Investigator: Deputy shot suspect in tussle over submachine gun

So much for shooting this fool for stealing a car and running from the cops!
He wanted to die that day the cops did what they needed to do. End of story!
Like I said before good job!!

Wow, now that's a story, hope the dog is OK!.

Picture this guy cornered, a dog has attacked him, there are 3 swat members with weapons drawn on him, they pull the dog off and he gets up and grabs a machine gun from one of these guys shoulders and removes the safety and sets it to auto then they shoot.

This story had some good writers, sounds a little hard to believe to me.

Are these machine guns that easy to figure out to someone that has never seen one? The kid was only 18 maybe he had some experience with these machine guns but thats questionable.

Why were the SWAT members in such close proximity to where this guy could reach this machine gun strapped to the shoulder of the officer?

I'm not defending this guy, Im all for getting rid of criminals but it's my nature to question everything.

Sometimes you just have to scratch your head.

Good job boys! One more criminal off the street and our streets are now a little safer....

Great job! I'm not sure the streets are safer, one less to deal with though. There are a lot more waiting in the hall way waiting to be release.

Now I know why he was shot, and it wasn't for stealing a car, it was for trying to steal an officer's firearm that could of been used on an innocent person. He asked for it by making the decision to steal a car, run from the police, hide from the police, and trying to steal a loaded weapon and who knows what next. It was his choice- he could of just gave up, or better yet, not stolen the car from the get go.

There's been conflicting stories all day on this case. What happened to using a tazer gun. What I'm hearing is if he hadn't been able to grab this police officers weapon he wouldn't be in the morgue right now with multiple bullet wounds. He had never killed anyone, and I know our police have to protect themselves but this very young boy-man is dead. My heart goes out to his family and friends and my prayers go up for you Dalton.

I hope the dog is ok.....

at this point- he had his finger on the trigger- was able to shoot it--- and was taken out before he managed to shoot an officer.....

Patches Ohoulihan wrote:

Picture this guy cornered, a dog has attacked him, there are 3 swat members with weapons drawn on him, they pull the dog off and he gets up and grabs a machine gun from one of these guys shoulders and removes the safety and sets it to auto then they shoot.
This story had some good writers, sounds a little hard to believe to me.
Are these machine guns that easy to figure out to someone that has never seen one? The kid was only 18 maybe he had some experience with these machine guns but thats questionable.
Why were the SWAT members in such close proximity to where this guy could reach this machine gun strapped to the shoulder of the officer?
I'm not defending this guy, Im all for getting rid of criminals but it's my nature to question everything.

Lets see if we can help you out of your little box. First off, this full auto ("machine gun") has a side selector switch (goes from safe-semi auto and full), its easy to move so when the person who wants to shoot it doesnt have to f with it. As far as how close the officers were, how else would you purpose he is taken into custody, he sure as hell was not going to handcuff himself. And it would be a lame expectation for the officer to disarm before rresting some one, this danger is expected and it just so happens homie got lit up and totally justified :)

That's when Dalton grabbed at a MP5 submachine gun that was hanging from a strap on around a deputy's shoulder, Gallagher said.

"The suspect was able to get it off safe and flip it onto auto," Gallagher said. "The k-9 officer who was struggling with him forced the barrel into the ground."

LIKELY STORY, "OK GUYS LETS GET OUR STORY STRAIGHT BEFORE INTERNAL AFFAIRS SHOW UP". This guy is made to look like Rambo, he fought off a trained police dog other cops and managed to get a swat team members mp5 and put it on auto? o and shoot it !

Dustin wrote:

That's when Dalton grabbed at a MP5 submachine gun that was hanging from a strap on around a deputy's shoulder, Gallagher said.
"The suspect was able to get it off safe and flip it onto auto," Gallagher said. "The k-9 officer who was struggling with him forced the barrel into the ground."
LIKELY STORY, "OK GUYS LETS GET OUR STORY STRAIGHT BEFORE INTERNAL AFFAIRS SHOW UP". This guy is made to look like Rambo, he fought off a trained police dog other cops and managed to get a swat team members mp5 and put it on auto? o and shoot it !

I totally agree. Story sounds fabricated.

I just want to say to Dalton's family and friends I'm so very sorry for your loss. I know Dalton was going down a very destructive path but he didn't deserve this. He wasn't a murderer he was a thief. It seems strange to me how he disarmed a swat member and fought off the dog. I heard the police say a month before this all happened that they would shoot him on sight and I'm not the only one they told that to. Our prayers are with you Dalton

soveryyoung wrote:

There's been conflicting stories all day on this case. What happened to using a tazer gun. What I'm hearing is if he hadn't been able to grab this police officers weapon he wouldn't be in the morgue right now with multiple bullet wounds. He had never killed anyone, and I know our police have to protect themselves but this very young boy-man is dead. My heart goes out to his family and friends and my prayers go up for you Dalton.

