out of all these schools either. No wonder he is in trouble, If this is the mom's example of a good kid ,then no wonder he got into trouble, with a mother that stupid, HELLOOOOO MOM WAKE THE HE** UP. Where is the daddy in this? IN JAIL?
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vinnie1 · 9 months ago
I don't think that this child -- yes, he is still a child -- intentionally wanted to hit the officer in the face with the shed door. And even IF he was trying to hit him with the door that put the officer in fear for his life? Obviously the officer knew that this CHILD was UNARMED since he had already witnessed him assaulting someone. And what I don't understand is why couldn't the officer have shot him in the leg or arm and not the torso? I have seen PLENTY of SCHOOL "POLICE" and many of them do not seem well trained . . . . in anything. My condolences to this boy's family. May your son rest in peace.
sainsanantonio · 9 months ago
"Good Kid?" Apparently not.
Yes, I feel bad he died but the officer had the right to defend himself. Also, if he is such a "good kid" as his mother puts it, then why was he expelled from Middle School AND then from an alternative school? This is a great example of this type of parents with their bleeping head stuck in the sad and just don't have a clue.
lakers7 · 9 months ago in reply to sainsanantonio
Ditto...
We wouldn't even be on here or this articule of him if he was a good little boy.
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lakers7 · 9 months ago
One more time
Still a Thug, Punk, and Trouble maker.
ONE LESS OFF THE STREETS
love44 · 9 months ago
Its hard to believe that there are so many cold hearted people in this world that dont stop and think that this CHILD that you are speaking of has a mother ,father and family that does love him no matter what circumstances the CHILD may have as we would do with all of our loved ones. Judgment is only to be brought by one person and that is NONE of us. It saddens me that just because your child may not have the same issuses as this CHILD you are quick to judge someone elses CHILD. So for any negative comments shared I pray for you just as much as I pray for the family for you not know what you say until your judgement day comes!
jbjaybird1 · 9 months ago in reply to love44
So you are saying that it is just fine for this poor young man to go around beating up other kids and then trying to kill a police officer. PRAY all you want - it will do no good because there is really no one to hear you.
lakers7 · 9 months ago in reply to love44
I think this Punk's Judgement Day came and went.
And God was watching
True-Native-Texan · 9 months ago in reply to love44
Well bless your bleeding liberal tree hugging heart.
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Tony · 9 months ago
I hate the fact that a kid was shot in this. If I were to have children, I would cry for my little baby, too. I carried him in my arms, after all, when he was little. He was so loving!
However, none of this love matters out in the real world. I don't like the fact he was shot, but in today's world, ANYONE could be carrying something deadly. If I were to be a police officer, I would not want to be killed, regardless of the criminal's age. The kid could've gotten a MACHETE from the shed and could've killed the cop. The cop did not know the rap sheet of this kid, so that was not a factor in the shooting. The cop was fearing for his life.
As for the family, I have questions: Why was this kid expelled? You know, you don't get expelled for little bad things; I'm sure he did VERY bad things. Why didn't the family do anything to stop him from doing bad things. Why was he removed from an alternative school? What the heck did this kid do to be removed from a school dedicated to straighten him out? It seems he was way out of control, even for alternative school staff! For him to go to a Juvenile Detention Academy?? Whoa!! Where was the family? Where were the parents? Didn't the family see this coming? What happened, mom? I know you cry for his death, but why did your son do to be given chance after chance, but to no solution, other than a detention academy? Why didn't you do something??
Alot of us say "good riddance" because we work HARD for our small possessions, only to be stolen by a kid like yours. I grew up poor and worked my way up. I wouldn't want your kid to be stealing what I worked hard for, and it looked like he was headed that way (to being a burglar). Where were you, mom, to straighten him up? Social programs work, but they ONLY work if he has the support at home. For him to go from school to school, it seems as if the family spared the rod all this time. I'm sorry for your loss, but you knew his death was going to come; it was just a matter of WHO would be the one shooting him. Unfortunately, it happened to be the cop getting blood in his hands.
Mrhu1 · 9 months ago
well these school police are sapd rejects
for A reason!!!
lenny66 · 9 months ago
To all those complaining about the negative comments I propose this question to you.
What if this "Little Angel" were beating up your "Little Angel" would you still be sympathetic to his case??? I think not. What if this "Little Angel" were breaking in to your tool shed to steal your lawnmower or weed eater, would you still be sympathetic to his case??? I think not. This "14 year old Angel" was removed from 2 different schools and placed in a court mandated school for "Troubled students", is this kid still on your "Christmas" list??? I think not. See it for what it is, if it didn't happen now it would happen later on and maybe your "Little Angel" would get caught up in his actions. No matter what Mom thinks and says about "Mejo", the boy was going nowhere fast. Good thing is an innocent bystander didn't go down with him. Wannabe gangsta no more!!!
TexJon · 9 months ago
Poor thing..he was kicked out of school, caught at a school campus he didnt belong to, beating another kid, then attacked a Police Officer and got shot..HMM obviously it was all a misunderstanding, he was trying to recruit the other kid for bible camp and he probably thought he saw a bee on the officers nose and was trying to kill it by slaming a door in his face. I regret th cop had to shoot this little thug, but if he would have obeyed the officer in the first place and not ran away he would have probably been at home with his mommy that evening after posting bail. When a cop with that much experience shoots someone its for good reason. So stop blaming the cop, that young man knew what he was doing and now his mother is left with a funeral bill....
Heather Smith · 9 months ago
This is a classic case of denial! The little thug was expelled from school, kicked out of an alternative school, and forced to go to a juvenile academy because no reputable school would have him. Then the mother is going to claim he "was a good boy". Perhaps she and Jeffrey Dahmer's mom should have tea. The boy obviously evaded arrest and then ran into a shed - a tool shed - then came out like a bucking bronco. He knew there was an officer standing there - so acting like he didnt mean to hit him with the door is just further denial. Now lets look at where the boy was hiding - a tool shed - knowing the boy had already assaulted someone, evaded arrest and then kicked a door in an officers face - the officer is lucky the boy didnt stab him with a machete. I am so glad this is one less criminal on the streets. When my house is broken into and my jewelry is stolen - I dont care how old the criminal is. I just know he is a criminal. I am glad it was snipped in the bud now, before the boy committed rape or murder.
©2011, KSAT - San Antonio
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San Antonio Express-News
Two sides of teen emerge (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Two-sides-of-teen-emerge-814741.php)
Soon after authorities Monday publicly identified Derek Lopez as the student killed last week by a school district police officer, two starkly different portraits of the boy emerged: one repeatedly in trouble, the other loving and family-oriented.
By Eva Ruth Moravec and Michelle Mondo
Published 09:58 p.m., Monday, November 15, 2010
Soon after authorities Monday publicly identified Derek Lopez as the student killed last week by a school district police officer, two starkly different portraits of the boy emerged: one repeatedly in trouble, the other loving and family-oriented.
Lopez, 14, was shot to death Friday afternoon when he burst out of a shed where he was hiding and hit the officer in the face with the door in a yard on the far West Side, San Antonio police said.
Northside Independent School District Police Officer Daniel Alvarado, 40, was on paid administrative leave while the San Antonio Police Department investigates.
The teen's family said they have unanswered questions about why deadly force was needed against an unarmed teen. Lopez's mother, Denys Lopez Moreno, 35, cried as she talked about her son, saying he didn't deserve to die.
Family members said SAPD officers who told them about the death Friday wouldn't give them details and that the medical examiner's office also rebuffed their attempts to get information until Monday.
An aunt, Mishel Lopez-Renteria, 36, said the lack of information and Lopez's death was not only wearing on his mother but the whole family.
Alvarado, a 16-year NISD police veteran, is the first Northside officer to be involved in a shooting in the department's 25-year history, district spokesman Pascual Gonzalez said.
"Not only is this a tragedy for the Northside police officer who fired his gun, but this is a huge tragedy for that family, and we're sympathetic to their feelings and their circumstances," Gonzalez said.
Alvarado was driving on Hunt Lane in a marked patrol car Friday when he saw Lopez and another boy fighting at a bus stop outside the Northside Alternative High School at Santa Fe Ridge, Gonzalez said.
Both Lopez, who weighed 160 pounds and stood 5 feet 9 inches tall, and the other boy attended Bexar County's Juvenile Justice Academy and had been dropped off by an academy bus, officials said.
Witnesses told police that Lopez struck the other boy in the face with the back of his hand. Alvarado tried to detain the teen, who ran across the street and into the Trails of Santa Fe neighborhood, a police report states.
Shortly afterward, a homeowner in the 200 block of Roswell Canyon called 911 to report a possible burglary in progress when she spotted Lopez in her backyard, police said.
Alvarado searched the fenced-in yard but couldn't find the boy until he approached a storage shed on the side of the house.
He announced, "Police, police," several times before peering into the shed, where he saw Lopez crouching on the ground, according to the report. Lopez lunged through the shed's door, intentionally knocking it in Alvarado's face, the report said.
Alvarado, "fearing for his life," fired once and the bullet struck Lopez in the chest, the report said. The officer then conducted cardiopulmonary resuscitation until EMS arrived, police said.
Gonzalez said the SAPD investigation may be reviewed by the district attorney's office. If warranted, disciplinary action against the officer will then be taken, he said.
All 90 NISD officers must be certified Texas peace officers, Gonzalez said, and must respond to calls anywhere in their jurisdiction, which encompasses all the district's 355 square miles. Alvarado, like the department's other patrol officers, wasn't assigned to a particular school.
Alvarado's service record contains no complaints, Gonzalez said, and the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education show his peace officer's license has never been suspended or revoked.
Before he joined the Northside force in 1994, Alvarado spent 10 months working for the Leon Valley Police Department.
It was not clear if Alvarado was already familiar with Lopez, whose history of trouble at school began at age 9, according to officials.
Lopez was expelled from elementary school in April 2006, Gonzalez said, and spent the next few years in and out of alternative schools, traditional campuses and the county's juvenile academy. He had been disciplined for persistent misbehavior including possession and distribution of drugs, assault, theft and using profanity, Gonzalez said.
In September, he was expelled from Pease Middle School when he was arrested on a felony charge of graffiti on school property, according to David Reilly, Bexar County's chief probation officer. He was again sent to the juvenile justice center, officials said.
Lopez's aunt disputed the charge of distributing drugs, saying he was caught with a pill. She didn't know what kind. She said the family wanted to fight the charge but didn't have the money.
Family members said Lopez could talk back and did have trouble with a few other teens, but he wasn't a drug dealer, gang member or thug.
One of four siblings, he played baseball and basketball, took his younger cousins to the park to play on the swings and loved to help his grandmother cook, they said.
After reading Internet comments connected to previous stories and watching the news, the family said they do not know the boy being described.
"They're talking about my sister's son, my nephew, like he's a monster," Lopez-Renteria said.
The family said Lopez's older brother and a cousin had to be pulled out of school Monday because of the constant questions from their peers about the shooting.
"It's been very hard for them," said Patricia Jimenez, 45, another aunt.
Staff Writer Jennifer Lloyd contributed to this report.
© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc
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Here's a brief update from the same news source as the OP (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671#p403641)...
Well, I dunno... One backhand to the face, however inexcusable (or not) it may have been, somehow gets translated into "a fight":
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News 4 WOAI
Officer says he feared for his life when he shot teen (http://http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/Officer-says-he-feared-for-his-life-when-he-shot/M2okg7azAUep9Ndeg5allA.cspx)
Published: 11/16/2010 10:06 am
Updated: 11/16/2010 12:30 pm
SAN ANTONIO -- A Northside Independent School District police officer claims he feared for his life when he shot and killed a 14-year-old student last Friday.
NISD officials confirm that Derek Lopez was a student at the Bexar County Juvenile Justice Academy, where students go when they have been expelled from alternative school. Witnesses said NISD officer Daniel Alvarado tried to stop a fight between Lopez and another student. Officer Alvarado said he shot Lopez because he felt his life was in danger.
Alvarado remains on paid administrative leave while the San Antonio Police Department continues its investigation.
© 2010 Newport Television LLC
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"Witnesses said NISD officer Daniel Alvarado tried to stop a fight between Derek Lopez and another student last Friday."
Comments (http://http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/Officer-says-he-feared-for-his-life-when-he-shot/M2okg7azAUep9Ndeg5allA.cspx?p=Comments) left for the above article, "Officer says he feared for his life when he shot teen (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=403918#p403911)" (11/16/2010, News 4 WOAI), #s 1-20:
68
munchie - 11/16/2010 10:41 AM
Yes, watched the news last night and how the mama said he was such a "good boy". Yet reading between the lines this boy had been expelled from an alternative school and gets caught fighting. Glad Officer Alvarado is ok.
batman18 - 11/16/2010 11:38 AM
It is very sad this boy had to die, but if the officer was in danger and did his job it's gonna happen. I don't like to judge but the picture in the paper shows a pretty large boy for only being 14. Sounds like the ever present hispanic "machismo", and yes this does exist and yes I am hispanic too.
suncliffsa - 11/16/2010 11:54 AM
This is a sad story. However, in the news, the teenager's mother and grandmother say this kid was a good kid. It's parents like these who have their heads stuck in the sand and just don't have a clue. Wasn't he in an alternative school for something he did? So young and starting so bad.
baaros - 11/16/2010 11:54 AM
Ugh, so tired of these parents coming out and saying how good their child was etc etc etc. Funny how every time a crime happens involving a young teen or young adult the parents come on saying how good they are. Pretty sure if they were that good they wouldn't have been shot by an officer.
trutex - 11/16/2010 12:34 PM
And of course no dad anywhere anywhere in the picture. Boys need dads. The prisons are chocked full of males from single parent homes. But don't say anything or the Misandrists will go bat$hit.
felontracker - 11/16/2010 12:52 PM
Read THIS and try to dispute it... a future felon starting out at the age of 9.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_ ... 98319.html (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/teen_shot_by_northside_police_officer_identified_108198319.html)[/list]
nursshar1 - 11/16/2010 12:59 PM
any mother or grandmother is going to say that "he was a good boy". Why? Because to them, that is the only way they can ever see them. can you imagine looking at your child and saying that they are a bad person? I am not saying it is right, I am just trying to get people to pull back and look at it from another's perspective.
Jimkata - 11/16/2010 1:16 PM
Run at a cop, try to hit him with a door to knock him down, and then your family complains when he gets shot saying he was "a good boy"... His police record says otherwise... It's sad it came to this, but the kid got what he had coming... Obviously he had not learned a thing from his past troubles.
TheAngryOne - 11/16/2010 1:19 PM
another mother granma monster creation destroyed by society, the boy was not born this way, how sad he had to die this way.
jamdscott - 11/16/2010 1:31 PM
First my disclaimer: I wasn't there and I'm not the responding officer. Now, since when does a door swinging open hitting you upside the head warrant deadly force? Did the boy have a knife, a gun, or an object that could be used for blunt force trauma that could cause serious injury or death? Winging door or jumping at you?? C'mon man!!!! How about defensive tactics, pepper spray, whop with the ASP baton?? This is going to be a hard one for the officer to prove. Again, I wasn't there ot the officer--just asking the hard questions that will eventually come up before, during, and/or after the lawsuit.
wilkim45yes - 11/16/2010 1:33 PM
TO THE LOPEZ FAMILY: if you have any other kids, THE BALL IS NOW IN YOUR COURT. You CONTINUE to raise them in the same manner you raised Derek, then you SHOULD EXPECT THEM TO MEET THE SAME FATE!
sajoejoe - 11/16/2010 1:52 PM
Very Sad, The officer got hit in that face with the door stunned unaware of what was coming next and shot to protect himself. We know the boy had problems. The family knows what they did wrong in raising this boy. No dad, they can only blame themselves now. It;s called LOVE. A word that means so much, when put the phrase "I LOVE YOU". Say It
LisaPowers - 11/16/2010 4:10 PM
Ok - not saying this kid was Mr. Innocent, but since when to middle school cops carry guns? Maybe that's a bad idea to begin with. Surely Pepper Spray or a Tazer (yeah, I know, they hate those too, but they're better than bullets) would have been an better arming option?
sa mike - 11/16/2010 4:30 PM
I've noticed several posts mentioning the lack of a father coming forward. That says a lot about this young lads home situation. Yes he probably was a "good boy" from what his mom saw, but a boy growing up NEEDS a male influence and apparently that was lacking in his home. That said, a 14 year old with no obvious weapon should not be that great a threat to a 17 year police veteran. Pepper-spray, taser,police baton would have probably helped the officer subdue the boy. Alas, this is Texas where a handgun unfortunately seems to be the answer to a lot of social problems. Just my 2 cents worth...
euroboy - 11/16/2010 4:39 PM
This police officer "feared for his life"? What a big p****y!!!! He has no business being a police officer if he's afraid of being shot dead!!! That is part of the job...possibly being shot or killed!!! This bozo (and he's probably fat from donuts) couldn't handle a 14 year old!!?? I have a 14 year old and if anyone (even a cop) killed him, so goes the saying, "an eye for eye".
DunoNuthin - 11/16/2010 4:48 PM
Karma's a B, ylo.... Just because something terrible happened to your family, now you're wishing the same upon others? It's a vicious cycle. All I have to say about this, it if you fail to comply with the orders of a peace officer, and you attack them, don't expect to live to tell about it.
cher01 - 11/16/2010 5:09 PM
Whoa, this is getting really heated. The lack of a father in the home is not necessarly the reason this boy was the was he was. I was raised without a father, my kids are being raised without a father, and nothing like this has ever happened to my family. Yes, this boy had a lot of problems, and every situation is different, but come on people, bottom line is JOHNNY LAW KILLED A KID! But consider the source, he worked in Leon Valley for years. They are cold and heartless, just like Balcones Heights, Selma and all these other small towners. I say if he is allowed to stay with NISD, then he needs to be on desk duty and not allowed to carry a gun.
cher01 - 11/16/2010 5:16 PM
OOPS typo. *not necessarily the reason why this boy was the WAY he was
cher01 - 11/16/2010 6:23 PM
According to all the news reports I have been hearing about, that neighborhood keeps re-appearing. NISD busses being shot at with pellet/BB guns, not one but twice, who knows, now maybe it's a third time, and now this. Maybe it's the NISD police doing all the shooting Wow, sure am glad I don't live over there.
Nero14 - 11/16/2010 6:28 PM
Officer Alvarado is a great man. Although I never told him, he was a great role model thrught middle school , and even through high school. He was the main reason I chose to not do drugs and get into trouble, as he tought a small anti drug class we were require to take. Your a great officer, and I hope this does not effect your career too much. As someone who's life was directly changed from your mentoring, I will always hold you in high regard. Keep your head held high!
© 2010 Newport Television LLC
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Comments (http://http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/Officer-says-he-feared-for-his-life-when-he-shot/M2okg7azAUep9Ndeg5allA.cspx?p=Comments) left for the above article, "Officer says he feared for his life when he shot teen (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=403918#p403911)" (11/16/2010, News 4 WOAI), #s 21-40:
cons3rvative1 - 11/16/2010 6:31 PM
Nero14, your life wasn't the only life that was directly changed by this officer..
cons3rvative1 - 11/16/2010 6:32 PM
Nero14, your life wasn't the only life that was directly changed by this officer..
cons3rvative1 - 11/16/2010 6:34 PM
i think it is irrelevant whether this kid was a bad kid or not. the facts are that he was a child who was running and hiding.. that does not look like a dangerous situation that would call for any police officer to draw their gun and shoot to kill.
Geriniol - 11/16/2010 7:02 PM
As much as I hate to say it, this sounds like just another meth tale. It might not be, who knows, but when you get a bunch of stuff that doesn't make sense, it's almost always meth. The crack people just sort of lose their cool, but the meth folk, they freak out in bad ways, man.
simmons - 11/16/2010 7:16 PM
It's so true how things get changed on the news. They seem to show one side of the story and not the full story. They can ruin a persons life when they print stories about teens. Teen news should be off limits to the news. Especially when they print the names or the school they belong to. Everyone at that school then knows what happens and gissip starts spreading like wildfire. Stories change along the way and the truth is lost. Please have the news stop showing things about under age people. It just hurts others. I know you might not understand what I'm talking about, but from my experience, any news story about under age people causes an anger and hate in so many people, when they don't even know the facts.
