For what's it's worth, cops reportedly tried to subdue Duncan with bean-bag shots and a Taser before fatally shooting him in the back.

Yes, after he charged them, the cops, who are actual people involved, not someone close to the "victim" who thinks that someone with mental instability and with what appears to be a real gun. It's a nice letter, but "appalled"? Please. This entire situation was level--there is no reason to be "appalled" by the behavior of the BPD. This whole letter exists to pin down some judgment on the police, not remember a Dave.

So wait. You knew he needed help, but all you did was offer him "support"? Why didn't you get him the help that he needed?

I hope none of the above commenters ever know or are one of the 25% of people who have a temporary mental health crisis in your lifetime. I doubt you would consider it justification for death then.

Exactly. He was given a chance to be held responsible for his actions. He was given plenty. Are the cops supposed to do a background check before trying to subdue someone with a gun? Yeah that's not ridiculous. So say that they did, and knew the person has a history of mental illness, is that when they're supposed to put the guns in the car and "talk" to the person with a history of mental illness who has a gun?

Sorry but when it comes down the life an officer or the life a person threatening the officer with a gun, I'm going to come down on the side of the officer.

That said, the author has a lot of legit questions in paragraph 4. Namely, how did he end up getting shot in the back? Why no tazer?

PS I have a horrible habit of looking up people's myspaces in this situation. He was in a club called "Western Men Against Violence" and last logged in the day of his death.

http://www.myspace.com/desaltama

I couldn't agree more. Let's start with David.

Looks like 20 took my comment just before I put it down. You charge the cops waving a gun, you get shot. Done, end of story. I don't care if you're black, white or arab. Don't care if you're sane (Can't imagine how a sane person would charge the swat team like that) or nuts. If you're really lucky they'll try non-lethal things first, like this time. Either way, you wave a gun at a cop, you die.

Last time I knew of Bellingham police tasering someone, it lasted for 2 hours and I watched it from my window (not where I live now). The b'ham police probably did use excessive force, but in my interactions with them (few and far between) they have been mostly people who are trying to enforce the law and protect the community.

I'm not a big fan of death, so it bothers me that Dave died. But Dave was a kooky cat, and it appears to be the consensus around here that he was on something other than booze.

Dave wasn't just tased once. It was multiple times and he kept getting up. That's a bad sign.

I'm sorry it happened, but I know that the cops did their best. I don't envy anyone in this situation. I can't imagine taking another person's life.

if you (the stranger) had any real reporting skills you would have known that they tased him twice AFTER they shot him. A simple phone call to the BPD or prosecuting attorney office would have given you access to that information. Dont just regeratate information from the Bellingham Herald get off your ass and do your own work!

and to all you other assholes. Dave did NOT DO DRUGS. And the "3 that left the house" repeatedly told police that Dave does not own a real gun, hes just drunk, crazy and upset.

if you (the stranger) had any real reporting skills you would have known that they tased him twice AFTER they shot him. A simple phone call to the BPD or prosecuting attorney office would have given you access to that information. Dont just regeratate information from the Bellingham Herald get off your ass and do your own work!

and to all you other assholes. Dave did NOT DO DRUGS. And the "3 that left the house" repeatedly told police that Dave does not own a real gun, hes just drunk, crazy and upset.

if you (the stranger) had any real reporting skills you would have known that they tased him twice AFTER they shot him. A simple phone call to the BPD or prosecuting attorney office would have given you access to that information. Dont just regeratate information from the Bellingham Herald get off your ass and do your own work!

and to all you other assholes. Dave did NOT DO DRUGS. And the "3 that left the house" repeatedly told police that Dave does not own a real gun, hes just drunk, crazy and upset.

and to everyone>>>why the hell do you feel he deserved to be shoot? he allegedly charged the police but was shot in his BACK. WTF?

if you (the stranger) had any real reporting skills you would have known that they tased him twice AFTER they shot him. A simple phone call to the BPD or prosecuting attorney office would have given you access to that information. Dont just regeratate information from the Bellingham Herald get off your ass and do your own work!

and to all you other assholes. Dave did NOT DO DRUGS. And the "3 that left the house" repeatedly told police that Dave does not own a real gun, hes just drunk, crazy and upset.

and to everyone>>>why the hell do you feel he deserved to be shoot? he allegedly charged the police but was shot in his BACK. WTF?