AMES – In the wake of a shooting that took place Monday, November 4th on the Iowa State campus by an Ames police officer that took the life of a nineteen year-old man, the Story County Attorney’s Office said Thursday that the Ames police officer was justified in firing on the subject.
Tyler Comstock, of Boone, acted with willful disregard for the safety of others as he drove a stolen truck at a high rate of speed through red lights and then onto campus, the attorney’s office said in a statement released Thursday:
Having reviewed the taped interview of officer Adam McPherson, two in-vehicle camera recordings of the event, an independent video recording, along with reviewing the investigation with agent Don Schnitker from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, reviewing the incident with my assistant Tim Meals who went to the scene, personally interviewing two shift commanders and the residents of the home where the whole incident began, it is my conclusion that officer McPherson acted reasonably under very difficult circumstances and McPherson’s use of deadly force was justified.
The specifics of the incident leading to the shooting of Mr. Comstock at mid–morning on November 4, 2013, are more properly viewed as the culmination of a series of actions by Mr. Comstock involving the operation of a reported stolen motor vehicle (a ton pick-up pulling a trailer). These actions included five felonious assaults with a dangerous weapon (the stolen motor vehicle) against officers McPhearson and Iowa State University Police officer Tony Atilanto. The actions of Mr. Comstock operating the motor vehicle recklessly endangered the lives of numerous other persons in motor vehicles and dozens of pedestrians both on streets in the city of Ames and on Iowa State University Campus. The entire heart stopping event all took place in less than four minutes.
Watch press conference video:
Here are the only facts that matter.
1) we have a socialist country
2) officer had a uniform
3) officer had a badge
4) officer has a gun
With the above facts, a shooting of a unarmed citizen in this country will be found as justified!
END OF STORY
Its called the Iowa use of force code. Im sure you were not there. Death or serious bodily injury meets the lethal use of force code. A vehicle can be a deadly use of force.
Peter I agree with you. It was self defense.
@L, I agree with everything you said except, the cop being a pussy or being sheepishly, the officers would not want to pull in front of the truck because if the driver was armed they just put their life in more of a risk, as for ramming him at more appropriate times they could of done that, but you never want to park/ram a vehicle head on because of the chance of a firearm being present.
You made them Gods and now they are. Their egos are big enough without giving them a paid vacation whenever they kill someone. Unless their is a camera running or proof somewhere the officers word always wins. Police do have a license to kill and you’d be foolish to think they don’t.
In the old days we had stand up guys like Lefty Lewis. Today we have leo’s…20 something’s who can kill out of perceived disrespect. Ego is a big part of makes a person where a uniform and is why we have so few female officers.
First off, let’s start here, the assailant rammed police cars on 3 occasions, that right there is justification for use in deadly force, an automobile is a weapon in that circumstance, second off, he was driving around recklessly where there are an unbelievable amount of innocent bystanders that he could of easily hit either on purpose or accident, if the Police would of had a helicopter or an airplane following the guy they would of backed off. they did not know if he had a weapon in the vehicle, or what kind of drugs he was on if any, those officers have families to go home to, just like those potential bystanders. the officers acted in their best judgement.
You can make excuses for the police all you want, however a 19 year old was killed and the police didn’t have to get him at any cost. They should have backed off because a chase and stray bullets are more dangerous than a teen driving reckless. What about drugs? As if it’s so important to get and kill him because he might be on drugs? Now you’ve gone to far.
Enough is enough, the police don’t have to kill anyone who they see as a perceived threat. We have a police force of Barney Fifes with no Andy Taylors.
@ Pity Police, How Ignorant are you? IF you read the post I said “IF ANY” meaning they did not know if he was on drugs or not, drugs can make people do crazy things such as PCP can give a person the strength of 10 people, or Paranoia, or Rage. Also, He already demonstrated that he would willingly harm people by ramming cars multiple times, he had no care for innocent bystanders by running stop signs, red lights, you don’t even see his brake lights flash at the intersections, the Police Officers cautiously entered every intersection, they followed protocol, its a shame that someone has to die it really is HOWEVER, they did their job correctly and accordingly. Maybe if you or your family member were driving through an intersection that he blew through you would feel different. you can what if a situation as long as you want, it won’t change the outcome.
Ok pity police. You have zero idea wtf your talking about. A vehicle is a way bigger bullet and will kill you just as dead if not worse than if you were hit by a bullet. It is a use of force issue. What a joke to even suggest that.
I think the officers did the right thing. Notice in the video how many innocent people this kid put in danger, not just at the campus but on the highway also. At the end of the video when the kid reversed the truck I’m assuming the officer was getting out of his cruiser at that very moment which would be a threat to the officers life. I would of shot him too.
You need to watch the whole video!
Police are gods. Put a badge on and go try it. You too have zero idea of how stuff goes down. If you have never wore a badge you have zero idea how fast things can go down. And I did know lefty and your right he was one Hell of a cop and guy. But I will ask you this. Were you there when this shooting went down??? Its easy to arm chair quarterback the police.
Eh no worries Peter.
Have they ever heard of shooting the tires like they do in other States?
Why didn’t they back off when it was recommended by the other officer who knew the kid?
Iowa needs different tactics!!!!
I may be wrong, but i think officers did back off toward the end except officer Adam McPherson. Pissing off an officer should not be a reason for a justifiable shooting
50 miles. You also have zero idea what your talking about. Law enforcement is a different line of work. And no cop wants to drop the trigger unless its justified. It sure as helk does not make any cop feel good and leads to emotional trauma that the have to live with and take home to there family’s. Why do people think cops are not human?? I am going to say this. Law enforcement has the highest rates of divorce. Depression. And unfortunately suicide than any other profession in the world. The reason for it is constantly seeing and dealing with the most screwed up stuff on the planet. I know this cause i did it. It will burn you up. If you dont before me go try it.