TheAngryOne - 11/16/2010 8:43 PM
raisenofool - 11/16/2010 9:38 PM
raisenofool - 11/16/2010 9:42 PM
This individual was kicked out of a regular public school (not easy to do), kicked out of alternative school (also not easy to do), then placed in juvie which he was skipping out of when he was fighting with another kid. After that he is running from and fighting with an NISD officer. At what point should this individual be accountable for his own actions?
cons3rvative1 - 11/16/2010 9:52 PM
@raisenofool, this young junior high kids behavior history has no bearing on whether an officer has justifiable cause to shoot and kill someone, an unarmed junior high kid at that. the only person who needs to be held accountable for their actions in this murder is the police officer.
eltoro67 - 11/16/2010 10:22 PM
Whether this child was a poor student or not is irrelevant here. This story doesn't mention that this kid was armed with any kind of weapon. How can a well trained police officer feel his life is in danger from a 14 year old unarmed kid?
TheAngryOne - 11/16/2010 10:30 PM
sagicap - 11/16/2010 10:33 PM
Most parents don't want to admit that their child is a delinquent. What did we expect mom to say? Also, kids will show parents whatever side they want parents to see to keep things going in their favor, so they can get away with whatever is going on when mom is not at home. Bottom line, this kid had been expelled from school and alternative school. According to his district, he'd used up all his chances with them. Some people may not want the history to be waved around in this situation, but had he hurt the officer, it would've been brought up at his trial. 2 things I can tell you: this cop and the kid probably knew each other well because of that history and mommy's good little boy isn't what the rest of the world gets. He might have helped grandmother around the house, but when he walks away from the "security" of his home, he's got to pretend to be a man and walk the walk. Is it really that far of a stretch to say that he might have been armed, he was just in a violent situation right before the cop shot him. And how many stories do we have about sweet little middle schoolers that are armed, shoot at others or cause other problems? Those officers need to protect themselves. Middle school grade level/age doesn't disqualify them from being dangerous kids any more than having a 2 parent home churns out perfect little angel babies.
cons3rvative1 - 11/16/2010 10:42 PM
sagicap, do you realize how many kids fit into that little description you gave? shall we let all s.a. police have open season on all these 'delinquents'? no. this kids behavior should not be reason to use deadly force on any unarmed person. drawing a gun is one thing quite another to shoot and kill someone who isn't carrying any type of weapon. but i also agree with you that the cop and the kid probably knew each other. thinking the cop was trying to abuse his authority because this kid probably didn't respect him or something.
eltoro67 - 11/16/2010 10:58 PM
If this kid was armed the police officer would have definitely mentioned it. I'm sure it would help defend him in court and it is possible that they knew each other but the fact of the matter is, police officers get special training to handle situations like this. They don't just hire any idiot off the streets and give them a gun. Did he draw his gun because this 14 year old threatened his life? Did he panic and just shot the boy? If this kid knew the cop and didn't have respect for him is it possible the cop allowed his personal feelings get in the way? We can all speculate but if the boy was not armed it is very hard to believe the cop fired because he feared for his life from a 14 year old.
felontracker - 11/16/2010 11:13 PM
Keep in mind that this little 14 year old wasn't so little. Don't get fooled by the photo the family chose to give the media. Nice try though. This kid was 5'9" and 190 pounds.
cons3rvative1 - 11/16/2010 11:18 PM
@felontracker, size matters not. as long as the person was not armed there was not a justifiable reason to shoot to kill any unarmed person.
felontracker - 11/16/2010 11:18 PM
Apparently you (suni/mdvball) didn't read the mysanantonio.com story I linked in my earlier post. Just copy and paste the link to your address line it will take you straight there. This is coming from an interview with Northside I.S.D. Public Information Officer Pasqual Gonzales. This kid was kicked out of elementary school at the age of nine. Come on people...who gets kicked out of elementary school. Oh yea! a future felon. He has multiple arrests for assault and fighting. He has felony charges and/or convictions for graffiti and drug possession while attending alternative "Middle School" which was what had him sent to J.J.A. "Juvenile Justice" Academy...a state school for felons. He was recently kicked out of J.J.A. Come on folks! That is strait from the School District's go to guy. Next thing you're going to post is that Pasqual Gonzalez is a lier and also not telling the truth. This police officer did our city justice and saved us law abiding tax paying citizens a ton of money that would have been used to house, feed and try to rehabilatate this felon. Apparently you also did not understand the metaphore...pigs don't know pigs stink...or here's an easier one for you...birds of a feather, flock together... Still don't get it? I know, I know...they were only little felonies.
cons3rvative1 - 11/16/2010 11:23 PM
@felontracker, the police officer was chasing the kid because he had gotten into a fight..since when do kids fighting turn into cops drawing their guns on them.? how does that lead him to kill an unarmed person. in order for the cop to say it was self defense this kid had to have some type of weapon that the police officer felt threatened. but no, the gun was already drawn and ready to shoot at an unarmed person. this killing is not justifiable.
eltoro67 - 11/17/2010 12:00 AM
felontracker, I can't believe what you are saying about this kid. Whether he was taller than you or not he was still 14 years old. He may have been going down the wrong path but that still doesn't justify shooting him if he was unarmed. Whether you like it or not we have laws that protect them and if you choose to ignore those laws then you are no better than the criminals sitting in jail. You are definitely right about one thing, birds of a feather flock together. I'm wondering if you are related to this cop. I sincerely hope your job doesn't require you to carry a gun.
felontracker - 11/17/2010 8:02 AM
Please people, get your heads out of the sand. In my shed, I have a machete, pruning sheers, headge scissors, box cutters and an old lawn mower blade, a bag full of baseball bats, shovels, pitch fork and many other lawn tools. Any of those things could be used as a lethal weapon. This homeowner may very well have simular items in his shed. We already know that this kid kicked the door open striking the officer in the face. At that point, this officer may be disoriented and you not sure if this kid may have picked up any of this things while hiding in the shed. This kid was a little p.o.s. already well familiar with the legal system with two (2) felony charges already. Again read the mysanantonio.com article. They even comments from his probation officer about what a "GOOD BOY" he was. I could only hope to get a jury summons and be there for this officer. I totally back the BLUE. Again, if the homeowner would have shot this kid for burglary which is what he did the minute he entered the shed...you would have been cheering a win for the good guys. It is what it it.
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Comments (http://http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/Officer-says-he-feared-for-his-life-when-he-shot/M2okg7azAUep9Ndeg5allA.cspx?p=Comments) left for the above article, "Officer says he feared for his life when he shot teen (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=403918#p403911)" (11/16/2010, News 4 WOAI), #s 41-60:
Jimkata - 11/17/2010 8:51 AM
I'm with felontracker on this one... If you are hiding in a shed, the officer has no idea what kind of weapon you may have on you, or find in there. Like he said, tool sheds are usually full of makeshift "weapons". Doesn't matter that he was 14 years old. That's old enough to pull a trigger, stab, or beat somebody. My understanding is he was also large for a 14 year old. Bottom line is he threatened a cop who was holding a gun - STUPID. Here is something to think about too- story says he was shot in the chest. If he knocked the door open into the officer and then fled, wouldn't he have been shot in the back? He obviously was coming AT the officer.
MLZarazua - 11/17/2010 10:59 AM
Listening to all these comments, I can only believe that most of you siding with the "poor 14 year old" either acted just like him when you were young or have children just like him. Try working with students like this on a DAILY BASIS! They have no fear because momma and daddy will take care of whoever says their baby is doing wrong. They don't think twice about killing and dying. America has now come to this..making excuses for everything a child does wrong! Every action has a consequence and believe me, this boy was headed for trouble! The amount of time/paperwork/ etc. it takes to actually expell a student is tremendous! It doesn't just happen overnight! There was nothing good about the way this young boy was living, period!
cons3rvative1 - 11/17/2010 11:31 AM
jimkata, the size of any unarmed person doesn't matter. in order for this to be a justifiable homicide the teen would have had to have a weapon and he did not. this is murder plain and simple and san antonio needs to hold this bad cop accountable for his actions.
Jimkata - 11/17/2010 12:01 PM
@Cons3rvative - Sorry, but if you are concealing yourself in a shed, what else could you be concealing? How was the cop supposed to know he was unarmed? The kid apparently felt froggy enough to charge an armed police officer, I would have assumed he was armed as well...
come on people - 11/17/2010 1:03 PM
The person doesn't have to have a weapon for you to defend yourself. From what I gathered is the kid hit the officer in his face with the shed door then lunged at him. Officer training dictates that when you have to search a room/building/house for a suspect you are to have your weapon drawn for our own safety. Not with just NISD PD but with every PD. I have had to search buildings/homes/rooms for suspects, juvenile and adult, and I've always had my sidearm ready. Expecting an officer to search for a fleeing suspect and using rubber bullets, baton, taser, or pepper spray is putting the officer's life in danger. To the one comment that if the officer was scared to die and it comes with the job he should quit shows his real intelligence. Dying is not part of our job. Bottom line is the kid should have complied and none of this would have happened period! Whether he was bad or good. For all of you who think the officer should've done something different, think about this. Next time someone tries to carjack you, home invades you, or tries to do you harm take your own advice and see what happens and don't call us because we might to be mean to that person.
eltoro67 - 11/17/2010 1:05 PM
Again, this story doesn't talk about this kid having any kind of weapon. So I guess all of you that sided with the officer are saying that it is better to shoot anyone that could come out of a shed whether they have a weapon or not just to be on the safe side? This is absolute stupidity. felontracker, just because you have machetes, pruning shears, hedge scissors in you shed doesn't mean everyone else has the same thing but what if this homeowner has the same things in their shed too. Let's also assume that the person hiding in this shed is not a 14 year old but an extremely dangerous convict that escaped and is hiding there. You, nor the cop, nor anyone else knows if this convict is holding someone else in the shed with him. What if he was holding someone else against their will? What if he shoved the door at the cop and then threw out the hostage and because the the cop was disoriented (as you like to put it) just shoots because he feared for his life and kills the wrong person? What would you say then? There could be alot of "what ifs" here that could have completely changed the ending of this story but the facts still remain. This officer has 17 years experience as a cop. He knew someone was hiding in the shed. He knew this person was 14 years old. All the "what ifs" that anyone could bring up doesn't excuse the actions of the cop because of the facts. It is possible that this cop may have known he was dealing with a dangerous kid. That being the case, after he yelled out "police!" several times he could have stood outside the shed at a safe distance and waited for backup. Don't try to convince everyone that the cop had no choice. There were other choices to his actions. But in the end according to this report, he shot an unarmed minor and all the what if's that you can think of will not change those facts. Like you said, it is what it is.
Jimkata - 11/17/2010 2:47 PM
The kid may have been unarmed, but the police or military will teach you that when attempting to apprehend somebody, you assume they have a weapon until proven otherwise. This is how the term "suicide by cop" came to be - you pretend you have a weapon and threaten a police officer - bang - you're dead. Like was mentioned in a previous message, if the kid complied with the officer, he would still be alive. He did not.
eltoro67 - 11/17/2010 3:21 PM
Jimkata, what you are saying makes perfect sense....if you have been taught and disciplined by the military but military law is irrelevant here. Clearly this is a civilian matter. Your comment, "you pretend you have a weapon and threaten a police officer - bang - you're dead." How many really young innocent children with toy guns have died because of people like you that really believe this? There are many murderers, sex predators and robbers that have not complied in any way with civilian and military laws. Most of these dangerous convicts fully armed tried to fight their way through police, hurting other people in the process and guess what, alot of them are sitting in jail right now. ALIVE! Many of them have gone back to jail many times, alive. Because police officers used their extensive training and professionalism to properly handle those situations. No, one thing is very clear here, if this teenager was unarmed he did not have to die!
cher01 - 11/17/2010 3:29 PM
Something to think about...If this kid was armed, and as bad a human being as everyone is stating, don't you think instead of fist fighting, he would just blow this other person away????
Jimkata - 11/17/2010 4:05 PM
Eltoro - I'm not sure what your point is, besides the kid was unarmed. You wanna tell me how the officer was to know the kid was unarmed? I'm not talking about "military law", I am talking about the same procedures that are used by both the military AND the police when taking somebody into custody. I'm not talking about innocent children playing cowboys and indians in the yard either when talking about "suicide by cop". Furthermore, we are not talking about some innocent kid. He had a long criminal record that involves assault. He was involved in another assault (fight), that he fled from. He trespassed, and broke into a storage shed in order to hide from the police. The homeowner called the police to report him. When instructed to come out of the shed, he rushed the officer, hitting him in the face with the shed door. He apparently continued to come at the officer, since he was shot in the chest. These are not things an innocent, "good boy" does. When somebody in law enforcement tells you to do something, you comply. If the officer is wrong, you deal with it later. This kid did not comply, but instead took AGGRESSIVE actions that led to him being shot. It's too bad that it happened, but it was his own fault and not the police officer's.
eltoro67 - 11/17/2010 7:49 PM
I thought I made my point clear but I'll try again. The boy was not armed and he was shot dead. You claim it was the boy's fault that he got shot. I do not believe that officers shoot at everyone that charges at them when they are not armed. Again, there are bad people out there that have done worst than this kid and attacked cops with guns and knives and did not get killed. Cops have other means of incapacitating criminals than just shooting at them. You have another cop here saying there were other options. This cop knew he was in the shed. This cop knew he was 14 years old. If the cop did not know that this kid was armed or not why the hell would he risk getting close to the shed where this kid is already trapped in instead of waiting for back up? The kid was trapped and wasn't going anywhere. The cop's statement doesn't even say he killed him in self defense, he only says he was afraid for his life. How much clearer does this need to be? I'll say it again, this kid did not have to die.
raisenofool - 11/17/2010 7:52 PM
This kid was kicked out of public school, alternative school, and fighting while skipping out of juvie. That was before attacking a police officer. Now Mom backs him up saying he was a "good kid". What exactly is her definition of a "bad kid"?
raisenofool - 11/17/2010 8:08 PM
The officer going into a shed after a perpetrator DOESN'T KNOW whether he is armed or not at the time. Think about it. All of this became the kid's fault the second he chose to run from the officer.
wilkim45yes - 11/17/2010 11:39 PM
IGNORANCE runs ramped on this blog. Those of you who are STUPID enough to pursue an individual (AFTER he was assaulting a third part) without their weapon drawn when approaching a HIDDEN THREAT (tool shed) well there you have it. You will join the many Police Officers buried all across America who CHOSE DEATH over a COMPLAINT from a suspect, who CHOSE DEATH over being sued by a suspect. Those type of Officers have no business caring a badge & gun BECAUSE THEY ENDANGER fellow Officers with serious bodily injury and/or death! THOSE OFFICERS READING MY POST KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN, YOU MAY HAVE ONE OF THOSE OFFICERS ON YOUR SHIFT, and you can't wait for him to PROMOTE to get him off the street & behind a desk WHERE HE BELONGS.
19kilo - 11/18/2010 1:45 AM
I Dont feel bad that this has happened to this kid. But Something needs to be said about why did this officer use Excessive force? Come on now feared for your life he was 14years old and about what 110pounds soaking wet if you cant detain a person of that size you have no place on the police force? this is one of the many resones some or most people dont like calling the police to Respond to anything but then again its that one that ruins it for the others. Hope killing this boy makes you feel like a man!!! And i like it how people put Police officers on the same Playing feild as Our Service Men and Women just a point i wanted to make have a great day everyone.
DunoNuthin - 11/18/2010 7:39 AM
All these "what-ifs..." I'll throw a couple out there. "What if" the kid complied with the officer's orders to halt and surrender? "What if" the kid hadn't lunged at the officer? A bullet hole in the chest is a clear indicatror this kid wasn't running away at the time of the shooting.
Jimkata - 11/18/2010 11:32 AM
14 years old is old enough to know better than to do what he did.
eltoro67 - 11/18/2010 2:12 PM
Nobody is denying this kid did something wrong. No one is denying this boy committed a crime. We all understand this. What seems to be a problem for some people to understand is that this kid DID NOT HAVE TO DIE. Why is this so difficult to understand? If everyone that commits a crime is treated in the same fashion there would not be a need for detention centers nor jails. This cop knew this kid trapped himself in this shed. He could have waited for backup if he felt this kid could be armed and if he absolutely felt the need to fire why would he shoot to kill instead of shooting him in the arm or the leg when this kid was CLEARLY UNARMED? People that sided with this cop have not even tried to answer any of these questions. The cop knew there was a 14 year old that broke the law hiding in the shed, again he was trapped. Why didn't this cop try to incapacitate this teen instead of killing him? Why didn't he have mace ready? Why didn't he have his baton ready? Why didn't he have a tazer ready? Why didn't he wait for back up? You cannot tell me that an NISD police officer's only option for a weapon is a gun are you? Are these questions too hard or complicated for anyone to answer? More importantly are all of you saying this cop had absolutely no choice but to kill an unarmed teen? Jimkata, DunoNuthin, raisenofool?
urdaddy - 11/18/2010 6:01 PM
It's not hard to believe we have alot of morons on earth that show no compassion for human life and make idiotic comments regarding such a tragedy. If the officer was in fear for his life he could of called in for back up. He could of also used an asp or taser to take the teen into custody. If an officer cannot subdue an 8th grader, he should not be in that line of business. What gets me are all the "WHAT IF" comments. Like, "what if" he had a machete, "what if" he had a rake. The reality is the teen had no weapon and was shot. I think alot agree the teen should of not ran and made a bad judgement call. However, we are talking about a teen, the officer was an adult. You would expect the officer to use better judgement. So "what if" the officer used better judgement? The teen would be alive. It's plain in simple, the teen was murdered. I hope the DA files charges against the officer and the family sues. And for all the comments about him becoming a career criminal. I'm shocked to know so many San Antonians are psychic. Since ya'll can predict the future, please provide me with lotto numbers so I can win the lottery. Oh, arguing with Jimkata, DunoNuthin, raisenofool does not good. It's not good to argue with morons because they drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
Jimkata - 11/19/2010 9:03 AM
@ urdaddy - so you too are one of those that if others don't see things your way, then they are morons? Saying that I don't care about human life is idiotic. I'll tell you what though, I value the lives of those that are sworn to protect us over those that break the law and cause trouble! Was the kid unarmed? YES. Thank you to the "Captain Hindsights" out there for pointing that out. That fact was not known however until it was too late! As a police officer, you don't have the luxury of hindsight, and you assume the worst until you know otherwise. Period. This city is riddled with 14 year old criminals, gang members, and otherwise, who have no respect for authority, the law, or anybody else other than themselves. Did he have to die? NO, but he made that choice, took that chance, when he rushed the police officer!
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Comments (http://http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/Officer-says-he-feared-for-his-life-when-he-shot/M2okg7azAUep9Ndeg5allA.cspx?p=Comments) left for the above article, "Officer says he feared for his life when he shot teen (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=403918#p403911)" (11/16/2010, News 4 WOAI), #s 61-68:
eltoro67 - 11/19/2010 1:10 PM
Jimkata, you said it yourself, "As a police officer, you don't have the luxury of hindsight, and you assume the worst until you know otherwise. Period." I agree with this statement 100 percent! So why don't you answer any of the questions I asked previously? If the cop assumed the worst why didn't he keep a safe distance and wait for back up? Cops call for back up when they assume the worst isn't this true?! This is common sense. If he feared for his life why did he try to be a hero? THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL! He knew this kid was 14 years old and was involved in a fist fight not with a knife nor a gun. So the only place he could have gotten a weapon would have been from the shed. So why did this cop choose the deadliest weapon at his disposal when he could have used mace, a baton, a tazer? Why are you avoiding these questions? You know very well the cop is responsible for his actions. You know very well the cop had other options and he chose the deadliest one against an unarmed 14 year old. THIS COP SERIOUSLY SCREWED UP AND YOU KNOW IT! You say you value the life of a police officer more than this 14 year old when this kid didn't even have a weapon. A TEENAGER WAS MURDERED and all you can say is he deserved what he got because he was a bad kid . Jimkata, your defense over this cop is pathetic! Like felontracker said, it is what it is.