The reason why a taser gun wasn't used is because the suspect had a fully automatic machine gun. Which can kill someone. I've seen people be tased before and rip the darts right out like it was nothing. They aren't as effective. Therefore, they used a gun to do their job. Under California Penal Code 835(a) an officer may use use of force to overcome resistance. Obviously there are levels at how much force an officer can use. Once a firearm is involved at ANYTIME. It's almost certain that the officer will fire back with a firearm. A suspect doesn't need to kill someone to be shot. That doesn't even make sense. You would then have 2 people dead.
I was hoping you really got an understanding out of this, I'm not saying it sarcastically. I want people to understand that the officer did the write thing. Please let me know if you understand what the officer did was right. If not I will be more than glad to explain more. There are people out there that read this and automatically think the officer did the right thing (considering the that the story is accurate.) And then there are people wondering why the taser wasn't used. I just want people to understand how it works out there. Hope I helped.

Dustin wrote:

That's when Dalton grabbed at a MP5 submachine gun that was hanging from a strap on around a deputy's shoulder, Gallagher said.
"The suspect was able to get it off safe and flip it onto auto," Gallagher said. "The k-9 officer who was struggling with him forced the barrel into the ground."
LIKELY STORY, "OK GUYS LETS GET OUR STORY STRAIGHT BEFORE INTERNAL AFFAIRS SHOW UP". This guy is made to look like Rambo, he fought off a trained police dog other cops and managed to get a swat team members mp5 and put it on auto? o and shoot it !

There were close because the dog was set on the suspect. That gives the officers time to rush in the suspect and apprahend him. However, it appears it didn't have an effect on the suspect and he was able to fight the K9 off. That's why they got close. The suspect kept fighting it appears. Yet, we can't always assume things. But everyone is entitled to their opinions.

Patches Ohoulihan wrote:

Picture this guy cornered, a dog has attacked him, there are 3 swat members with weapons drawn on him, they pull the dog off and he gets up and grabs a machine gun from one of these guys shoulders and removes the safety and sets it to auto then they shoot.
This story had some good writers, sounds a little hard to believe to me.
Are these machine guns that easy to figure out to someone that has never seen one? The kid was only 18 maybe he had some experience with these machine guns but thats questionable.
Why were the SWAT members in such close proximity to where this guy could reach this machine gun strapped to the shoulder of the officer?
I'm not defending this guy, Im all for getting rid of criminals but it's my nature to question everything.

I thought the same thing. I can believe that he went and grabbed the gun but I'm having trouble with him switching it from safety to auto. He must have been really experienced with this weapon to do it with a dog trying to get him and the swat guy standing there...waiting. But like you I always think that these are risks that criminals take, be it from stealing something dumb to heavy arm robbery. It's just that it seems a little...far fetched.

I meant he was a thief not a murderer. It seems strange to me this young man could fight off dogs, police and disarm a SWAT officer. Like I said there has been conflicting stories all day. Like I said I know our police have to protect themselves and if the story is accurate then they did what they had to. What really bothers me is people celebrating his death. He's been called a scumbag and other things I won't repeat. I just keep picturing Dalton lying there and the police shooting him full of holes and that breaks my heart.

One less dirtbag in the valley today. I wonder how long it will take the family of Dalton's to come out and say "what a nice guy he was and that he was turning his life around." Perhaps maybe he just recently found Jesus. That's always a laugher too.

Wow james 626 I doubt Jesus is laughing after hearing those hateful comments. His parents are going to mourn and bury their son and probably wonder for the rest of their lives if only....5122

Patches Ohoulihan wrote:

Picture this guy cornered, a dog has attacked him, there are 3 swat members with weapons drawn on him, they pull the dog off and he gets up and grabs a machine gun from one of these guys shoulders and removes the safety and sets it to auto then they shoot.
This story had some good writers, sounds a little hard to believe to me.
Are these machine guns that easy to figure out to someone that has never seen one? The kid was only 18 maybe he had some experience with these machine guns but thats questionable.
Why were the SWAT members in such close proximity to where this guy could reach this machine gun strapped to the shoulder of the officer?
I'm not defending this guy, Im all for getting rid of criminals but it's my nature to question everything.

The best way to get correct answers is to sign-up as a civilian ride-along/observer in a police unit for the entire shift, best time is midnight to noon,most police work 12 hour shifts. If it's your lucky day maybe you'll get in a firefight. Let us know how it works out.