[Rooster Cogburn]

@GherardiReports on the Twitter:

Liberty Chancellor says student had unauthorized entry to dorm before being shot by the officer guarding that dorm.

@lenstevens1 on the Twitter:

LU presser: Joshua Hathaway got into Annex II, told an officer his car was stolen, and attacked him with a hammer. Officer shot him.

[matshark]

Given that it was a sledgehammer, I suspect the encounter happened at very close range and that the two likely ended up on the ground or otherwise involving some sort of wrestling/grappling. It also likely lasted for several seconds in order for the officer to get his gun out and then use it. I suspect that when all the facts are out it will have been an extremely close range shooting and likely with the shots having been fired from the ground or close to it. Ill be the first to criticize police authoritarianism, but everything ive read about this leads me to believe that this was most likely justified. Im with the shoot until the threat is ended crowd, however in a close range scrap like this its entirely possible to fire 4 or 5 shots before they have an effect and 2 or 3 more before you realize the person is disengaging orotherwise no longer attacking you. Id be interested in seeing security footage of the lobby, but a sledgehammer attack is a bit bizzare, and to have been a male student in the lobby of a female dorm at 4am, id be curious to know why he was there in the first place.

[Rooster Cogburn]

@cargriffeth on the Twitter:

Breaking:LPD search warrant says LU student attacked LU officer with hammer. Officer fired two rounds at student. Details at 5, 5:30, 6 & 7.

[Purple Haize]

@cargriffeth on the Twitter:

Breaking:LPD search warrant says LU student attacked LU officer with hammer. Officer fired two rounds at student. Details at 5, 5:30, 6 & 7.

I believe it was stated earlier that 'ear witnesses' can't always be reliable.

[BJWilliams]

Given that it was a sledgehammer, I suspect the encounter happened at very close range and that the two likely ended up on the ground or otherwise involving some sort of wrestling/grappling. It also likely lasted for several seconds in order for the officer to get his gun out and then use it. I suspect that when all the facts are out it will have been an extremely close range shooting and likely with the shots having been fired from the ground or close to it. Ill be the first to criticize police authoritarianism, but everything ive read about this leads me to believe that this was most likely justified. Im with the shoot until the threat is ended crowd, however in a close range scrap like this its entirely possible to fire 4 or 5 shots before they have an effect and 2 or 3 more before you realize the person is disengaging orotherwise no longer attacking you. Id be interested in seeing security footage of the lobby, but a sledgehammer attack is a bit bizzare, and to have been a male student in the lobby of a female dorm at 4am, id be curious to know why he was there in the first place.

Good to see you make an appearance again matshark (albeit under less than happy circumstances). I also am curious as to the backstory involved in this situation (his purpose for being in the building, why he had a sledgehammer, etc).

[makarov97]

...

[Purple Haize]

Well you DO kinda look like a hippie

Police forces are more militarized now because more ex military members are police officers.

[4everfsu]

Let's see. A young man in a woman's dormitory with a hammer at 4 am. I would investigate if any young ladies who he may have dated, spurned him and he wanted to get back at her, etc. I doubt he was there to bang some nails or fixed anything.

[makarov97]

...

[flamehunter]

Let's see. A young man in a woman's dormitory with a hammer at 4 am. I would investigate if any young ladies who he may have dated, spurned him and he wanted to get back at her, etc. I doubt he was there to bang some nails or fixed anything.

Actually the report is that he called and reported he had been robbed and was in the lobby of the building. So he called the officer there. Then he attacked. Sounds like he had something against the Police maybe?

[Purple Haize]

Let's see. A young man in a woman's dormitory with a hammer at 4 am. I would investigate if any young ladies who he may have dated, spurned him and he wanted to get back at her, etc. I doubt he was there to bang some nails or fixed anything.

Actually the report is that he called and reported he had been robbed and was in the lobby of the building. So he called the officer there. Then he attacked. Sounds like he had something against the Police maybe?

If he had something against the police why did he call them to report being robbed? And what was he doing out at 4 am to get robbed. Something doesn't add up. Where did the hammer come from?

[flamehunter]

http://www.newsadvance.com/news/local/a ... 0f31a.html

The Liberty University student fatally shot by a school security officer first attacked the officer with a hammer, according to a search warrant filed today in Lynchburg Circuit Court.
"Joshua Hathaway, a Liberty University student, told the security officer he had been robbed and someone stole his vehicle. The security officer then began to investigate Hathaway's complaint but Hathaway then pulled out a hammer from his clothing and assaulted the officer," according to a search warrant affidavit written by Lynchburg police Det. Collin Byrne.
During the struggle, the officer fired two shots at Hathaway, fatally striking him at least once.
Officers found Hathaway's car in a nearby parking lot and are unsure why he reported it missing.
Byrne spoke with Hathaway's roommate, who said Hathaway "had been displaying unusual behavior recently," according to the affidavit.

[jbock13]

I do not in anyway wish for this to get political in anyway but there seems to be this question and burden the police line coming from those who are more libertarian. As one it concerns me.

A hammer? Deadly use of force sounds completely justified to me. One swipe of it in the head and you're done.

[thepostman]

This is such a weird story. Sad, but weird.

[01LUGrad]

If you want some entertainment, go read the comments under the Huffington Post article on this one.
Breaking news: There are some people out there that don't like us very much.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/1 ... 03220.html

[adam42381]

I can't wait until the coroner finds weed in his system...

[krh44]

Praying for those involved, a very sad situation.

[thepostman]

I can't wait until the coroner finds weed in his system...

at the sound of things he had much more than weed in his system

[Purple Haize]

If you want some entertainment, go read the comments under the Huffington Post article on this one.
Breaking news: There are some people out there that don't like us very much.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/1 ... 03220.html

And people thought my comment was out of bounds!

[RubberMallet]

its a mat with conclusions on it that you jump to!

[Purple Haize]

its a mat with conclusions on it that you jump to!

[adam42381]

its a mat with conclusions on it that you jump to!

F-ing A!

[adam42381]

If anyone is interested in that sort of thing, they should check out channel 9. It's some sort of medical examination.

[bluedevilflame]

Such a tough situation the officer was placed in, no PO ever wants to kill someone but you have to do what you have to and this sounds like one of those situations. Prayers for the students family and the officer and his family.

I gotta tell you too, reading the comments on WSET's FB is serious entertainment, the LU haters are going to town...

[Purple Haize]

Suicide by cop maybe?