Jimkata - 11/19/2010 2:18 PM
@ eltoro - I wasn't there... apparently you were since you seem to know all of what happened and what should have happened. How do you know he didn't call for backup? How long was the kid hiding in the shed, and how long did it take him to come out? Do we even know that he knew it was this particular kid that was hiding in the building? Why did the officer pull his gun? Because he didn't know if the suspect was armed, and if so what he was armed with. Simple as that. You don't grab a taser when somebody is coming at you with a knife or machete, or even another gun. Yes, the officer is responsible for his actions, and in this case, his actions were appropriate. Nobody was "murdered" here as you say. I'm not saying the kid "got what he deserved because he was a bad kid" - I'm saying respect the laws of society, and those that enforce them and protect us. It makes NO difference that he was 14. It doesn't even make a real difference that he had a police record. It doesn't make a difference that in the end he turned out to be unarmed. What does matter is that a police officer told him to come out of the building, and the kid STUPIDLY ATTACKED A POLICE OFFICER! Live like a thug, die like a thug! This officer WILL be cleared of any wrongdoing, and nothing will bring this kid back. Instead of blaming the officer, why don't you blame those that let him think this kind of behavior was a good thing? I wonder if you would be crying so much if this had been an adult criminal?
eltoro67 - 11/19/2010 3:02 PM
My comments are based on this story and what the cop's statement was. He couldn't even say he fired in self defense. A cop with 17 years experience says he fired because he feared for his life from a 14 year old. This kid did not charge at the officer with any weapon. Where is your statement, "you don't grab a tazer when someone is coming at you with a machete, or even another gun." coming from? Why would you even say this if there wasn't a machete involved? So why again did you say the cop didn't pull out a tazer? And you again ignored why he didn't wait for back up. You say he might have called for back up but why didn't he wait AT A SAFE DISTANCE if he feared for his life? Lastly you are saying that the cop had absolutely no other option than to kill this teen? If the cop's actions were appropriate, stop making up excuses for weapons that weren't even there and answer the questions. The comment about an adult criminal is irrelevant here. This kid could have paid for his mistakes through the courts and confinement and he would have also had the opportunity to turn his life around and maybe not, but he would still be alive. Given the circumstances in this case, it is not up to you nor I nor the cops to take that opportunity away from him. Are you avoiding these questions because you are afraid to admit the cop (possibly a friend or relative of yours) was wrong? You know there were other options, as I said before, another cop commented on this already. You know this cop screwed up. Look at the situation clearly and admit the truth otherwise, answer my questions.
Jimkata - 11/19/2010 3:22 PM
Eltoro - I have answered your questions, you just won't accept the answer... When somebody is hiding in a building, you don't know who they are, if they are armed, what they are capable of, or what they are planning. Say what you want. The officer will be exonerated.
eltoro67 - 11/19/2010 11:35 PM
You sound so sure of yourself but you still don't want to admit there were other options. We shall see.
cons3rvative1 - 11/21/2010 12:11 AM
Sure hope the department doesn't try to cover this up. Hope there were other witnesses around that can tell what really happened since the junior high kid was not given that opportunity.
eltoro67 - 11/21/2010 6:56 PM
It wouldn't be the first time something like this is covered up nor the last.
ferguson - 5/28/2011 3:18 AM
how did the officer know that this kid was a career criminal? did he personally know the kid? and if so i don't think he would shoot him if he did know him. the cops actions were far from appropriate.
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San Antonio Express-News
Memorial fund set up for slain teen (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Memorial-fund-set-up-for-slain-teen-818620.php)
Relatives of a 14-year-old fatally shot by a police officer have set up a memorial fund in his name.
By Eva Ruth Moravec
Published 11:32 a.m., Wednesday, November 17, 2010
A memorial fund has been set up for a teen shot to death by a police officer last week.
Derek Lopez, 14, was killed Friday after he reportedly lunged at a Northside Independent School District policeman in a shed in a far West Side backyard.
Relatives have set up an account in Derek's name at IBC Bank, according to Derek's aunt and a bank official.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the account may do so by referencing account number 2411787804.
Visitation for the slain teen is set for Thursday at Puente & Sons Funeral Chapels-Northeast, 14315 Judson Road, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a rosary tentatively scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
A graveside service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at San Fernando Catholic Cemetery No. 3. following a procession from Puente & Sons Funeral Chapels Northeast that will depart at 9 a.m.
© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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A column from Cary Clack:
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San Antonio Express-News
Cary Clack: Shooting death of boy, 14, not black and white (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Cary-Clack-Shooting-death-of-boy-14-not-black-819947.php)
A sign that a pulse still beats in a community's conscience is that it's troubled and outraged that a 14-year-old is shot to death.
San Antonio Express-News
Published 03:00 a.m., Thursday, November 18, 2010
A sign that a pulse still beats in a community's conscience is that it's troubled and outraged that a 14-year-old is shot to death.
Granted, the outrage isn't a unanimous wave of emotion rising from one direction in support of the teenager and his family. Such a tidal wave of sympathy is reserved for a victim whose innocence was unquestioned and whose actions didn't contribute to his death.
Sadly, for everyone, that wasn't the case with Derek Lopez, the 14-year-old shot and killed last Friday afternoon by a Northside Independent School District police officer.
The officer, Daniel Alvarado, was on patrol when he saw Lopez and another young man fighting at a bus stop outside Northside Alternative School. Lopez eluded Alvarado and ran to a nearby neighborhood where a homeowner, seeing him in her backyard, called 911.
According to a police report, Alvarado approached a storage shed, identified himself as the police and saw Lopez hiding. The teen ran out of the shed, hitting Alvarado in the face with the door. Fearing for his life, the officer shot Lopez in the chest and then performed CPR on the boy.
Predictable in the scores of comments heard and read in the days since the shooting is how some people have retreated to one extreme side of the tragedy, castigating the officer for his use of excessive force, and how others have taken residence in the opposite extreme side, saying that this was a bad kid who got what he deserved.
But isn't it most natural to be torn over this tragedy and to feel conflicted? How can anyone be comfortable in easily condemning these two human beings and not extending sympathy to both?
Of course it would have been better had Alvarado been able to protect himself without firing his gun and if Lopez could have been apprehended without anyone being hurt. It would have also been better had Lopez simply surrendered.
Lopez should have never put Alvarado or himself in that position, but it's wrong for anyone to minimize his death or to mock his family for saying that he was good.
For the past few years he'd been expelled from more schools - bouncing from campus to campus - and had more disciplinary problems than a 14-year-old should. Judge his family later, if you must, but their child just died. Right now, how he died and the questions they must ask themselves aren't as important as the painful fact that their child just died.
And a troubled kid can also be a good kid who's simply lost.
This tragedy has echoes of the April 2001 death of another 14-year-old in San Antonio. That boy was shot and killed by a South Side homeowner early one morning while stealing fighting cocks. Abandoned by his father, the boy would sleep in a white Pontiac Grand Am in front of the house they'd lived in.
The homeowner wasn't charged, and after the shooting there was a scalding debate about whether the boy got what was coming to him.
Neither of these 14-year-olds got what was coming to them or deserved to die, but neither of them had learned to avoid putting themselves in situations that risked their lives. Neither of them had learned that for all the trouble we find ourselves in, if we only stop running and start thinking about where we're going we can change the direction of our lives.
The killing of a 14-year-old, regardless of the circumstances, should rile a community and force it to look at the issues surrounding it so that such as death isn't repeated.
To all the 14-year-olds out there who are running scared, lonely and confused: stop.
The life you save may be your own.
Cary Clack's column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. To leave a message, call 210-250-3486 or e-mail at [email protected].
© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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San Antonio Express-News
NISD shooting probed in context of training (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/NISD-shooting-probed-in-context-of-training-821580.php)
Taught how to deal with juveniles, Officer Daniel Alvarado may not have known he was chasing a 14-year-old.
By Brian Chasnoff
Published 11:28 p.m., Thursday, November 18, 2010
The school district cop who last week chased and shot to death a 14-year-old boy had received the same basic training as any other officer in Texas on when he could seek an arrest without a warrant or use deadly force.
Officer Daniel Alvarado also received the same training as his colleagues in district policy, including the best ways to interact with teenagers and when to draw his weapon.
Whether Alvarado's decisions to pursue the unarmed student into a back yard and draw his weapon, firing it after the teen burst from a shed, were lawful or appropriate are questions that are moving into sharper focus as the San Antonio Police Department investigates.
Alvarado, 45, an officer with the Northside Independent School District, pursued Derek Lopez after he saw the teenager hit someone else after school at a bus stop. He fired when the shed door struck him in the face.
"He should have waited for backup," said Denys Lopez Moreno, the teen's mother. "What was the hurry for all that? He could have waited for (Derek) to calm down."
Christopher Moreno, the teen's father, cited the boy's age.
"He's a little kid," Moreno said. "There are other procedures they can go through, talking a 14-year-old kid out of the shed."
But Alvarado didn't realize Lopez was so young, said an SAPD source close to the investigation but unauthorized to speak to the media.
Alvarado claimed after the shooting that Lopez's size - 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds - was deceptive.
"He thought Derek was much older," the source said.
Training standards
The standards for becoming a peace officer are the same whether it's for a school district or a municipality.
All aspiring cops must complete 618 hours of training certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education, including 24 hours in "arrest, search and seizure" and 24 more in "force options."
Then they must pass an exam.
Alvarado passed, and joined the Leon Valley Police Department in 1993 before joining NISD 10 months later.
School district Police Chief John Page said his officers are trained in state law.
"I think the protection of life is probably the foremost goal," he said.
Once licensed and hired, officers must take 40 hours of continuing education every two years. Any agency can choose to require training beyond that.
"Certainly academies can set higher standards than what we require," said Laura LeBlanc, spokeswoman for the state standards commission.
At NISD, three additional courses are required: active shooter response, crisis intervention and "dealing with juveniles," said Pascual Gonzalez, the district's spokesman.
"What is their emotional state of mind? How mature are they?" Gonzalez said. Juveniles are "not thinking the way you and I think as an adult."
Shot fired
Page would not comment on last Friday's shooting. But the chief became agitated when reminded of a version of events contained in an SAPD report.
The report states Alvarado arrived at the bus stop "a moment or two" after Lopez struck someone there "with the back of his hand."
"That is a misnomer," Page said. "That is not correct."
Officers in Texas may not arrest someone without a warrant unless the person commits an offense in the officer's presence, the offense is a felony, or it's "against the public peace."
Striking someone with the hand is generally a misdemeanor.
"If the misdemeanor didn't occur in your presence, then the officer is not supposed to make an arrest without a warrant," said Chris Davis, director of the enforcement and legal division at the state standards commission.
But the SAPD source disputes the police report.
"It happened right in his view," the source said. "The officer basically pulled up on them when they started fighting."
Lopez ran into a neighborhood, where Alvarado lost sight of him. A witness flagged down the officer and said someone had trespassed into a neighbor's back yard in the 200 block of Roswell Canyon.
In the back yard, Alvarado drew his weapon before he reached the storage shed, the SAPD source said.
NISD policy states, "An officer shall not unholster and prepare to discharge his firearm except as a last resort when there is a danger of loss of life or serious bodily injury to the officer or to another person."
Deadly force is authorized only when such danger becomes "imminent."
Denys Lopez Moreno, the teen's mother, sobbed while imagining the scenario.
"What was the purpose for having the gun out?" she asked. Derek "was scared. He didn't want to get in trouble."
Gun drawn, Alvarado reached the shed and peered inside. Lopez lunged through the shed's doorway, causing the door to strike the officer in the face.
Alvarado fired a shot into the boy's torso.
Lopez died. The officer, according to the police report, suffered "pain and swelling to the lips."
© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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Several more pics from Derek Lopez's funeral at the title link:
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Funeral for Derek Lopez, 14 (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Funeral-for-Derek-Lopez-14-848035.php)
Anita Baca
Published 02:57 a.m., Saturday, November 20, 2010
(http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/mediaManager/?controllerName=image&action=get&id=454497&width=314&height=236)
Denys Lopez Moreno is comforted by her sister, Yvette Lopez, left, and their mother, Sylvia Oliva, right, as they wait for the burial service to begin during the funeral for Moreno's son, Derek Lopez, 14, at San Fernando Cemetery #3 in San Antonio on Friday, Nov. 19, 2010. Lopez was shot by NISD Officer Daniel Alvarado last week. / SA
(http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/mediaManager/?controllerName=image&action=get&id=454499&width=314&height=236)
Denys Lopez Moreno is comforted by her husband, Christopher Moreno, left, and her mother, Sylvia Oliva, right. / [email protected] (http://mailto:[email protected])
© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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The truth comes out. Officer Daniel Alvarado's habitual lack of respect for rules, regulations, and appropriate protocols ... comes back to haunt him:
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News 4 WOAI
Police officer's past questioned in teen death (http://http://www.woai.com/mostpopular/story/Police-officers-past-questioned-in-teen-death/FLDCXlVaCUGYd8QMlVXUHg.cspx)
Reported by: Steve Linscomb
Email: [email protected]
Published: 5/23/2011 9:40 pm · Updated: 5/23/2011 11:06 pm
SAN ANTONIO - New information is coming to light about a tragic shooting last November. A teenage boy died after a North Side Independent School District police officer chased and then shot him.
According to police reports, 14-year-old Derek Lopez was killed last November after officer Daniel Alvarado came up on Lopez and another teenager who were fighting off Hunt Lane. When he stopped to break it up, Lopez ran from the scene. The officer pursued the boy and eventually shot and killed him in a neighborhood backyard off of Roswell Canyon Drive.
Attorneys for Lopez's family says killing the boy was not necessary, and the officer had a history of problems, including 16 reprimands in three years.
Wallace Brylak, attorney for the Lopez family, told News 4, "They were so bad that he was suspended without pay a number of times and the police department recommended that he be terminated back in 2008."
Brylak also says dispatch recordings show the officer disobeyed a supervisor's order to stop chasing Lopez and stay with the other boy still on the scene. While attorneys for NISD say they won't discuss the events of that day, they say Alvarado's reprimands never involved the safety of any student.
D. Craig Wood, attorney for NISD told us, "The officer was placed on office duty. He has not been nor will he be on patrol duty until there is some sort of formal finding."
Those findings will come from the San Antonio Police Department and the district attorney and will be presented to a grand jury for consideration.
© 2010 Newport Television LLC
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Comments (http://http://www.woai.com/mostpopular/story/Police-officers-past-questioned-in-teen-death/FLDCXlVaCUGYd8QMlVXUHg.cspx) left for the above article, "Police officer's past questioned in teen death (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=404363#p404179)" (by Steve Linscomb, 5/23/2011, News 4 WOAI), #s 1-20:
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u n v me - 5/23/2011 10:34 PM
i would like to thank mr alvarado for taking out another hoodrat.he is my kind of meskin
Deadman - 5/23/2011 11:16 PM
Wow, I didnt know street fighting then running away from the PoPo is a shootable offense...Sounds like the legislatures should pass a new bill...hummm
BatLover - 5/24/2011 12:08 AM
How about WOAI mentions this punks past as well as the officers?
backslash - 5/24/2011 1:27 AM
FYI WOAI, the officer left the scene after gathering the information needed to be written on a report. He did not go looking for the teen. He was then waved down by a citizen stating someone was attempting to break into their home. Check the 911 calls you will see how this person called the police because of the possible burglar. The person then went outside to tell her neighbor and he waved down the NISD police officer who by mere coincidence was driving by. What do we expect him to do? Tell the citizen sorry I can not help or do we want him to take action. Come on people this story screams yellow journalism all the way with a shady reporting/story. I Wonder who investigates shady reporters who are out to make money and a name for themselves at others expense. What is the address and personal phone number of this bush league reporter so we can go to his house and ask him why he did a half ars job of reporting the truth.
Roland - 5/24/2011 2:53 AM
Maybe guilt is the reason police commit suicide. Nah, cops shoot innocent people all the time. The mentality is "You can tell he's a criminal because I shot him." Thats the same Qualifyer we used to tell the Viet Cong from the the general population. Some of the readers on this post could care little about the citizens. They drink the kool-aid and blame the victims of police abuse. POLICE ARE HUMAN AND MAKE MISTAKES. STOP, THINK AND REALIZE THE POSSIBILITY EXIST, THERE ARE EVIL POLICE OUT THERE.
oldman - 5/24/2011 3:46 AM
Why do we need armed police in the school district. We have a great city police force and a great sheriffs department. If trouble at the schools then we need to send the perps to detention at the city or county level. Get rid of this unneeded police presence and use the money for teachers. The school district should justify the need for armed officers to the general public.
rodrma - 5/24/2011 6:02 AM
oldman and Roland's mentality make me pray for a comet that would take out the earth in one shot.
niceday - 5/24/2011 6:51 AM
ROLAND, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT!!! JUST AS THIS POS KID!!!
ChimichangaS - 5/24/2011 7:29 AM
If you RUN from the LAW and not follow an officers directions you escalate the problem. This is what happened here.
eltoro67 - 5/24/2011 7:34 AM
It's very unfortunate that alot of people think this cop did nothing wrong. BatLover it is obvious that this kid had a troubled past and may or may not have had good parenting but this kid is not a grown up that has been professionally trained like this cop. This kid is not paid to protect everyone like this cop. This kid was definitely a troublemaker but it is not up to anyone including the cop to decide his fate. We have a court system that is supposed to take care of that. They say that this cop had a history of problems including 16 reprimands in three years. That they were so bad he was suspended several times without pay. That his reprimands never involved the safety of any student. I don't know how after all the cop's problems someone still thought he could be trusted with a gun. This cop was eventually going to kill someone. It's really screwed up that they had to wait for him to kill someone to finally decide he is not fit for street duty. For all the people that are siding with this cop, I really hope an idiot cop like this one never hurts or kills someone you care about.
CavScout - 5/24/2011 7:35 AM
I love how many of these comments are based just on the information in this article. Wrong! Alverado was repremanded 16 times for administrative actions. That's paper work. He was flagged down by the lady and stated that he feared for his life when the kid charged at him. With no witnesses we have to take his word for it. Don't let your personal feelings lead to an ignorant opinion. Now, the family says he was a good kid who loved his family. This kid was as bad as they come. No bleeding hearts he didn't deserve to die because of this but he was no angel. I smell a civil lawsuit coming.
dcast - 5/24/2011 8:40 AM
So backlash, now this "officer" took it upon himself to investigate a "burglar" sighting? Bottom line here is yeah that kid probably was a punk trouble maker and a pain in the rear, he probably did NOT have any type of parenting at home BUT he was still just a KID. This "officer" needs to be punished to the FULL extent of the law, lock him up, it was MURDER
FreeHole - 5/24/2011 8:55 AM
So....we the people pay big money for the districts to hire ARMED guards to act against our kids? And not even well trained guards. More like our students have to live big parts of their day close to a person that can't decide if a boy will harm him or not, so the boy had to be shot. That's a great use for our money! First, the school officer should have called city police. Then he could have keep an eye on the kid, or even let him go, for a later arrest at his home. If too agressive, the boy should have been neutralized WITHOUT LETHAL FORCE. Of course there's a lawsuit coming. What would you do if a stupid grown-up "officer" killed your 14 year old son for no valid reason?
woolybully - 5/24/2011 8:58 AM
Why is it when someone dies all of a sudden halo's and wings appear? I am sure that this 14 year old had more "repremands" than the officer did! Read what BACKSLASH and CAVSCOUT wrote. I too am sick of the news only reporting one side of a story. Why does the media make the police look bad? When your life is in danger who are you going to call? The police or the media? The officer deserves a medal and a raise.
blackscorpion - 5/24/2011 8:59 AM
The only way school district police departments will go away is through consolidation of all law enforcement agencies into a metro law enforcement agency, as it is we are probably second in the state with the most law enforcement agencies, and we really don't need 23 city law enforcement agencies along with the constable offices, park police, airport police, and school district police.
blackscorpion - 5/24/2011 9:07 AM
The way to justify getting rid of school district police is to first get rid of the police departments in these subrban cities, the constables office, the park police, and the airport police by consolidating them all into a metro police department and before we sit back and start calling these school district police officers dumb armed guards lets all remember how long it takes before we can even get a San Antonio Police Officer or Bexar County Sheriffs Deputy to respond.
yotube - 5/24/2011 9:37 AM
stupid people suggesting the kid deserved it. that's why you people will never ever be good lawyers or judges. if the 14 year boy really was running from the cop, i dont care who you are. you dont shoot a kid in that situation. you are not trained to handle it in that manner. this is ridiculous. what's even more sad is the ignorant punks here who agree with that thug mentality of the cop.
Carmelos - 5/24/2011 10:03 AM
What was the kids background again? Wasn't he sent to the school where the troublemakers are sent to segregate them from the other kids? Did he do anything other than run from the officer? All facts should be reported, especially after a 6 month hiatus from the story. If the kid did something to justify the response then this should be over. If the cop over-reacted and is found to be in the wrong then he should be prosecuted. From what I remember of the original story I think the officer had a reason to shoot.
losvatoslocos - 5/24/2011 10:04 AM
Yea OK the paper said the kid was a habitual troubled RAT. Going from school to school cause he did'nt know how to RESPECT authority and the school system. BUT of course the family paints the RAT as a good kid that would do good things at home. Hmmm, lemme seeee. Ah ! Why couldn't the RAT apply the same good manners at school or in life in general ? Oh well yes yes he was a model person...YEA RIGHT ! Thats OK Officer you just did what you were trained to do !
nate74 - 5/24/2011 10:04 AM
It's always a trajedy when a kid is killed. Sounds like the kid wasn't some upstanding kid but nonetheless a kid that probably didn't need to be shot and killed. This officer sounds like a real dandy. What other job could somebody have this kind of track record and keep their job? Only government workers. Well them too. Fire his butt and prosecute him. NISD get your checkbook out.
© 2010 Newport Television LLC
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He was a great officer who kept the peace! lol
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He was a great officer who kept the peace! lol
It seems that Officer Alvarado was more interested in exerting his authoritarian control of the situation by giving chase, regardless of potential consequence and even in direct violation of a supervisor's order, than he was in "keeping the peace." From the above article (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=404363#p404179), emphasis added:
Attorneys for Lopez's family says killing the boy was not necessary, and the officer had a history of problems, including 16 reprimands in three years.
Wallace Brylak, attorney for the Lopez family, told News 4, "They were so bad that he was suspended without pay a number of times and the police department recommended that he be terminated back in 2008."
Brylak also says dispatch recordings show the officer disobeyed a supervisor's order to stop chasing Lopez and stay with the other boy still on the scene. While attorneys for NISD say they won't discuss the events of that day, they say Alvarado's reprimands never involved the safety of any student.[/list][/size]
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The officer was a good man and many children had good things to say about him. lol
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Comments (http://http://www.woai.com/mostpopular/story/Police-officers-past-questioned-in-teen-death/FLDCXlVaCUGYd8QMlVXUHg.cspx) left for the above article, "Police officer's past questioned in teen death (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=404363#p404179)" (by Steve Linscomb, 5/23/2011, News 4 WOAI), #s 21-40:
CowboyUp - 5/24/2011 10:08 AM
This is just nuts. If you have your kids in school at NISD, and they get in a fight with another student and run, you better hope Officer Alvardo is not on patrol. He may decide to KILL them
educatedloco - 5/24/2011 10:12 AM
So let's see, you have one SAPD officer who let's a crack head get away, then a second SAPD officer cuts her hand while chasing a would be car thief that got away, then of course you have a handful of SAPD officers under investgation for sexual misconduct, and then the tragic suicides. Sounds to me like this NISD cop is doing a pretty good job compared to some of the SAPD officers. Just my opinion.
TruthSpeaks - 5/24/2011 10:13 AM
I think it's horrible to suggest that this kid "deserved" his ultimate fate, He was a kid and sometimes kids fight?? Thats nothing new, I think that the bottom line is Yes, He should not have ran, but the officer Should not have shot him, And the fact that he was killed my a school officer is absolutely appauling, and disgusting to me, Tax payer pay for them to protect our students, not to gun them down!!!
sharpie - 5/24/2011 10:15 AM
losvatoslocos - The officer did not do what he was trained to do. He disobeyed a direct order from his supervisor to not search for the child.
Darkie Lawless - 5/24/2011 10:40 AM
Hear the case is going to a grand jury either for "indictment" or "no bill" ,also the family is consulting with their attorney,and they have a good case against the NISD for millions on a wrongful death suit. The family's attorney has expert witnesses that specialize in law enforcement shootings,they sat the officer screwed up,armed vs unarmed. It's not all about who's the punk kid,who disobeys supervisors orders & has a write up history. It's all about armed vs unarmed. The SAPD shooting team said he screwed up.
two beers - 5/24/2011 11:04 AM
To everyone...those who are happy this kid was killed and those who are unhappy this kid was killed. You have got to believe that this officer did not WANT to kill an unarmed kid. He did not KNOW the kid was unarmed. I don't think he even KNEW the burglar he was notified of was actually the kid he saw fighting, so he probably did not know the victim was a KID. If I remember the original story, he was searching a backyard for a burglary suspect and about to open the shed doors when they flew open in his face. His gun was already drawn and he fired at the perceived threat. BOTH SIDES of this argument are letting their emotions color what happened. The kid was not executed for getting into a fight. The kid was not shot for running away. Be objective in your arguments. Don't make stuff up like Darkie Lawless is doing. Don't manufacture emotions or judgements like EVERYONE seems to be doing. I know people are passionate about the issue, but try to stick to the facts instead of making stuff up.
dcast - 5/24/2011 11:17 AM
Two beers, you have had two beers too many! Are u kidding saying he did not know who he was looking for in the backyard? If the homeowner told him that she thought there was a burglar hiding in her shed and he would have actually thought this was a REAL burglar instaead of this 14 year old kid that made the run on him then this coward would not have investigated, this COWARD would have called the REAL law enforcement and waited for them. He was a SCHOOL guard not a neighborhood watch patrol!!
MLZarazua - 5/24/2011 11:34 AM
As I've stated previously on another website, actions have consequences for both of them. However, painting this so-called "child" into a choir boy is ridiculous! He had been suspended NUMEROUS times and once from an elementary school. I cannot explain to you how difficult that is. These parents SHOULD have taught him to accept responsiblity for his actions and respect authority. THEN he might not have found himself in this situation. Now they are acting "over-involved" looking to make a penny off their son. This "kids-will-be-kids" mentality explains why we now have a generation of kids who feel entitled and blame everyone else for thier mess!
eltoro67 - 5/24/2011 12:47 PM
This is a very old argument. If memory serves the kid was hiding in a shed. The officer approached and the kid rushed out of the shed. I believe when the kid rushed out the shed door knocked the cop down and the cop fired. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong about this). The kid was unarmed when he was killed. The officer claimed he feared for his life. From what I remember, the cop knew the kid was hiding in the shed because the homeowner told him. The kid was already trapped and the cop could have waited for backup if he "feared for his life". If a cop feels a 14 year old is dangerous but trapped in a shed he should call for back up especially if he supposedly "FEARS FOR HIS LIFE"! Because the cop knew he was dealing with a 14 year old he also KNEW there were other options to using a gun (baton, tazer, etc.). It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see there is something seriously wrong with all this. CavScout, with all the options the cop had to avoid killing this kid there is absolutely no way in hell that you can expect anyone to take the cop's word on this. The cop either lied when he claimed he feared for his life, lacks common sense, or maybe the police force didn't train him properly, or maybe it was personal! Also, you claim his reprimands come from administrative work well, I don't know what kind of mistakes on paperwork could cause reprimands serious enough to get you suspended without pay and 16 times in three years! How can you tell me this is someone we can trust with a gun when we can't even trust him to perform simple administrative duties?
Superspurs - 5/24/2011 1:39 PM
None of us were present when this happened. None of us are police officers, so we really cant say with any certainty what was right or wrong.
two beers - 5/24/2011 1:57 PM
dcast, even with "two beers too many", I still make much more sense than you do. The fact that you draw a distinction between what you call a "school guard" and "real law enforcement" casts doubt on anything else you might say, true or not. All Texas POLICE OFFICERS must receive the same minimum basic academy training and must pass the same TCLEOSE exam. They must also ALL receive the same continuing education. The ONLY difference is the PHYSICAL jurisdiction. In this instance, the jurisdictions overlap. The school officer can have jurisdiction in the city, just like a Bexar County deputy has jurisdiction in the city. If it were a simple report call, the primary jurisdiction handles it. If there is an exigent circumstance, as in this case, any agency with jurisdiction may handle it. If it is a felony or a breach of the peace, ANY Texas Peace Officer may handle it. Read the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and learn something. Or ask the police officer of your choice. Again, sticking to FACTS ONLY, and not opinions...an ISD POLICE OFFICER is no different from a city, county, or state POLICE OFFICER. If it says Police on their uniform, they're not a security guard, they're a cop. Just because you are ANGRY with what happened, it does not change that FACT. You can question what he did all you want (and I back your right to do so!), but you can't change what he IS.
ElJefe - 5/24/2011 2:06 PM
We know one thing for certain, the killer here had 16 chances to right his wrongs and do better, then killed someone, and still has suffered no fitting consequences. The victim died at 14, and will never have another "chance". Wrong as he may have been, he was 14.
dcast - 5/24/2011 2:32 PM
Eljefe you just gained my respect, the simple truth here is that a 14 year old was murdered, plain and simple. Nobody has the right to be executioner, I seriously doubt the ones who are trying to justify this mans actions truly believe he was innocent in this case OR his prior 16 reprimands!!
CowboyUp - 5/24/2011 2:51 PM
Choir boy or juvenile delinquent, the kid did not need to be shot for running from a fight. The cop should have called for backup and waited, not rush into the backyard with his gun drawn to get a 14 year old. He had been written up 16 times for not following instructions, and again here his supervisor TOLD him not to pursue the kid, but he decided to anyways...
losvatoslocos - 5/24/2011 3:36 PM
U weren't there Sharpie Queen King what ever you are ! SO stop trying to stir the kettle ! When have you ever known for the news to ever get any information right, Just like YOU the news like to stir the kettle ! 'YAWWWWWWN ! Again Good job officer !
two beers - 5/24/2011 4:02 PM
Geez, there are plenty of good points to be made on both sides of this argument without having to resort to incendiary words like "executioner" and "murder". Whatever happened, I'm sure he was not shot BECAUSE he was "running from a fight". That is such a lame argument. Why not say, he shouldn't be shot for wearing a red shirt. Or for wearing shoes. Or for being a Virgo. Duh! You're making statements that anyone would agree with and pretending that it relates AT ALL to what happened here. C'mon people, make a good argument or don't post. Don't resort to name calling and falsehoods to try to make your point. If you can't make a point objectively, you probably don't have one. You are simply angry at WHAT happened and don't care to think about WHY it happened. Same to those who are simply stating, "one less hood rat" or "future crimes were prevented". You too are just letting your anger make your point. I'm sure nobody wanted this to happen, really. I'm sure everyone would love a "do-over". It's a tragedy for everyone involved. Throwing out lies and insults at EITHER the cop or the kid shows a serious lack of though or intelligence and an overabundance of emotion.
two beers - 5/24/2011 4:03 PM
Foxfire7 - 5/24/2011 4:12 PM
I am sick of the diatribe of " none of us was there " or none of us are police officers. I think most officers go into that line of work because they have that bully instinct. They are zeroes wanting to seen as heroes. They are mentally ill. And just this morning they murder a 46 year old woman with scissors. They need to get over their God complex.
orlando - 5/24/2011 4:30 PM
Foxfire, El Jefe, and Cowboy up..RIGHT ON! Losvatoslocos, you're ignorrant and lack common sense and of course lack compassion.
Deepcscott - 5/24/2011 5:59 PM
Same old song and dance from Foxfire. Yawn. He must have been "bullied" by an officer at one point in his life and still hasn't gotten over being the "victim".Officers are people that do a job that most do not want or care to do. This officer's case will go to the Grand Jury and we will see what happens next. Until then nobody knows what will happen.
© 2010 Newport Television LLC
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Comments (http://http://www.woai.com/mostpopular/story/Police-officers-past-questioned-in-teen-death/FLDCXlVaCUGYd8QMlVXUHg.cspx) left for the above article, "Police officer's past questioned in teen death (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=404363#p404179)" (by Steve Linscomb, 5/23/2011, News 4 WOAI), #s 41-56:
dcast - 5/24/2011 6:28 PM
Two beers you are right about one thing, the officer involved would love a "do-over" but unfortunately he cant get one and deserves to be punished to the full extent of the law, just because you have a badge does not make you exempt from them, sorry.
ncflores210 - 5/25/2011 6:40 AM
MURDER, plain and simple. Thats just plain old murder.
two beers - 5/25/2011 6:57 AM
dcast, I agree. A badge should not make anyone exempt from the law. ncflores210, look up the definition of "murder". You'll see how stupid your simple minded inflammatory post makes you look. This is my last post on the matter. Right or wrong, the cop is NOT an executioner or murderer. Good or bad, the kid did NOT "deserve" to die. It's not always black and white. There is a lot of gray area between the extremes that are being posted here.
garden - 5/25/2011 8:50 AM
firsat off charge him wiht manslaughter. I would like woai to get all the sa school dist, I would like all officers disciplainys, reports published on woai web site. this is public information. This man would probably weighs over two hundred pounds, killed a boy whould 80 pounds. He should have followed orders and stayed with the other boy. If he was military he would be court marshelled. Please dont let him keep his job. I hope hes not getting paid while this is being investing.
Johnny Cash - 5/25/2011 8:57 AM
Bottom line, you dont charge the police like you're going to attack them. I seen the woman on the news saying her son was devastated by the incident (money money money)next will come the frivolous law suit. I bet this kid was given everything his whole life except discipline. Unfortunatly it cost him his life. Quit getting away from the real thing that happened,and make people accountable for their actions.
arewestupid - 5/25/2011 12:44 PM
How was he able to "CHARGE" the cop, he was to busy hiding from him,it makes more sense that he tried to run away when the cop found himthen he was shot in the back ,now that makes sense.yes,big MAN/cop w/gun against little teenage boy. yeah sure senseless murder.plain&simple
MLZarazua - 5/25/2011 12:49 PM
El Jefe...the 14 year old kid had PLENTY of chances....geez, how many schools do you have to be suspended from before you wake up and realize that you are WRONG! Every action has a consequence and he chose to live this type of life over and over again. All of you talking about "poor kid" were probably the same type of problem child yourself or you have kids who misbehave but you blame others for it. Ridiculous!
arewestupid - 5/25/2011 12:58 PM
OK mlzarazue,The consequences of getting shot in the back "dead" trying to run away, is NOT right in my book!! it was cowardly and he should be punished and charged for what it was!! murder...
MLZarazua - 5/25/2011 2:55 PM
He wasn't shot in the back arewestupid...great screen name though! Yes we are raising a nation of entitled, spoiled children. Nobody taught him right from wrong, yet he was old enough to know the difference. He had a history of drugs, assault, theft and only 14? Please, he was a punk and I'm not saying he deserved to die, but CONSEQUENCES are what they are. Period!
ferguson - 5/25/2011 5:28 PM
@MLZarazua are you for real?? he had enough chances now it's time to shoot the kid?? there is something seriously wrong with you. how many times did the officer screw up at his job? does he deserve to be shot for thoses mistakes? get your head on straight.
Richard121 - 5/26/2011 11:47 AM
Way too many cops today are cowards. Remember, cowardice has two sides: fear of confronting a worthy opponent and unseemly desire to hurt an inferior opponent. Too many men become cops today hoping the badge and gun will make them brave; it never works. The gun only makes them dangerous and the badge means they usually get away with it. The old saying applies "Give a sissy a gun and he will shoot everything in sight." This cop is a coward. Worse, he is an angry coward who expressed his anger with a murder. He needs to be treated the same as anyone else who shot an unarmed kid. The family will file a lawsuit; the jury should award punitive damages in such an amount that the old coward's excuse "Department Policy" will have to change or suffer municipal bankruptcy.
xrazorwirex - 5/26/2011 7:41 PM
No way; are there really people who seriously defend the murderer?? ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!??! That makes my gut hurt, real bad, that there's such sociopathic people out there who, without a second thought, defend this cop's behavior. Some people won't change their minds until the state comes and violates themselves or someone they love, but seriously people, a huge cop hunted down and executed an unarmed 8th grader for a single punch to a schoolmate who hardly cared. How many times did you mess up as a kid? Maybe someone should have just hunted you down and executed you? 3-strikes you're out? Jesus... Please see a psychiatrist.
hitmanoo73 - 5/27/2011 11:35 AM
i dont live in san antone for a reason. your police force and district attorneys seem to have forgotten something called a constitution. the fat tub of guts that hides behind his badge and kills kids needs to come out here and we will show him how much respect we have for his badge and athority.
ferguson - 5/28/2011 3:34 AM
i'm sure the cop didn't know the kids history of drugs and assault or whatever you're using to justify the shooting. he just saw a teenager running away he chased him down and shot him. that's it. the kids history has nothing to do with it. all that came out after he died.
ferguson - 5/28/2011 3:36 AM
and if the cop did know the kids history he shouldve know how to deal with him. what kinda cold hearted person shoots a kid that he knows?
mainewolf - 5/28/2011 7:57 AM
protect and serve, that is what they dawn the badge and title they are to protect our children from others and themselves if the need-be they are not judge and jury.i saw no need for force not like they did not know where the kid lived or goes to school.
© 2010 Newport Television LLC
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Here's some more news coverage re. recent revelations 'bout Officer Daniel Alvarado's prior work history. This article appears to be the 'Full Monty' from which the Daily Mail extracted prescient portions (posted (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=403667#p403667) earlier by Oscar, 2nd article). Since there's quite a bit more to it, I'm gonna go ahead and post the whole thing...
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San Antonio Express-News
Officer who shot student had history of not following orders (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Officer-who-shot-student-had-history-of-not-1388322.php)
12 warnings. 4 suspensions. Why was the NISD cop who killed an unarmed 14-year-old on the job?
By Brian Chasnoff / [email protected]
08:34 a.m., Friday, May 20, 2011
Updated 09:33 a.m., Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Shortly after a supervisor told Daniel Alvarado to stay with the victim of a minor assault and not search for the suspect, the school district officer ran into the backyard of a Northwest Side home with his gun drawn.
Moments later, Alvarado fired his weapon, killing an unarmed 14-year-old boy.
The November incident was not the first time the officer had ignored an order, according to records recently obtained by the San Antonio Express-News.
Since 2006, Alvarado's supervisors at the Northside Independent School District Police Department had reprimanded or counseled him on at least 12 occasions — six for not following orders. In other cases, Alvarado failed to show up for assignments, and his bosses appeared to suspect him of lying.
Alvarado was suspended at least four times, and his supervisors warned of impending termination four times — once even recommending it.
But Alvarado, 46, never was fired. Six months after the death of student Derek Lopez, as an investigation into the shooting continues, the 17-year veteran of the Police Department remains with the school district.
For Denys Lopez Moreno, the teen's mother, such revelations about Alvarado's employment have compounded her grief.
"They should've taken action a long time ago," Moreno said through tears. "He never followed orders. What makes you think he can deal with children?"
At school, Lopez was troubled. Expelled from elementary school, he spent years rotating through alternative schools and the county's juvenile justice academy. He'd been disciplined for possessing drugs, assault and theft, school officials said.
But at home, his family says he was a loving child who would cook for his younger brother and sister and help them with their homework.
Moreno hired an attorney in December to investigate the shooting.
The attorney, Wally Brylak, filed actions in court to force the school district to release records, including Alvarado's disciplinary history and a dispatch recording. He also subpoenaed witnesses for depositions, some of which contradict Alvarado's version of events.
Reached by phone, Alvarado declined to discuss the shooting. NISD spokesman Pascual Gonzalez said the officer has been placed on administrative duty since the incident.
The San Antonio Police Department has ruled the case a justified shooting. The Bexar County district attorney's office still is investigating.
The question of whether the shooting was justified is unrelated to the officer's history of disobeying orders, Assistant District Attorney Cliff Herberg said. The former is a legal matter; the latter, administrative.
Gonzalez echoed the distinction in a prepared statement.
"We are aware of Officer Alvarado's work history," he said. "While there are some documented incidents, it's important to note that they were administrative in nature, and had nothing to do with student safety."
But David Klinger, a former police officer who's now a professor of criminology and an expert in the use of deadly force, was surprised by Alvarado's disciplinary history.
"It sounds like they knew this guy was a problem," Klinger said. "If someone's insubordinate in a bunch of circumstances, it's logical to believe they'll be insubordinate in an important circumstance."
He added, "Mercifully, from what I know, these are rare. Most of the time when an officer has a problem following an order or doing their job, they get counseled so they learn how to do their job.
"If they don't, at some point they're terminated."
'Stay with the victim'
Recorded in depositions, witnesses' recollections offer a closer look at the Nov. 12 incident.
About 4:30 p.m., at Vista West Drive and Hunt Lane, a 13-year-old student from the Bexar County Juvenile Justice Academy was talking on a cell phone at a bus stop when Lopez, one of his classmates, punched him in the face.
"He just hit me once," the boy said in his deposition. "It wasn't a fight. It was nothing."
Alvarado, in a patrol car, saw the punch and said, "Freeze!"
Lopez ran. Alvarado sped off in pursuit, at one point leaving his patrol car and chasing the boy into the backyard of a nearby subdivision, according to a police report.
But Lopez slipped away.
"I just had one run from me," Alvarado, out of breath, told a dispatcher. "I saw an assault in progress. He punched the guy several times."
Alvarado returned to the bus stop. A police supervisor gave direction over the dispatch system.
"Let's not do any big search over there," the supervisor said. "Let's stay with the victim and see if we can identify (the suspect) that way. We can put one in the area, but let's concentrate on getting the info from the victim."
"I've got the victim right here," Alvarado said.
He then ordered the boy into his patrol car and set off in search of the suspect, according to the police report.
Accused of insubordination
In March 2006, Alvarado received an indignant letter from a supervisor.
Over the previous two months, the sergeant repeatedly had told him to close all of his cases before the end of his shifts, as policy requires.
"Your complete disregard toward my directive was evident upon checking your reports that are still incomplete and in some cases not written at all," the sergeant wrote.
A few weeks later, Alvarado's supervisor reprimanded him for making "no effort to complete said cases."
Over the next three years, many letters followed.
In January 2007, open cases still plagued Alvarado's work. When another reprimand failed to correct the issue, the sergeant issued Alvarado a letter of reprimand for insubordination.
"Your complete disregard for my directive is a blatant act of insubordination," he wrote.
A few months later, Alvarado's incomplete cases were disrupting court appointments, and a lieutenant recommended a one-day suspension.
In January 2008, Alvarado was suspended for one day for failing to show up for assignments.
He'd been scheduled to teach a grant-funded gang prevention class at a middle school. When the school's principal called the school district about the missing officer, a lieutenant called Alvarado and asked him where he was.
At the middle school, Alvarado said.
He arrived there 30 minutes later.
"Any further incidents of failing to follow a directive, an assignment, or violating practices will result in immediate termination of your employment," the suspension letter stated.
Later that year, Alvarado was four hours late to an assignment. Asked why, Alvarado said he'd told a clerk he couldn't make it.
But the clerk said "she does not remember you telling her anything like that," a letter of reprimand states. "We recommend immediate termination of your employment."
A few days later, Alvarado's bosses learned of even more violations, including more than 120 emails about his duties in the grant program that Alvarado had ignored.
But Alvarado was not fired. He was removed from the grant program and suspended for three days.
More violations followed.
In two separate cases, Alvarado was suspended for collecting evidence that disappeared, including an MP3 player and fingerprint cards.
In a letter for the latter case, a supervisor sent Alvarado a warning that must have sounded familiar.
"Be advised that due to your past history of violations, reprimands and suspensions, any further incidents will result in a recommendation to terminate your employment with Northside ISD."
The shooting
The homeowner was scared.
Someone had jumped over her fence in the 200 block of Roswell Canyon and entered her small shed, where her husband stored Christmas decorations, paint cans and a sledgehammer.
The retired nurse was inside with her two daughters and 3-year-old granddaughter.
"He went into the shed and I feared that he was going to get something and come after us," she recalled in a deposition.
The person in the shed was Lopez. Despite his supervisor's directive, Alvarado was speeding down the suburban street in pursuit.
The homeowner rushed to a window in her kitchen and screamed to a neighbor, who immediately saw the patrol car and flagged it down.
The homeowner went outside to meet the officer. Alvarado drew his gun "when he came up the driveway," she recalled.
No one saw the shooting. But inside the house, the homeowner and her daughters heard a gunshot about 45 seconds after Alvarado entered the backyard.
In a report, Alvarado wrote that he was approaching the shed with his gun drawn when the door flew open, hitting him in the face. No witness recalled seeing any injuries to the officer's face after the shooting.
"The suspect bull rushed his way out of the shed and lunged right at me," Alvarado wrote. "The suspect was literally inches away from me, and I feared for my safety."
Tracing the bullet's path into the boy's chest as it ricocheted off the pancreas, colon, right liver and left kidney and exited the stomach, an autopsy report notes a lack of gunpowder on Lopez's bloodstained T-shirt.
"There is no evidence of close range firing of the wound," the report concludes.
The homeowner saw the officer carrying the boy out of the shed and putting him "on the grass, on the ground," she said. She grabbed a bath towel and ran outside.
Applying pressure to the wound with the officer, she asked, "Why did you shoot him?"
"He came at me," he told her.
A paramedic who lived next door ran into the backyard.
The boy looked bad: Sweaty and clammy, his skin was ashen and cool. He was taking short, gasping breaths. A pulse was barely there.
As for the officer, "He looked a little dazed or distant," the paramedic said. "He needed someone to tell him what to do."
The paramedic called for AirLife.
In the patrol car, the boy from the bus stop was talking to his mother on the cellphone when he heard the gunshot and dropped the phone. Rushing to the car, his mother saw her son with watery eyes, "just staring."
At one point, the mother told a witness, "He shot him? Why did he shoot him? He didn't have to shoot him."
Still alive, Lopez was carried to the front yard on a tarp, and officers and paramedics converged on the scene. The mother saw a female officer wiping blood from the boy's mouth, saying, "Mijo, it's OK."
Her son recalled Alvarado telling another officer that he had "panicked" when he fired.
Before Lopez died, one of the homeowner's daughters went outside. She had been frightened when she saw him go into the shed, but now she felt something else.
"I just remember his mouth moving a little bit," she said. "That's when I saw his braces. And that's when I realized that it was a little boy."
© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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Sidebar to the above article, "Officer who shot student had history of not following orders (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=404494#p404479)":
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San Antonio Express-News
History of discipline (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Officer-who-shot-student-had-history-of-not-1388322.php)
NISD officer Daniel Alvarado was disciplined numerous times between 2006 and 2009. A partial list of violations:
March 17, 2006
Arrived 90 minutes late for assignment
March 27, 2006
Reprimand, for not completing reports
Jan. 8, 2007
Reprimand, insubordination for incomplete case reports
Jan. 11, 2008
One-day suspension for multiple missed assignments
June 9, 2008
Three-day suspension for substandard performance
Aug. 21, 2008
Reprimand, for failing to report confiscation of MP3 player
Sept. 4, 2008
Warned of impending termination because of 10 reprimands, counseling and suspensions in two years
April 7, 2009
Three-day suspension for missing fingerprint evidence
© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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Comments (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/sunday_focus/articleComments/Officer-who-shot-student-had-history-of-not-1388322.php?gta=commentlistpos#commentlistpos) left for the above article, "Officer who shot student had history of not following orders (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=404479#p404479)" (by Brian Chasnoff; May 25, 2011; San Antonio Express-News), #s 1-20:
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Name withheld · 9:54 AM on May 20, 2011
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.[/list]
uh-huh · 10:51 AM on May 20, 2011
What the hell does that tell you about those who run the police department?
2008 · 12:31 AM on May 23, 2011
School district police departments are usually run by tyrants who are concerned about their big pay checks and seeing how many officer's careers they can ruin. There is no civil service and lynching parties are conducted quite frequently by these little dictators when someone has the audacity to challenge or stand up to something that is wrong. Officers are written up so they can be fired 'at will' the next time they make someone in the food chain mad. It's really a joke the way school districts are run. Rules are enforced on some and ignored on others. You'd have to be there to believe it. Therefore much of what is written about this officer's behavior may be nothing but gossip that was documented rightly or wrongly.
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erflowers-24327929 · 12:04 PM on May 20, 2011
But qualified, eager, police candidates who have integrity and loyalty, are not even considered unless they can pass a timed spelling test! Go figure...
TC-22614707 · 1:34 PM on May 20, 2011
Yes and I guess those "qualified, eager, police candidates who have integrity and loyalty" can't pass that timed spelling test....
Splash · 6:34 PM on May 22, 2011
Didn't they all supposedly have integrity when they joined??
Name withheld · 3:50 PM on May 23, 2011
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.[/list]
Liza_Null · 9:27 AM on May 25, 2011
Why would they be "qualified" if they can't spell? Good Lord.
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lawman-24254057 · 3:17 PM on May 20, 2011
its appears that police officers now days dont have the common sense to take time to talk to people.They just show up and arrest everyone and write a poor report. And innocent people end in jail and later end-up getting the case dismiss after spending their hard earned money for atty. fees. That s why some cops get injury ,because the lack of common sense to perform police duties. They don't issued common sense out of the academy. A lot of cops are scare of the public and because of that have a quick trigger finger. Specifically some of SAPD .
2008 · 12:35 AM on May 23, 2011
The intelligence level of many of today's so called police officers leaves a lot to be desired. And unfortunately many departments are selecting the inferior officer because they believe the candidate will be grateful enough for the job to not be a management problem. They won't hire someone that can think and reason right from wrong. Someone like that might ask questions and interrupt the "DO WHAT I SAY" nonsense. School districts are bad about telling their officers what to enforce and what to handle administratively. The law is not applied evenly and upper level school district administrators are usually the ones calling the shots for the field officers. Zero experience, zero qualifications but they are the ones telling the chief how things will be done when it comes to law enforcment.
Liza_Null · 11:23 AM on May 23, 2011
The vast MAJORITY of police officers that I have encountered have been exceedingly polite, helpful, and a source of reassurance for me. I truly felt protected, listened-to, and respected. That being said, when I read about instances like this, I'm aware that there's always two sides to every story. If a cop goes into that job believing that the majority of the people he encounters are "out to get him", then of course every single person he encounters is going to be a threat of some kind. If you look for trouble, trouble will surely find you.
It's kind of like the field of medicine - you can't POSSIBLY be effective, if you don't really like people.......
randerson307 · 7:21 PM on May 25, 2011
2008 they are selecting the canidates because there is not a lot to choose from anymore. Not a lot of people with an education and a spotless background want to be a police officer. A lot of sites have been lowered along with the pay. Even DPS is hiring former lawmen with so many years experence. Homer Garrison has to be spinning in his grave about now.
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lawman-24254057 · 3:22 PM on May 20, 2011
use your common sense all of the time and good discretion.That way u will be able to serve and protect and have most of the citizens behind you and you can look forward honorable retiring.Be safe and careful .(ten-four)
Sir_Bikesalot · 4:05 PM on May 20, 2011
Why is he still emplyed you ax? Unions. Now do you see how they have overstepped their bounds and have become the abusers?
navblue · 7:45 AM on May 21, 2011
You might want to read the story before you say that.
Nowadays you have arbitration where a civilian usually makes the final decision on a cop's career.
Even if the brass and sometimes the union want him or her gone.
2008 · 12:36 AM on May 23, 2011
School district officers do not have union protection. They do not have civil service. He remained employed because they weren't ready to really fire him yet...
randerson307 · 7:24 PM on May 25, 2011
Alfred E Newman is a good choice Sir Bikesalot.
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bobby-16365449 · 5:37 PM on May 20, 2011
Why are criminals in our schools? Why aren't they expelled? Could it be the more students the more federal dollars?
athleticfan · 10:45 PM on May 20, 2011
Students or not they are going ti be using federal dollars bc if u kick them out then you are gonna be paying for their welfare. Think!
Ref_Who_ · 11:31 PM on May 20, 2011
athleticfan....And if we keep them in school, they are going to LEARN something? I think not. They'll be on federal dollars anyway. They don't care. They need to be expelled and gotten out of the schools.
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© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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Comments (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/sunday_focus/articleComments/Officer-who-shot-student-had-history-of-not-1388322.php?gta=commentlistpos#commentlistpos) left for the above article, "Officer who shot student had history of not following orders (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=404479#p404479)" (by Brian Chasnoff; May 25, 2011; San Antonio Express-News), #s 21-40:
Camino · 9:20 PM on May 20, 2011
The NISD police department is a joke. I love the way they drive around and scan the schools during off hours. They rarely get out of their vehicles and walk the school grounds but just drive by and take a quick look wasting expensive fuel. Have also seen them several times stopping at BOA and doing personal banking during work hours. Eliminate the department!
athleticfan · 10:43 PM on May 20, 2011
Ya go ahead and eliminate it. Lol and we think the drugs and fights are a problem now? Ha! That was an idiotic statement, no matter what field of work youre in the are gonna be some bad apples, so I guess we just "eliminate it" huh?
Name withheld · 8:02 AM on May 21, 2011
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.[/list]
n3vino · 8:39 AM on May 22, 2011
Actually, some police are assigned to schools. One at each middle school. Not sure how many at high schools. Lot's of bullies and undisiplined kids at some of these schools. I've seen police on bikes at high schools patroling the area making sure some delinquent is not beating up on some kid walking home.
randerson307 · 7:26 PM on May 25, 2011
Yeah, but I'm sure Camino never did anything like that when he was working.
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Ref_Who_ · 11:36 PM on May 20, 2011
Hopefully, he'll get FIRED now. Then tried for murder. If his name wasn't Alvarado, he'd been fired by now.
Trevi_o84 · 10:23 AM on May 21, 2011
wont happen it was a good shooting. Saved us tax payer money in the long end
KDC · 8:20 PM on May 21, 2011
Just gotta slip that racism in there....
Ref_Who_ · 10:39 AM on May 23, 2011
IF the cop had not been a minority, NOBODY would have defended him. When society deals with "minorities" all kinds of organizations come out of the woodwork to defend him/her. Non-minority defendents are usually immediately fired, because no organization will come forward with $$$$$ to defend them. Fact or fiction????
javithekid · 11:03 AM on May 23, 2011
If minorities are defended (mostly constitutional cases) by organizations it is because the majority of minorities do not have the funds for proper legal counsel.For instance when do you ever see wealthy non hispanic or non black Americans on death row?? And how many minorities have been taken off death row for crimes they did not commit do to improper counsel and unfair prosecutors and bad police work??
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javithekid · 7:13 AM on May 21, 2011
Saying that just because his last name is Alvarado is the reason he has not been fired.Is an unfair innuendo. It doesnt matter if his last name was Wong or Smith. Stick to the issues.
Ref_Who_ · 11:28 AM on May 21, 2011
The reason I said this is because chances are real good that the ACLU or some other bogus organization would step in and defend him; thereby costing more $$$$ to the school district.
renesalgado · 1:35 PM on May 21, 2011
Ref,I agree with Javithekid and Xavier. If the ACLU steps in so what?? Your saying the chances are real good that the ACLU or another bogus organization will step in and defend him?? What other bogus organization do you seem to be afraid of?? I would not fear any bogus organization. I may not agree with some of the cases fought and won by the ACLU.But the courts have often ruled in their favor. ACLU bogus? Why, do you think the officer was treated unfairly? Because all your basing your theory on is the officers last name. Which is Hispanic. Right? Relax your concern or fear is not worth being concerned about.
Don-21761464 · 9:22 AM on May 25, 2011
Sadly, in school politic's that can be part of it.
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AG-21957984 · 7:33 AM on May 21, 2011
What school is this murderer at? I need to make sure my kids aren't there!
navblue · 7:47 AM on May 21, 2011
javithekiid- that is impossible in a place like this. You have too many who judge BY A NAME around here.
javithekid · 9:53 AM on May 21, 2011
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Xavier-22414844 · 7:52 AM on May 21, 2011
I know officer Alvarado. He is good individual. You guys are way off base here.
javithekid · 9:56 AM on May 21, 2011
I hope that does not include me? I try not to judge with my eyes closed.
ylopez5 · 1:05 PM on May 21, 2011
A good man, would you think that if he killed your son or brother or nephew!!! Derek Lopez was my nephew and he killed him after he was told not to pursue him!!! Because of him our family my sister's son had been taken from her, cause he was on some power trip!!
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© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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Comments (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/sunday_focus/articleComments/Officer-who-shot-student-had-history-of-not-1388322.php?gta=commentlistpos#commentlistpos) left for the above article, "Officer who shot student had history of not following orders (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=404479#p404479)" (by Brian Chasnoff; May 25, 2011; San Antonio Express-News), #s 41-60:
Name withheld · 7:09 AM on May 22, 2011
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.[/list]
Xavier-22414844 · 7:56 AM on May 22, 2011
This boy was expelled right? What was he doing at the school then? Where were his parents and family members? Why were they not preventing him from making bad decisions?
n3vino · 8:34 AM on May 22, 2011
I don't think the boy was at any school. If I am not wrong, he was at a bus stop waiting to kick sombody's butt.
OMAR · 4:40 PM on May 22, 2011
Is it possible be to be a good guy and incompetent?
ylopez5 · 6:35 PM on May 22, 2011
I honestly dont care what any of you people say!!! There just words of ignorance!!!! We won't be able to bring him back, but we will have justice!!!!
Splash · 6:42 PM on May 22, 2011
Good individual or not, he made a stupid decision. Look at his record. He has "NO" business being a law enforcement officer.
I didn't know thw young man that was killed, but good or bad we will never know what he was doing, so maybe all of you so quick to condem remember those words when it is one of your family members.
Name withheld · 6:58 PM on May 22, 2011
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.[/list]
gr8tgirl2 · 5:06 PM on May 23, 2011
Both the child and the officer were wrong and it ended tragically. We do not know how this kid was raised other than the fact that he had a record and was expelled from school. We know from the officer's record that he was not a responsible one. Money will not bring this child back, though.
QueImporta · 12:57 PM on May 25, 2011
ylopez: Sorry for you loss....
I don't think justice=$
You're family will have to acknowledge that Derek didn't help his situation by not being in school, was beating up another child, running from a cop, etc. His death was untimely. Be realistic about what you claim is justice.
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Name withheld · 9:53 AM on May 21, 2011
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.[/list]
John-21941554 · 10:06 AM on May 21, 2011
Why do school districts feel the need for a police department? Seems to me that they can rely on the local PD or sheriff's department just like the rest of us. This is a HUGE waste of taxpayer money. If school districts want to weather the budget storm, can the cops and keep teachers. After all, EDUCATION is your mission, right? RIGHT?
Trevi_o84 · 10:21 AM on May 21, 2011
Because local Pd's and Sheriff's offices are responding to the issues the parents of these wonderful young law abiding kids were raised by. Maybe you heard of this place in Colordo called Columbine? School police were the first on scene!
fidel.rodriguez · 11:54 AM on May 21, 2011
Trevi...I would NOT use Columbine as an example of good police work.
renesalgado · 1:36 PM on May 21, 2011
Splash · 6:44 PM on May 22, 2011
They are a huge waste of taxpayer dollars. All of the school departments can be consolidated under the SAPD or Sherriffs dept. I'm tired of seeing officers set in their car doing nothing while another directs traffic. Get out and help or go home.
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Name withheld · 10:10 AM on May 21, 2011
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.[/list]
Banned18Times · 10:55 AM on May 21, 2011
How low has our society sunk, that we need 'school police'?????
Must be some charming little kids were producing...
Liza_Null · 12:11 PM on May 23, 2011
And clearly Officer Alvarado is one of them.......
Name withheld · 4:05 PM on May 23, 2011
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.[/list]
Name withheld · 7:48 AM on May 25, 2011
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.[/list][/list]
© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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Comments (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/sunday_focus/articleComments/Officer-who-shot-student-had-history-of-not-1388322.php?gta=commentlistpos#commentlistpos) left for the above article, "Officer who shot student had history of not following orders (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=404479#p404479)" (by Brian Chasnoff; May 25, 2011; San Antonio Express-News), #s 61-80:
Don-21761464 · 9:03 AM on May 25, 2011
Poor parenting is producing a sea of troubled kids. Drop outs, gang members, and drug users. Drop out rates among our hispanic students hovers around 50 percent, teen pregnancies near national highs, then everything that goes with it,
Mac-18122429 · 7:33 PM on May 27, 2011
Actually, its a law to have them. Yes, they are worthless and yes, they are a total waste of money...but Austin decided that someone needed a kickback and passed a law saying we must have them.
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WASP · 1:37 PM on May 21, 2011
Heard the DA is gonna plan to prosecute the officer by sending it to the garnd jury for indictmet & the family of the deceased kid is consulting with an attorney,and planning to file a wrongful death suit aginst the officer,his supervisor,the police chief,and the superintendent of the NISD for several millions.
Chances are the officer will get indicted,and convicted since the kid was unarmed,and the school district will be begging to settle out of court.
Here's some news links to officers losing their careers for being "gung-ho"
http://www.hinterlandgazette.com/2010/1 ... isman.html (http://www.hinterlandgazette.com/2010/10/police-officer-richard-chrisman.html)
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/generic/new ... e-chrisman (http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/generic/news/phx-pd-ois-case-chrisman)
This what happens when an officer is "gun-ho",armed vs unarmed is gonna be defeat for the NISD in a civil lawsuit.[/list]
CountryPlace · 7:02 PM on May 22, 2011
Thumbs down for outrageously bad spelling.
2008 · 12:19 PM on May 23, 2011
Of course being a gang member, doing drugs, getting in fights, etc., made this kid a poster body for what parents want to see in their child. I mean he could have grown up to be president. Been done before so why not this kid?
Name withheld · 3:00 PM on May 23, 2011
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.[/list][/list]
OMAR · 4:02 PM on May 21, 2011
I knew we had not heard the last about that guy... I'm glad somebody took the time to investigate...
Name withheld · 6:14 PM on May 21, 2011
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.[/list]
Name withheld · 7:01 AM on May 22, 2011
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.[/list]
Liza_Null · 9:24 AM on May 25, 2011
You know him? Then feel free to call the DA's office and TELL THE DA what you know about this fool. Your information is needed to paint the picture of REALITY for the jury.
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Mongo · 10:53 PM on May 21, 2011
Wow, 20 comments and the story hasn't even been posted yet.
Since this is a "coming Sunday" story, I'll either have to read it in print or wait until Mon/Tues before it shows here.
I used to have a Weekend EN subscription, but then it morphed into a Fri/Sat/Sun version... then into Thurs/Fri/Sat/Sun and I finally had to switch to Sunday delivery only. I think I now pay a premium to avoid getting 3 extra papers a week - odd way to run a business!
Mongo · 10:56 PM on May 21, 2011
Remembering one of my favority Dan Cook columns...
He's explaining to his wife about the terms of his latest (and final) contract with the Express-News. He says they're gonna pay him a lot more but he's going to write fewer columns. She asks him "Did you ask them how much more they'd pay you to not write any columns at all?"
Ombudsman · 7:00 AM on May 22, 2011
Wonder if a suit can be filed for wrongful parenting? How convenient for this family to wash their hands of their personal responsibility for this tragic outcome by extorting money from a educational system that has been forced to field a police force to protect the good students from punks like their son. The substance of this officer's disciplinary record is administrative iin nature, and totally disconnected from his making a snap judgement against an aggresive suspect. This action, as all such police actions that cause the death of an individual, will be properly reviewed by a Grand Jury, who will use factual evidence and information to make their decision...unlike EN, which will undoubtedly connect the wrong dots to play upon the hype and sentiments surrounding this situation in order to sell more papers.
OMAR · 4:35 PM on May 22, 2011
Snap judgemnt? supervisor "dont pursue." officer: pursues. Outcome...murder..
Splash · 6:47 PM on May 22, 2011
The disciplinary record is administrative in nature. 12 warnings and 4 suspensions? Hmmm
upthere · 7:26 PM on May 22, 2011
I disagree, had he followed his supervisors orders then it probably would have a different ending. A different, probably more disciplined officer would have been the one in the backyard. Not someone pissed off because he didn't stop for him.
Liza_Null · 11:18 AM on May 23, 2011
You're as big an IDIOT as Alvarado. In fact, you sound like you're a relative of Alvarado. A close relative, at that. "Administrative" in nature? This cowboy COULD NOT FOLLOW DIRECTIONS. An "aggressive" suspect? Really? An UNARMED child? If that's what Alvarado considers to be a threat, then Alvarado is the wrong person for the job. And yes, a Grand Jury WILL decide, and when the facts are in, Alvarado is GOING DOWN. As well he should.
Liza_Null · 12:23 PM on May 23, 2011
Disobeying a DIRECT ORDER is not "administrative" in nature. His "snap judgements" is what got him all those write-ups and suspensions to begin with.
Name withheld · 2:54 PM on May 23, 2011
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.[/list][/list]
satexan · 9:12 AM on May 22, 2011
A Troubled School District Officer and a Troubled Youth collide. Each side had a history of not following orders. Comments from each side are claiming each individual were really good people. Records show otherwise as in most cases. If the Officer was fired this would not have happened. If the teen was better disciplined by parents this would not have happened. We could go on and on. Now each side blames the other for it's own problems. That's right their own problems that escalated throughout the years. It is an unfortunate incident. Learn from this ! Fix it.
© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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Comments (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/sunday_focus/articleComments/Officer-who-shot-student-had-history-of-not-1388322.php?gta=commentlistpos#commentlistpos) left for the above article, "Officer who shot student had history of not following orders (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=404479#p404479)" (by Brian Chasnoff; May 25, 2011; San Antonio Express-News), #s 81-100:
mgsatx-18308424 · 1:01 PM on May 22, 2011
Even if the kid wasn't perfect, this cop had no right to unilaterally impose the death penalty for a minor assault.
Splash · 6:48 PM on May 22, 2011
dr_gonzo · 9:38 PM on May 22, 2011
feduptoo · 11:27 PM on May 22, 2011
I agree with satexan 101%. Both of these individuals were at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Liza_Null · 12:11 PM on May 23, 2011
You sound as if the situation were entirely equal in nature. A 27-year-old man with ten years' law enforcement experience, vs. a 14-year-old CHILD?!?
If our expectations of the officer equal our expectations of a 14-year-old child, then our problems are far more SERIOUS than we thought........
kismet · 1:07 PM on May 23, 2011
Liza- you are right. The sides are not equal. The parents should bear the brunt of the blame.
45969 · 2:39 PM on May 23, 2011
liza keeps calling him a child, as if he were a good little boy playing in the front yard with his toy truck, no he was a little bad kid who had no respect, im not saying the cop was right because he was deffinatly wrong in shooting, and im not saying the boy got what he deserved, but when you try and act like a big boy, you get big boy actions taken toward you.
Name withheld · 2:51 PM on May 23, 2011
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.[/list]
Vor · 9:53 AM on May 25, 2011
Mac-18122429 · 7:30 PM on May 27, 2011
well then we should kill the officer and that way both are gone and society wont have to worry about either anymore....Deal?
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lala-24328461 · 12:18 PM on May 22, 2011
Is Alvarado the cop who beat up my nephew several times and tracked him down just to get his jollies? Wonder?
Name withheld · 4:02 PM on May 23, 2011
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.[/list][/list]
Charley-23909102 · 12:30 PM on May 22, 2011
I'm glad I don't pay taxes to the NISD, because they are going to lose, even if the family is also partially at fault for the kid's actions. As for the officer, saying he was "within inches and I was in fear of my life" doesn't jibe with the alleged lack of gunshot residue, nor witness accounts stating he had no marks or scratches on his face, when he alledges he was hit in the face by the shed door. He's going to be indicted, and is likely looking at conviction as well.
Liza_Null · 12:21 PM on May 23, 2011
Even if he was hit in the face by the shed door, he STILL knew it was very, very likely this kid was unarmed, as are the majority of kids his age. He disobeyed a DIRECT ORDER and took matters into his own hands. Now his life is ruined, and one life has ended forever.
Texian · 4:37 PM on May 25, 2011
Seems like the kid also disobeyed a DIRECT ORDER when he was told to HALT and took matters into his own hands too. He put his fate in his own hands when he hit the officer with the shed door, and the outcome was tragic. Was a bad decision on his part, he coulda just come out with his hands up. Just saying.
russell-23220136 · 5:09 PM on May 25, 2011
Texian, the officer had no apparent injuries after the incident. The autopsy shows that the kid was not near the officer when shot because there was no gun residue. Therefore, the officer lied, so how can you assume that the officer was hit by the shed door as the officer claims?
Texian · 6:21 PM on May 25, 2011
russell - Where did you read that the kid was shot at point blank where he would have gunpowder residue. I musta missed that.
russell-23220136 · 9:38 PM on May 25, 2011
Page 3--"In a report, Alvarado wrote that he was approaching the shed with his gun drawn when the door flew open, hitting him in the face. No witness recalled seeing any injuries to the officer's face after the shooting.
'The suspect bull rushed his way out of the shed and lunged right at me,' Alvarado wrote. 'The suspect was literally inches away from me, and I feared for my safety.'
Tracing the bullet's path into the boy's chest as it ricocheted off the pancreas, colon, right liver and left kidney and exited the stomach, an autopsy report notes a lack of gunpowder on Lopez's bloodstained T-shirt.
'There is no evidence of close range firing of the wound,' the report concludes."
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Banned18Times · 12:31 PM on May 22, 2011
Lemme guess--
UNION MEMBER??????
Xavier-22414844 · 5:08 PM on May 22, 2011
Please, this is Texas were talking about. Unions have no power.
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© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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Comments (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/sunday_focus/articleComments/Officer-who-shot-student-had-history-of-not-1388322.php?gta=commentlistpos#commentlistpos) left for the above article, "Officer who shot student had history of not following orders (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=404479#p404479)" (by Brian Chasnoff; May 25, 2011; San Antonio Express-News), #s 101-120:
mimisdogs · 7:58 PM on May 22, 2011
When my children were attending Jordan MS long time ago, he was assigned there. He always had a big attitude like he was God gift to humankind. I cannot understand why after 12 warnings and four suspensions he was still working for the district and allowed to carry a gun.
feduptoo · 11:36 PM on May 22, 2011
The one thing I really found interesting was that the kid that was being beat down by Derek Lopez has tried to play the whole thing down. The kid makes it sound like it wasn't a big deal that Derek was beating him up when the NISD officer drove up. I bet this kid was very happy that the officer was there to stop Derek from doing worse than slapping him upside his head. I bet my last 50 cents the busstop kid was pressured to change his story...
Liza_Null · 12:19 PM on May 23, 2011
Then again, maybe the busstop kid realizes that whatever it was, it wasn't worth a kid getting killed over it. And no one would've been killed, if the right thing had been done and Alvarado FIRED for incompetence.
kismet · 1:08 PM on May 23, 2011
And no one would have been killed if the right thing had been done when it came to parenting and disciplining this young man.
Insured_at_a_cost · 2:59 PM on May 23, 2011
the kid seemed like "trouble"
Wiggin · 1:15 AM on May 27, 2011
Yes, that doesn't jibe with being hit by an older kid to me.
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2008 · 1:04 AM on May 23, 2011
The question is asked many times why the need for school district police officers and why these duties aren't handled by the local sheriff or police department. The simple answer is they refuse to take care of the school districts without being paid to do so. Several school districts have asked for estimates for police services and each time they came back so high that it was cheaper to have their own.
Plus the school districts reap a benefit from their insurance providers if they have their own agencies. I've heard that in one case the savings was enough to fund the police department. Thus they had their police department for essentially nothing. Never got that confirmed but it was from a solid source.
2008 · 1:06 AM on May 23, 2011
In addition the amount of crime on a middle school or high school campus today in San Antonio is staggering. Between drug offenses, various thefts, burglaries, assaults, trespassing by expelled students and other neighborhood criminals, the schools have no choice but to provide police officers to protect the students that are there trying to get an education.
Furthermore, most school police officers receive more training than your civilian departments because of the increased liability of working on a campus with thousands of students under foot. The bigger school districts have instructors come in and teach these classes during the summer break, spring break and other non school days during the year. They are not inferior officers like some here obviously believe they are.
Mongo · 3:28 AM on May 23, 2011
Excellent post - thanks for the info.
45969 · 2:45 PM on May 23, 2011
have you ever called the cops? how long does it take for them to get there? there are cops at the schools because this is america and especially in san antonio, most kids are the result of teenage pregnancy with either a single mom trying to work and support her family and doesnt have time to attend to her child or parents who are just too chetto to care. we need cops on campus so that when stuff like school shootings happen, we wont have to wait for someone to show up to protect our kids.
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Name withheld · 7:40 AM on May 23, 2011
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.[/list]
Liza_Null · 12:17 PM on May 23, 2011
That's because we all had dad's that were far more frightening than any out-of-control police officer with a gun....... PLUS, I don't recall one - NOT ONE - fight among the boys that involved a gun. We didn't even KNOW people who carried guns, and the only guns in our homes were hunting rifles, maybe the occasional collection piece. But certainly we weren't into the gun scene. If one of my boyfriends from high school had pulled out a gun during a fist-fight, everybody standing around would have treated him with total CONTEMPT, "What, you can't settle this without a gun? What kind of P***Y are you, anyway, that you've got to bring a GUN?!?" He would've never been able to live it down. Things are different nowadays, if you DON'T carry a gun you're considered weak. Ridiculous. Totally ridiculous.
truetex · 11:12 AM on May 25, 2011
"If one of my boyfriends from high school had pulled out a gun during a fist-fight, everybody standing around would have treated him with total CONTEMPT, "What, you can't settle this without a gun? What kind of P***Y are you, anyway, that you've got to bring a GUN?!?" He would've never been able to live it down. Things are different nowadays, if you DON'T carry a gun you're considered weak. Ridiculous. Totally ridiculous".
Liza, what planet are you living on? this is San Antonio, hispanic and black TEENS shoot and kill someone every week. Are you not watching the news? The cop had every reason to be scared. Bottom line if MIJO hadn't been smacking that kid, hadn't run, hadn't been a dirt bag, he would be alive today. The cop would still be in trouble at work.
Texian · 4:45 PM on May 25, 2011
Back then, and even earlier, thugs carried knives and chains. I suppose guns were a lot more expensive and harder to come by.
n3vino · 6:18 PM on May 25, 2011
when I was in the ninth grade, back in 1959, a white girl stood up in her science class and killed a white guy with a gun.
But guns were not the norm back then. It was knifes. However, most fights were man to man. No weapons. Today these cowards start a fight and they pull a gun. And they consider themselves tough because they can shoot someone.
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Liza_Null · 10:56 AM on May 23, 2011
WHAT WE HAVE HERE, IS A 27-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO BEHAVED LIKE THE 14-YEAR-OLD CHILD HE KILLED. AND NO ONE DID ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. NOW IT'S TOO LATE.
NOW A CHILD IS DEAD AT THE HANDS OF AN IMMATURE MAN FOR WHOM THE RIGORS OF HIS VOCATION EXCEEDED HIS CAPABILITIES.
THIS MAN COULD NOT PERFORM THE DUTIES OF HIS POSITION. HE WAS INCAPABLE, BUT SAPD KEPT HIM EMPLOYED.
AND NOW A CHILD IS DEAD.
jchapp · 11:19 AM on May 23, 2011
Was agreeing with you dispite all the caps....but then you wrongly said SAPD. I believe the article clearly states "Northside Independent School District Police Officer Daniel Alvarado."
Liza_Null · 12:14 PM on May 23, 2011
You are right, "jchapp", the all-caps was not good. And you're also right, he's not a SAPD employee, he's an employee of the school district.
45969 · 2:50 PM on May 23, 2011
again i say, the cop was wrong and should be punished, at the same time this was no child. if this were a 20yr old, what would be your excuse? the "child" wasnt acting like a child.
Outsideview23 · 2:04 PM on May 26, 2011
A CHILD does not run from cops, a CHILD, does not bunch and fight other kids, a CHILD does not get suspened from school. This boy was not a CHILD. Now that family wants to act like they are here for the boy, well its a little too late. The CRIMINAL'S family should have been there to straighten out this rotten kid before the faced the law.
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© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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Comments (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/sunday_focus/articleComments/Officer-who-shot-student-had-history-of-not-1388322.php?gta=commentlistpos#commentlistpos) left for the above article, "Officer who shot student had history of not following orders (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=404479#p404479)" (by Brian Chasnoff; May 25, 2011; San Antonio Express-News), #s 121-140:
Ref_Who_ · 11:41 AM on May 23, 2011
To those of you who think my remarks are racist. They are not. All I'm saying is that if the cop hadn't been a "minority" then there would be no organization coming forward with $$$$ to defend him and draw the firing out. If the cop had not been a minority, the school district would have fired him after "several" of his instances and this would not have happened. The "kid", good or bad, did not deserve to be shot.
Ref_Who_ · 11:44 AM on May 23, 2011
I believe the family of the kid does hold some responsibility for his behavior, but we don't know the whole story on that do we? Did both parents work? Had they been to court to try to get help with his numerous problems? I personally know of a family with a terribly troubled child. They HAVE to work. Can't be with the kid 24-hours a day. The kid is WILD. The parents have begged the courts to lock the kid up for his own safey (and that of others). The courts just keep imposing a fine on the kid. Which of course isn't paid. But did this kid deserve to die? NO, he didn't. There are troubled kids in this world that parents flat cannot control, despite trying. Not saying that's the case in this instance, just saying those kids do exist in this country.
MLZ · 1:13 PM on May 23, 2011
Sorry, but any child who is "wild" or "troubled" is so because of the way they were raised. Babies are sponges and grow up to feel above the law, entitled, and bear no responsiblity for their own actions because of the inability of their parents to set ground rules and expect respect. It's really very simple, but then again, some people really shouldn't be allowed to pro-create. Not unless they are willing to put in the time and effort required to raise well productive members of society.
Ref_Who_ · 7:34 PM on May 23, 2011
MLZ you are so wrong. Get your head out of the sand. The family I'm referring to have 3 kids. All raised the same. Two have college degrees, excellent student. Worked their way through college to help pay the expenses. The 3rd kid, again, raised the exact same way as the other 3 is nothing but trouble. The parents have tried everything to intervene in this kid's life. Nothing has worked. I'm just so thankful that they have 2 successful kids. Else, they, just like people like you, would be blaming them. They did everything right. This kid is just BAD. Just be thankful, you do not have this problem.
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2008 · 12:22 PM on May 23, 2011
Finally got to read the story last night. Not much of a story except one written to give the family a leg up on their lawsuit. If the DA was going to indict the officer they probably would have by now. SAPD cleared him in their investigation and deemed it a lawful shooting. Seems the reporter here has more than a casual interest in the story since he's written most every article concerning the incident. And they've all been written from the viewpoint that the officer was wrong and the student was a misunderstood angel with wonderful parents, etc..... Seems he has an agenda which isn't surprising for this so called news organization.
Ref_Who_ · 7:40 PM on May 23, 2011
Where do you get that idea? Read how many violations the officer has had!!!!!
Name withheld · 11:55 AM on May 24, 2011
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.[/list]
thrilldayoda · 10:30 AM on May 25, 2011
From most of your posts, it appears you have an agenda against the EN. just sayin'.
russell-23220136 · 5:17 PM on May 25, 2011
"SAPD cleared him in their investigation and deemed it a lawful shooting."
The autopsy proves that the officer lied. Just because SAPD makes kool-aid, it doesn't mean I have to drink it.
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2008 · 12:23 PM on May 23, 2011
Also find it amazing that after all the front page headlines here concerning the print only story now you can't even find this story without doing a search for it. Strange.
For those who haven't bought the paper to see the story, save your money. Not worth reading.
MLZ · 1:18 PM on May 23, 2011
So many people crying foul over this poor "child". Believe what you want to believe, keep your head in the sand if you wish, but a 14 year old who has SUSPENDED from school, and one an elementary school at that, is NOT a child. He's a punk. Fair or not, every action has consequences. He had a history of breaking the rules and I saw no involvement from the parents to make him responsible for it. Now they are "overly involved" trying to gain justice. Give me a break. You should have been involved from the get-go, teaching him that heading down this path would have serious consequences. It's sad that it came to this, but you don't hear about this from kids who go to school, respect authority and have supportive parents who teach them right from wrong.
MLZ · 1:19 PM on May 23, 2011
45969 · 2:51 PM on May 23, 2011
thats what ive been saying!!
OMAR · 10:17 PM on May 23, 2011
Sounds like the officer had a history of breaking the rules as well....
hoghuntin · 9:15 AM on May 24, 2011
a kid should not have to die because he got in a fight, or die because he had been suspended
MLZ · 11:19 AM on May 24, 2011
No, he should not have had to die, but HE put HIMSELF in the situation where the possibility was there. Plain and simple. It's not like he was an innocent bystander. Again, actions have consequences. Period.
OMAR · 7:14 PM on May 24, 2011
You put yourself in a position to die every time you get on the road to go to work, so if a fatal accident were to occur it would be less tragic?
thrilldayoda · 10:33 AM on May 25, 2011
Hmm. you must have been following his family a long time to make a judgement about involvement. Blame can be spread towards both sides, and until all facts are in, who are we to judge either way?
feduptoo · 11:05 AM on May 25, 2011
thrilldayoda...as an overworked NISD taxpayer that may have to pay part of the the hush money to the Lopez family, I very much have a right to have an opinion or a point of view on this topic.
MLZ · 2:41 PM on May 25, 2011
@Omar, that ridiculous comment doesn't even deserve a response, but here goes...getting into my car is NOT breaking the law! Enough said. @thrilldayoda, when a kid misbehaves this badly, the parental involvement is either non-existent or they put the blame on others. I've worked with children for over 18 years and I have the experience to speak.
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© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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Comments (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/sunday_focus/articleComments/Officer-who-shot-student-had-history-of-not-1388322.php?gta=commentlistpos#commentlistpos) left for the above article, "Officer who shot student had history of not following orders (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=404479#p404479)" (by Brian Chasnoff; May 25, 2011; San Antonio Express-News), #s 141-160:
OMAR · 4:51 PM on May 25, 2011
yeah because i'm sure you dont speed bottom line is, every time we are in a position where could be in danger is it right that it occurs due to somebody else's incompetence.
MLZ · 8:36 AM on May 26, 2011
If "we" are in any situation where we could be in danger, and we are NOT breaking the law, then"we" are innocent if something happens to us! This punk ran after taking a punch at a kid, not to mention that assault had been one crime he already had a record of. You're talking apples and oranges. YES we put ourselves in danger driving, flying, crossing the street, but we are NOT breaking the law while doing it. And NO I do not speed! Never had a speeding ticket in my life, thank you very much! : )
Name withheld · 7:20 PM on May 26, 2011
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.[/list][/list]
feduptoo · 2:16 PM on May 23, 2011
Mr. Lopez's family wants to sellthe potntial jury pool out there that this kid was angel. Okay...well it's very interesting that the picture of Derek in this story shows him in the "what's up" fierce gangsta pose. The news story should have provided a picture of him smiling instead of trying to look all hard and dangerous.
On the reverse side, the cop is smiling and looking like officer friendly. The cop is no angel either, but he knows the value of public relations and presentation.
Name withheld · 11:47 AM on May 25, 2011
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.[/list][/list]
javithekid · 2:57 PM on May 23, 2011
RefWho- You say "IF the cop had not been a minority, NOBODY would have defended him."If minorities are defended (mostly constitutional cases) by organizations it is because the majority of minorities do not have the funds for proper legal counsel.For instance when do you ever see wealthy non hispanic or non black Americans on death row?? And how many minorities have been taken off death row for crimes they did not commit due to improper counsel and unfair prosecutors and bad police work?
gr8tgirl2 · 4:35 PM on May 23, 2011
From 1973 until now, 137 death row inmates have been exonerated. 65 were black, 52 were white and the rest were either asian or latino. The numbers speak for themselves. Don't throw out the race card (BTW, San Antonio is 58.7% Hispanic, 33% White and 8.3% other. Technically, as a white person I am now the minority. In this day and age, race needs to stop being the issue!
javithekid · 7:21 PM on May 23, 2011
You miss the point were any of those inmates that were enonerated wealthy,or educated?? Many did not have a 10th. grade education. Iam sure that the white inmates were poor whites..Bottom line the death penalty is reserved for the poor and uneducated.Maybe you should direct your race issue to RefWho. He spoke of minorities and in being so, get defended by "Bogus" groups? 175 have deen exonertated by DNA testing thanks to the innocence project. Read my postings more carefully Iam against racism.But unfortunately it is still a big issue.
Ref_Who_ · 7:31 PM on May 23, 2011
Gr8tgirl2. I agree 100%. Race needs to quit being an issue. The LULAC and NAACP pick their cases to "defend" based solely on RACE. This is BS. I still stick by my statement that if this had been a "white boy" he would have been fired long, long ago for insubordination.
renesalgado · 8:18 AM on May 24, 2011
Ref_Who-I agree with javi, by the way in the first place,your the one who brought up race to begin with,when you mentioned the officer's last name Alvarado,meaning hispanic.In the following context"If his name wasn't Alvarado,
he'd been fired by now." All javi said was stick to the issue.But you continue to bring up the issue of minorites or hispanic(s).Yet you say your are not racist?? Maybe you are not aware of what you say or how you put things? Now let move on,and stick tot he issues of maybe this person being a bad officer.
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uh-huh · 3:49 PM on May 23, 2011
A mother has lost her son, people. He was thug, he was a loser, he was a trouble maker...fine, but A MOTHER HAS LOST HER SON! Have some damn compassion.
feduptoo · 5:40 PM on May 23, 2011
What would u have us all do to show "compassion" here? Pretend like the kids record did not exist? Would u have us ignore that the sequence of events that put this horrible tradegy into motion started with Derek Lopez beating down some kid at a busstop?
feduptoo · 5:42 PM on May 23, 2011
And for the record, I am troubled by the cops past. But as it's been said before both of these indivudals were bad actors.
feduptoo · 5:58 PM on May 23, 2011
I guess the main thing I can't get past is Derek was beating up someone (going upside someone's head) when the NISD cop started chasing him. If he was simply mouthing off or something like that I could feel more sympathy here.
Name withheld · 8:00 PM on May 23, 2011
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thrilldayoda · 10:38 AM on May 25, 2011
No opinion for either side. Just to clarify, The "beat-down" victim said it was just one punch, no big deal to him, at a bus stop, not school property.
Outsideview23 · 2:07 PM on May 26, 2011
$5 that this kid probably would have taken a son away from their mother on the path he was going on.
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uh-huh · 3:52 PM on May 23, 2011
The boy didn't follow rules. He got into way too much trouble. He didn't respect or obey authority. He has lost his life because of it. This school cop, however, did not follow rules or obey authority either. He took someone else's life into his own hands. He did not do it in self-defense, as I suspect if he had, this fact would have been plastered all over this article. He killed someone one because of it. There is no right here. You involve two loose cannons, and someone is going to get hurt.
uh-huh · 3:56 PM on May 23, 2011
Oh...sorry...the school cop feared for his life as a boy half his size and age "lunged" at him. My bad.
thrilldayoda · 10:39 AM on May 25, 2011
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Comments (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/sunday_focus/articleComments/Officer-who-shot-student-had-history-of-not-1388322.php?gta=commentlistpos#commentlistpos) left for the above article, "Officer who shot student had history of not following orders (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=404479#p404479)" (by Brian Chasnoff; May 25, 2011; San Antonio Express-News), #s 161-180:
Texian · 8:29 PM on May 25, 2011
uh-huh - Size, or lack of it, is irrelevant. Remember, David dropped the giant with one stone.
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hoghuntin · 5:09 PM on May 23, 2011
Seriously, I can't believe the school district kept this officer employed.. How are you going to count on someone to make the right decision in a tense situation when they can't even write their reports!!! The kid could have been a troublemaker, but he was unarmed. A 14 year old child should not have had to die because of this.
feduptoo · 5:50 PM on May 23, 2011
You're right...the kid should not have died. It's a tragedy that the kid made bad choices that led to this event.
hoghuntin · 9:12 AM on May 24, 2011
Its a tragedy that a police officer shot a child because he was in a fight with another student. If the police officer had followed procedures he would not have panicked and shot this unarmed child.
mgsatx-18308424 · 10:01 AM on May 25, 2011
feduptoo, it seems the cop made even worse choices that led up to this murder.
thrilldayoda · 10:40 AM on May 25, 2011
Bad choices on both sides. sigh. Crash
QueImporta · 12:50 PM on May 25, 2011
how is one to know the person in the shed is unarmed? i don't blame the officer for having his gun armed. from what we do know, the kid charged out of the shed. That might cause someone to shoot. You don't have time to ask a suspect charging you "do you have a weapon?"
It's sad the child died, let all the other parents and troubled children learn from this story.
Texian · 5:52 PM on May 25, 2011
No one knew the kid was unarmed until after the fact. Hindsight is 20-20.
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cookie1982 · 5:12 PM on May 23, 2011
To say that this would not have happened if the child were a "good" student is ridiculous. It doesn't matter if he was a troubled student or a straight A student...there is no justification for the senseless killing.
feduptoo · 5:52 PM on May 23, 2011
"Sense-less" implies that the cause of something is not known. The cause here is known. A combination of probably bad parenting, bad choices from Derek, and a severe lapse of judgement from the police officer. The so called "perfect storm".
Ref_Who_ · 7:36 PM on May 23, 2011
Teenagers make bad choices. Adults shoudl NOT be consistently making bad choices AND getting paid for them. NSID needs to pay and pay big for this. THEY should have fired this guy long ago.
2008 · 9:21 PM on May 23, 2011
I disagree with your opinion that it wouldn't have happened had the kid been a good student. Point is had he been a good student he wouldn't have been where he was so it would have been prevented! He wouldn't have been hitting anyone nor been in this situation had he been a good student and more importantly a good person. There is no justification for his actions and those actions are what got him killed.
hoghuntin · 9:08 AM on May 24, 2011
FYI, senseless does NOT imply that the cause of something is not known. It means meaningless, or foolish. Something done without "sense" either way, a kid should not have died because he got in a fight
hoghuntin · 9:10 AM on May 24, 2011
Really 2008??? You think a child should die because they got in a fight with another student? You think those actions are worthy of death? give me a break
truetex · 11:29 AM on May 25, 2011
cookie, the kid died because he was NOT a law abiding citizen. Any law abiding citizen would not have been beating up on another. And a law abiding citizen would NOT have run from the police.
His life of crime got him killed.
QueImporta · 12:44 PM on May 25, 2011
It totally matters! Do you think a "good" student would be "fleeing" from police? Would he assualt another child for no reason? Would he obey an officers verbal command? It's sad that he died, but he wasn't a radnom kill, it was justified based on the facts that WE have been told so far.
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OMAR · 10:16 PM on May 23, 2011
A punk yes, lack of parenting, definitely, but did this kid deserve to die? Rhetorical question...
Texian · 8:19 PM on May 25, 2011
No one deserves to die like he did, but he placed his fate in his own hands when he failed to stop when he was told to, or to come out of the shed with his hands up.
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matseu · 8:34 AM on May 25, 2011
If the situation described by the officer is fact then you wont find any other agency that will prosecute him. If you bring in the Rangers, FBI, or any other organization that investigates these things, they will all clear him.
As for why he was still employed, ASK YOU FAVORITE UNION REPRESENTATIVE!
Pristine · 8:53 AM on May 25, 2011
If parents would teach their children respect, AND respect for authority, they wouldnt have to worry about school police. This child was allowed to grow up wild, and the parents are to blame.
© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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Comments (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/sunday_focus/articleComments/Officer-who-shot-student-had-history-of-not-1388322.php?gta=commentlistpos#commentlistpos) left for the above article, "Officer who shot student had history of not following orders (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=404479#p404479)" (by Brian Chasnoff; May 25, 2011; San Antonio Express-News), #s 181-200:
mgsatx-18308424 · 9:58 AM on May 25, 2011
Do you know this kid or his family? At what point in the incident described would it have been okay for this cop to shoot the kid if it that kid were your teenage son?
QueImporta · 12:41 PM on May 25, 2011
The child had a serious record at a young age. He should have been at his ALT school, but he wasn't there...
It is a sad story, but I'm sure "students" from his former school benefited from realizing firsthand that your actions can lead to unfortunate outcomes.
Texian · 8:17 PM on May 25, 2011
mgsatx - I think you have your wires crossed. That wasn’t Pristine’s kid that got shot. Pristine demonstrates a level head and clear thinking on raising his/her kids. I doubt that his/her kids would have been in that predicament.
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Don-21761464 · 9:32 AM on May 25, 2011
Folks, poor parenting is strangling our school system is about to give us generations of dysfunctional families. Drop out rates among our hispanic boys continues to hover around 50 percent, we have 11 and 12 year olds having babies, kids who need values clarification in pre-school because they have parents who are valueless. In fact, when one teacher called a parents because the student continually was disrupting the class, the parent said, "That's your problem, not mine." I wonder what kind of family the officer came from?
feduptoo · 2:42 PM on May 25, 2011
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Don-21761464 · 10:13 AM on May 25, 2011
Better parenting, better students. Good parenting includes impulse control, anger management, and delayed gratification. Tip of an iceberg, that is all we are seeing here from the officers to the students.
sports_medic · 10:15 AM on May 25, 2011
This kid is worth more to his family dead than alive. They'll get their check, get to act like the victim, and won't have to worry about bailing their kid out of trouble anymore.
NISD was negligent in how the handled the officer. Any settlement from this should go to some charity, after school program or diversion program where it might actually accomplish some good. Raising a juvenile delinquent should not be a lottery ticket.
[email protected] · 10:26 AM on May 25, 2011
Name withheld · 11:43 AM on May 25, 2011
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QueImporta · 12:38 PM on May 25, 2011
sad but likely true ($ wise)
It wont bring the child back, but the family will likely benefit financially from it...
working_for_you · 1:40 PM on May 25, 2011
Wow. That was such a horrible thing to put on this comment board. May God have mercy on your cold, cold heart.
MLZ · 8:41 AM on May 26, 2011
There have definately been instances of families wanting "justice" who have sued only for the cost of the lawyers and other court fees. THAT is seeking justice. When you start suing for money then you are putting a price tag on your child. There is NO amount of money in the world worth the lives of my two sons. They are priceless!
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SAVOICE · 10:28 AM on May 25, 2011
In my opinion these parents are now trying to step up after years and years of slacking off. Children dont just become hoodlums like this kid became. The mother needs to just step up and take the responsibility of creating a thug. Dont blame police.. Blame yourselves!
jim76 · 11:04 AM on May 25, 2011
But he was such an angel at home, he cooked, and helped his siblings with their home work...
dancertexas · 11:56 AM on May 25, 2011
Hey SAVOICE! I didn't know you knew the mother personally! Surely you do, only someone who knows her can form an opinion like this. Please give her our regards, thanks!
QueImporta · 12:34 PM on May 25, 2011
Dancer:
This isnt an obituary page. This is a more indepth artilce on the sad story of events. VOICE is entilted to his opinon just as you are. He/She isn't blasting the mom at the funeral or online obituary. Just saying that parents should hold themselves accountable.
You said you have a good kid at home that can become someone else at school. HANDLE it before it gets worse. If you just sit on your hands, thats bad parenting.
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jlrtx · 11:25 AM on May 25, 2011
I must disagree with the comments stating partial fault on the suspect's side (ie. "If he was better disciplined... it's his parents fault"). At the time of the initial incident, the officer did not know who the kid was. All he knew was that one kid punched another. It's not a far fetched thought of kids fighting.
The article doesn't make it clear if the 14 year old had been identified by name or if his record had been communicated to the officer before his confrontation at the shed. Given the suspect's common name, more than likely not. If anything, as far as the officer knew, this was just any other 14 year old kid.
In a time where officers have several non-lethal options to subdue a suspect (pepper spray, tasers, k9s), jumping straight to deadly force needs to be questioned.
The officer was completely wrong in his actions and this wrong can not be justified by the past actions of the suspect. Let's not forget during his search for the suspect, he had the original victim as a passenger; putting him in potentially more danger and leaving him unsupervised as he searched for the suspect.
jim76 · 11:47 AM on May 25, 2011
Really, so personal accountability goes out the window??? Forget the fact that an officer told him to stop, and by not doing so it cost him his life, that the officer didnt just stop him for no reason, but because he was commiting an assult. Just like the officer had no idea about the kids past, he had no idea what the kid was doing in a shed, what do you keep in a shed, gardening equipment, like hedge clippers, axes, things that can be used as weapons. Did he deserve to die, hell no, but had he stopped, he'd be alive today...
jim76 · 11:52 AM on May 25, 2011
What most people don't realize, there are cops out there that really want to shoot people. I have had a cop tell me this after I did nothing wrong, but the idiot couldnt tell the diffrence between an amreican and a forigen car, and I called him on it. He was bacically bragging about almost shooting me, and said he should have cuz I was a smart aleck kid that thought he knew everything. Was I doing anything wrong, no, I was with a friend in a mecury topaz, and someone in a Camry had been carjacked. Shouldnt an officer know the difference?
dancertexas · 11:53 AM on May 25, 2011
Don't forget, jim, that if the officer had followed orders to "stay here" the kid would be alive. There have been countless people who do not stop when an officer tells them too, but they don't lose their lives for it, they get tackled, or tased, but they don't get shot, especially when they're only 14 and unarmed.
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Comments (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/sunday_focus/articleComments/Officer-who-shot-student-had-history-of-not-1388322.php?gta=commentlistpos#commentlistpos) left for the above article, "Officer who shot student had history of not following orders (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=404479#p404479)" (by Brian Chasnoff; May 25, 2011; San Antonio Express-News), #s 201-220:
feduptoo · 12:06 PM on May 25, 2011
If the cop had "tased" the kid, then you all would be mad about the taser saying that was a mean thing to do. Happens all the time when the cops use the taser.
jim76 · 12:07 PM on May 25, 2011
True, apparently, both people involved in this unfortunate series of events had issues listening to authority figures. What we have is an unfortunate "Perfect Storm." People that don't stop when told to by an officer don't get shot, but those taht jump out of places that a cop has no idea what you are doing, more likely. I learned after my incidnet, never give them a reason, being right doesn't matter, if you are dead.
feduptoo · 12:13 PM on May 25, 2011
jim76, as a Black male, my grandmother drilled it into my head over and over and over to always stop when a cop approaches you and do what you're told. If you have a complaint, get the badge number and deal with it later. The street or the side of the road is no place to back talk a cop. That advice has always served me well.
jlrtx · 12:29 PM on May 25, 2011
"If the cop had "tased" the kid, then you all would be mad about the taser saying that was a mean thing to do."
I agree, there would also be criticism on the use of a taser. It is still, in most situations, a non-lethal option compared to drawing a firearm. And in this case, we probably would rather be reading a story about a 14 year old being tased instead of a 14 year old being killed.
Jim:
I do believe in personal accountability but in this case, the punishment does not fit the crime. The kid could have been hiding in the shed with no intentions to murder anyone; he dashes to get away. Yes, the officer didn't know what the kid might have been thinking but ask any tactical officer, you don't rush a room when a suspect is armed. Even with worst-case-scenario mentality and his training, the officer committed a mistake.
Lethal force is a last resort and officers are trained to only draw and shoot with the intentions to kill. Such an option should only be reserved for the most dangerous situations; not a kid hitting another and running.
QueImporta · 12:30 PM on May 25, 2011
Cause and effect:
You run, your likely going to be pursued. If you charge at an officer (even if to run away) you might get shot. The kid still put himself in the situation. He could have stayed put when told to "Freeze." His actions lead him to his eventual death. It's a sad story but those are the facts.
jim76 · 1:27 PM on May 25, 2011
Agreed, the kid may have not had the intentions of murding the police officer, but the officer does't know that, and I wouldn't give any officer an opportunity to have to make that decision. the officer didnt rush into the shed, the kid rushed out, which, could be disputed given the forensics. Then punishment does not fit the crime, in all honesty I don't really like cops, and dont care for the one in this case, but at the same time, it is regretable that a 14 year old is dead, and doesn't have to be, but is because of his own actions. I agree with what someone else said, if the family was out for justice, they wouldnt be making this into a payday.
jim76 · 1:28 PM on May 25, 2011
Where were the parents when all of this was happening? when he was beating up a kid, or vandalizing a school? Taking drugs to school, they didn't have money to fight it, but we all have a right to an attorney, if one can't be affored, they will appoint one to you in criminal court.
jim76 · 1:29 PM on May 25, 2011
If this was my kid or nephew, I would be upset, but not at the officer, more so at the kid and or the parent for putting himself in that situation.
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javithekid · 11:46 AM on May 25, 2011
I dont want to judge, but if the officer is found to be guilty he should be replaced. Police should be screened better. Take Arizona's Sheriff Joe. It was just discovered that 3 of his own employee's, one sheriff and two detention officer's were arrested yesterday in a drug and human trafficking case. And imagine this!! One of the female detention officers is 8 months pregnant with the child of Francisco Arce Torres, a member of the Mexican Sinaloa cartel. That police agency like the one Alvarado works for,should have screened better.Now how much of that drug cartel has infiltrated that police agency?? Fire the guilty parties including their boss Sheriff Joe.That is a total breach of Arizona and maybe national security.[/list]
renesalgado · 11:57 AM on May 25, 2011
truetex · 1:07 PM on May 25, 2011
javithekid,
Are you insinuating that Sheriff Joe forced Torres and his officer to have relations that caused her to become pregnant? Why would Sheriff Joe be responsible for her actions? Isn't any dirt bag responsible for their own actions anymore? When are we going to start holding everyone accountable for their own actions?
renesalgado · 2:07 PM on May 25, 2011
truetex,It seems to me your more concerned about defending Sheriff Joe even thought it is obvious he did not screen those 3 officer's and 7 more are under investigation.Are you not concerned about Arizona and Maybe National security?? Javi has a point! Heads should roll in Arizona and the one in charge always takes the responsibility and the heat,he should step down.I just hope that does not happen here or anywhere else in the USA.
truetex · 2:46 PM on May 25, 2011
renasalgado,
Not defending Joe, we don't know when she and the others were hired. So we don't know how long she had the relationship with Mr. Torres.
Is the sheriff responsible for all or the actions of every employee he has?
NO
My point is, when do we just say YOU F@#$ed up, and YOU, and only YOU are responsible.
One day someone is going to do something stupid, and it's going to be your fault.
truetex · 2:53 PM on May 25, 2011
BTW I am very concerned about Nat Security. That is why I support securing the border, removing illegals, no amnesty, no dream(nightmare) act.
renesalgado · 5:06 PM on May 25, 2011
Truetex-Iam sorry I do not agree. The buck stops with the head of any department and that goes for that Arizona sheriff.Whom I believe has made a career for himself bandwagoning on illegal or undocumented people,instead of doing his civic and local duties,and look what it got him? He wasnt watching his own back yard and the cartel has now probably infiltrated his own office.How much wio knows? Do you think that the female officer who is pregant with that Sinaloa cartel member will not try to have her boyfriend get even?? I think that Sheriff Joe opened himself a can of worms.That sheriff is responsible for his employee's.
javithekid · 5:27 PM on May 25, 2011
truetex, Iam not insinuating anything. Iam merely posting what I consider to be a fact.And public knowledge.The negative actions of any enforcement agency,should hold accountable its person in charge,in this case Sheriff Joe. It is rather silly to suggest, that Sheriff Joe is responsible for a officer getting pregnant,But 3 officer's (including the pregnant female officer) were arrested for drug and human trafficking. And 7 MORE officer's are being investigated.All under the nose of Sheriff Joe. It goes to show that there was, and probably still is bad leadership and poor screening in that Dept. Your pass the buck theory does not apply here.
truetex · 8:14 AM on May 26, 2011
Your are fooling yourself.
Almost every law enforcement agency in the world has had it's share of bad cops arrested for a variety of violations and mistakes. The head of the agency is almost NEVER held accountable for the actions of an incompatent officer.
As i said before, one day some one close to you is going to make a drastic mistake, or just screw up, and you are going to find yourself responsible.
Are you prepared to accept that? I think not when it involves you
No one is responsible for anyones actions, unless you forced/compeled/assisted in their actions.
javithekid · 11:39 AM on May 26, 2011
Truetex-Sheriff Joe's agency is not just ANY another agency. It is filled with corruption,99 million dollars is mishandled taxpayer money,millions in out of court settlements, federal civil rights violations lawsuits,ongoing and The sheriff just lost one.Civil rights investigations,Federal grand jury investigation for abuse of power by this sheriff.Both investigations are still on going.Last week a pettion was filed asking that his agency be taken in receivership by the Feds.This is a agency that should be cleaned up.We will see if Joe is not held liable.I feel he will be found liable,one way or another.Now, he just might have to worry about these Sinaloa characters.It is best for Arizona and himself if he just steps down.
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dancertexas · 11:48 AM on May 25, 2011
Her son sounds a lot like my son (we're also Lopez's), model kid at home, but at school he goes from Jekyl to Hyde. As for the officer, it's all about kissing the right behind, sad but true.
QueImporta · 12:05 PM on May 25, 2011
make sure your son reads this article. leasson for him to learn if he keeps acting up in school...
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dancertexas · 12:10 PM on May 25, 2011
What should I tell him? Don't hide in sheds because officers who can't obey a simple order like "STAY HERE" will shoot you?
feduptoo · 12:33 PM on May 25, 2011
dancertexas...that's exactly what u should tell him. And also tell him not to be a gangsta and this won't happen to you.
dancertexas · 12:37 PM on May 25, 2011
lol fedup okay i will tell him thx!
feduptoo · 12:47 PM on May 25, 2011
You're welcome. My grandmother gave me almost the same advice growing up as a Black male on the city's eastside. And I listened. She always told me to follow orders and respect law enforcement. She said never, ever do anything that will give the cop a reason to shoot you.
jim76 · 1:35 PM on May 25, 2011
All an officer needs is an excuse, it can be one as stupid as, "I thought he was going for something" as I stated earlier, one told me that had I gave him a reason, he'd have shot me, even though I had done nothing wrong other than maybe being hispanic. Don't give them a reason!!! you may wanna get your son some help, sounds like he has some passive-agressive issues he needs help with. Not trying to be mean, but there has to be a reason there are two sides of him.
Name withheld · 1:57 PM on May 25, 2011
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Name withheld · 1:58 PM on May 25, 2011
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Kim · 3:29 PM on May 25, 2011
Dancertexas: I detected a bit of sarcasm in your response to feduptoo about talking to your son. This may sound crass but you can talk to him now or bury him later. The choice is yours. Fedup's grandmother had some very sound advice for him when he was growing up. Your son would be wise to heed it too.
Texian · 7:59 PM on May 25, 2011
Dancer - If you know for a fact that "at school he goes from Jekyl to Hyde", why haven't you taught him/her proper respect for others? Seems to me this would fall under your responsibility.
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renesalgado · 11:54 AM on May 25, 2011
Javi,Wow! is right.I havent been up on the Arizona news. That is scary.
Antonio-22304653 · 12:11 PM on May 25, 2011
Wow! At the age of 14 this kid is no longer a child. Also, what an impressive wrap sheet, drug possession, theft, assault, all by the age of 14. I know this is horrid for his mother to go through, but you reap what you sew. I'm sure his family is distraught and they cannot see that they have nobody to blame but themselves. Again the answer in our society is find a scum bag attorney who's willing to investigate...i mean file suit! The young man assaulted another kid, ran, hid in a shed, lunged when the office opened the shed and the officer reacted. Please don't confuse the facts of this incident with the officer's past history. The comments are "If he would've been fired, this wouldn't have happend." REALLY? How about if that kid didn't punch another kid in the face, then run and hide from an officer, this would not have happened. Yeah, I'm buying the latter.
Fed-up_US_Citizen · 12:29 PM on May 25, 2011
I agree, this "child" was on a really bad path, and on this same path, his death would have happened sooner or later, or be spending his life in prison.
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Fed-up_US_Citizen · 12:35 PM on May 25, 2011
The relative made a comment about wanting justice, where was the family when he was committing his crimes, where's the justice for those victims. I'm sorry his death happened the way it did, but the family should have stepped up sooner, there's a lot of "what ifs" and "this shouldn't have happened" but it did and there are a lot of people kicking themselves now, from family members to friends to teachers who knew this boy and knew what choices he was making and could have stepped in. And I'm sure the officer is in his own hell right now.
512-220-2427 · 1:32 PM on May 25, 2011
As a former law enforcement officer, parent and current public school educator, this whole incident is horrible. This officer should have been arrested at the very least for criminal negligent homicide. I am truely sadden by the school district's failure to supervise their officers. The district attorney needs to be replaced for failing to protect our children from further harm or resign immediately
aural_pleasure · 2:18 PM on May 25, 2011
typical rent a cop behavior. newsflash: the position for eric estrada has already been filled BY ERIC ESTRADA!
TonyB · 3:43 PM on May 25, 2011
Bad Kid, Bad Cop, Bad circumstances, this story is just toxic. My heart goes out for the kids family a young life was snuffed out unnecessarily. Lesson to be learned parent(s) raise your kids knowing what is right or wrong in life. Good and bad choices in life will have consequences. I pray for the family.
mrs.s · 4:12 PM on May 25, 2011
Obviously this boy was not a prized student or citizen. That is something that mommy or his family will never admit too. Admitting that her son was a punk is admitting that her parenting skills were probably lacking at best. Let's hope that her breeding days are over, and her other kids have learned a lesson about respecting and obeying the law!!
elvez · 5:38 PM on May 25, 2011
I'm sure your little angels never once got into a fight or broke a window or wrecked a car. All death sentence offenses according to you. I hope your breeding days are over. Obviously your thinking days are.
ssgtflip · 9:58 PM on May 26, 2011
Wrecked a Car??? He was 14, what the...
Name withheld · 5:25 PM on May 27, 2011
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© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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Comments (http://http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/sunday_focus/articleComments/Officer-who-shot-student-had-history-of-not-1388322.php?gta=commentlistpos#commentlistpos) left for the above article, "Officer who shot student had history of not following orders (http://http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=37671&p=404479#p404479)" (by Brian Chasnoff; May 25, 2011; San Antonio Express-News), #s 241-255:
RAM · 5:10 PM on May 25, 2011
DamnSkippy · 6:45 PM on May 25, 2011
This whole tragedy reminds me of the old saying 'Two wrongs don't make a right', except in this case insert problem behavior and pleasant outcome. Seems to me this was very avoidable.
mgarfy · 7:48 PM on May 25, 2011
sad story both the police officer and teen (who was no angel) end up with a death and career ending incident now some attorney will try to make a big pay day for the no careing family who see dollar signs welcome to the american dream fools
Name withheld · 9:03 PM on May 25, 2011
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jmac · 6:25 AM on May 26, 2011
Theeee perfect example of why a citizen should be aware of his/her rights in any given situation when pulled over by an officer. Cops are people too and are subject to such things as corruption, greed, murder, theft, drugs, alcohol etc....If the officer is a good cop he/she will understand that you are a good citizen by knowing and undersanding your rights and that as an officer of the law he/she is employed by the citizen to protect and serve the citizen.
Name withheld · 8:10 AM on May 26, 2011
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Name withheld · 2:14 PM on May 26, 2011
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feduptoo · 3:00 PM on May 26, 2011
The fact Mr. Lopez was whipping on a kid at the busstop when all this went down gives us a good insight into his character
Name withheld · 3:28 PM on May 26, 2011
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Beans · 5:11 PM on May 26, 2011
I think the underlying factor here is that both the boy and the officer realized that there were no significant consequenses to their actions thus their behavior patterns continued, the boy continued his destructive path, and the Police Officer continued to do as he saw fit regardless of directives by a superior officer. UNfortunatley the boy suffered the ultimate consequense to his actions, the Police Officer should face criminal prosecution and if found to be innocent be given a choice of another career field other than law enforcement. A Forest Ranger out alone in a couple thousand acres of trees sounds like a fitting place for him.
longhorn76 · 7:24 PM on May 26, 2011
He should have been fired after his third suspension. Just how many suspensions does NISD need to fire somebody?
Name withheld · 9:28 AM on May 27, 2011
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ssgtflip · 10:39 PM on May 26, 2011
The parents of this poor child have to bear a large portion of the blame. When we as parents fail to provide the discipline necessary for our children, we leave it up to strangers like principles and teachers to do that for us. Unfortunately, the Lopez family left it up to an equally irresponsible officer, and the result was tragic. The only thing we can hope is that a lesson can be learned fro this.... Probably not though.
jim76 · 10:15 AM on May 27, 2011
Yea, I am sure they are going to bear a large portion of the blame, on their way to the bank...
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mario-18265647 · 12:16 PM on May 27, 2011
the bully "puknk" got he deserved. It was all his doing and nobody else is to blame. sad he was shoot and that he died but the officer did what he had to do "I was not their nor were you" and he is paid to protect our students and that is exactly what he did.
© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
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From Lew Rockwell's site:
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The LRC Blog
Eighth Grader Executed for Scaring a Cop (http://http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/88698.html)
Posted by William Grigg on May 26, 2011 12:09 AM
(http://http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Derek-Lopez-300x166.jpg)
Between March 2006 and November 2010, Officer Daniel Alvarado of San Antonio's Northside Independent School District Police (http://http://www.woai.com/mostpopular/story/Police-officers-past-questioned-in-teen-death/FLDCXlVaCUGYd8QMlVXUHg.cspx) was suspended four times. Four times he was informed by supervisors (http://http://www.nisd.net/administration/police/) that he faced "immediate termination." For some reason, when it came time to fire Alvarado, his superiors just couldn't bring themselves to pull the trigger. Alvarado displayed no similar scruples on November 12, 2010, when he murdered 14-year-old Derek Lopez (http://http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/NISD-officer-shoots-and-kills-teen-after-chase/S0WjDN8bw02SaQVV4L9rjA.cspx), who had just taken part in a brief scuffle with another student.
Owing to his own troubled past, Lopez was a student at the Bexar County Juvenile Justice Academy (http://http://www.bexar.org/constable/pct4/Services/JJA/jja.html). At around 4:30 PM on the fatal day, Lopez sucker-punched a 13-year-old classmate at a bus stop.
"He just hit me once," the student later recalled in a sworn deposition. "It wasn't a fight. It was nothing."
Unfortunately, Alvarado happened to be prowling the intersection in his patrol car, and witnessed the trivial dust-up.
"Freeze!" Alvarado shouted at Lopez, who bolted from the scene. Alvarado, in his mid-40s, briefly gave token pursuit before relating the first of several self-serving falsehoods.
"I just had one run from me," wheezed the winded tax-feeder. "I saw an assault in progress. He punched the guy several times." (Emphasis added.)
A supervisor instructed Alvarado "not [to] do any big search over there" in pursuit of the assailant. "Let's stay with the victim and see if we can identify [the suspect] that way."
Rather than doing as he was ordered, Alvarado bundled the "victim" -- who was probably more terrified of the armed functionary than of his obnoxious classmate -- into the patrol car and went in pursuit of Lopez.
Lopez vaulted a nearby fence and hid in a backyard shed containing Christmas decorations. The homeowner saw the intrusion, and a neighbor flagged down Alvarado's patrol car. The officer drew his gun "when he came up the driveway," recalled the homeowner. Within a minute or so, a single gunshot resonated through the neighborhood. When asked by the horrified homeowner what had happened, Alvarado -- who reportedly looked "dazed or distant" -- replied that Lopez "came at me."
"The suspect bull rushed his way out of the shed and lunged right at me," the timorous creature (http://http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/Officer-says-he-feared-for-his-life-when-he-shot/M2okg7azAUep9Ndeg5allA.cspx) later claimed in an official report. "The suspect was literally inches away from me, and I feared for my own safety."(Emphasis added.)
Alvarado was lying, of course. An autopsy revealed "no evidence of close range firing [on] the wound," and no gunpowder stains were found on the victim's bloody t-shirt.
By this time, the boy who had taken the punch at the bus stop had called his mother via cell phone. She arrived shortly after Alvarado had gunned down Lopez.
"At one point, the mother told a witness, 'He shot him? Why did he shoot him? He didn't have to shoot him," reports the San Antonio News-Express (http://http://www.kens5.com/news/Officer-who-shot-teen-had-history-of-problems-122480739.html).
Alvarado, who four times was on the cusp of being fired for insubordination, disobeyed a direct order on November 12. He falsified key details of the shooting in his official report. A 14-year-old boy was gunned down execution-style for the venial offense of engaging in an adolescent scuffle, and for compelling an overweight middle-aged badge-polisher to run a few hundred yards. According to the San Antonio Police Department, this is all perfectly acceptable: The department ruled that the murder of Derek Lopez was a "justified" shooting.
(http://http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Alvarado-300x300.jpg)
Although he's been removed from patrol duty, Alvarado remains on the force, albeit in a tax-subsidized sinecure. Although he had repeatedly been threatened with termination for sloppiness or defiance in carrying out administrative duties, Alvarado faces neither criminal prosecution nor professional censure for murdering a 14-year-old boy. Apparently, insubordination in carrying out office functions is a much graver matter than insubordination that results in the needless death of an adolescent Mundane.
Despite the fact that this incident involved two teenage boys who attended a special school for troubled juveniles, parents should understand that students in practically any government-run "educational" institution can fall prey to sudden -- and potentially lethal -- police violence.
"Every day in communities across the United States, children and adolescents spend the majority of their waking hours in schools that increasingly have come to resemble places of detention more than places of learning," observes investigative reporter Annette Fuentes in her infuriating and valuable new book Lockdown High: When the Schoolhouse Becomes a Jailhouse (http://http://www.amazon.com/Lockdown-High-Schoolhouse-Becomes-Jailhouse/dp/1844676811). Federally subsidized "zero tolerance" policies growing out of the "War on Drugs" have created what Fuentes and other critics of the system call the "school-to-prison pipeline": "If yesterday's prank got a slap on the wrist, today those wrists could be slapped with handcuffs."
As the case of Derek Lopez illustrates, a childish prank could be treated as a capital offense, with summary execution carried out by a corrupt cop who doesn't have to endure so much as a slap on the wrist.
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