Teen Thief killed in PS3 raid; Ventrillo to blame for sour outcome

SOURCE:
Yahoo! News

Quote:

A teenager accused of robbing a student of two new Playstation 3s on the day the popular game consoles were introduced was shot to death by police sent to arrest him.

Peyton Strickland, 18, was killed Friday at a house he shared with three roommates, New Hanover County Sheriff Sid Causey said.

"If this boy would've come to the door, opened the door, we probably wouldn't be talking," the sheriff said Sunday.

Roommate Mike Rhoton said Strickland was unarmed, but may have been holding a video game controller when he went to the door as it was bashed in by officers.

Authorities promised Monday to fully investigate the fatal shooting. "No one is above the law and no one is beneath its protection," District Attorney Ben David said. He declined to discuss details of the case.

The State Bureau of Investigation is examining the case and three deputies on the team were placed on paid leave, normal practice whenever officers fire their weapons, Causey said.

Arrest warrants alleged that Strickland, a student at Cape Fear Community College, and a University of North Carolina-Wilmington student stole two PlayStation units from another UNC-Wilmington student that day.

The sheriff said the robbery victim had waited three days in line to buy two Playstation 3 units for $641 each at a Wal-Mart. He was unloading the units at his campus apartment when one man beat him to the ground while another took the PlayStations, Causey said.

The sheriff said Strickland was shot by members of a a special police unit who went to help university officers serve warrants. He would not say why the special team was assisting.

Strickland's dog, a German shepherd, also was shot to death.

The second man named in the warrants was arrested at another address and was released on bail on Saturday, authorities said.

The nationwide introduction of the Sony game system on Nov. 17 was marked by rowdy crowds and store stampedes. One buyer waiting in line at a Connecticut store was shot by armed robbers.

Bitches don't know about quality police brutality.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

How is that story linked to Ventrilo at all?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Wouldn't you like to know? Probably yo' mama.

Maybe you should spend more time eating fried chicken instead of stuffing your face with Mervballs of the Swedish variety! Then you'd understand that this is more about the fact that a kid got masterblastered for bringing a controller to a door when he could've, should've brought a BFG.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I WILL SMASH YOU SO BAD, FUCKIN MERVPLE DRANK.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

LOL

Now videogame consoles can get you killed.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Why did they shoot the dog. The way it's just mentioned in the article makes it sound like the dog was just chillin' by the coffee table or PS3 and got glocked.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

The dog obviously attacked them.

Important note to all videogame console owners: do not answer the door with objects that look nothing like firearms in your hand (i.e. a SIXAXIS controller). It will get you killed.

FELIPE NO

Which reminds me, whenever I go out driving I'm in this constant fear of being pulled over. I have this scenario all laid out in my head that if I were to take my wallet out from either my inner jacket pocket or my pants, the cop would think I'm some thugged out associate of Tookie's and gun me down.

LIVIN LA VIDA NIGRO.

How ya doing, buddy?

You could mail it to Michael Moore in exchange for one of those bright orange safety wallets.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Wow... Amazing... I would think that a PS3 isn't worth losing your life for. I guess I am just not interested enough in consoles as I used to be.

Kinda sad that someone would die over a reason like that. Would be interesting to see what happened at the actual situation...

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Funny.

I like how they got robbed.

"Hey kid..." *SMASH*

All things considered, I wouldn't have kept the stolen goods at my house, especially if I had in mind the victim would be able to identify us.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

THESE ARE THE REAL CONSOLE WARS

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

My question would be why they need a (40 man lol) raid party to bring in a two-bit thief, and why they're on shoot first, ask questions later mode.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I guess because it was the PS3 (you got my joke, Skex great success). They were more eager to take the console in for "evidence"... or something. Yeah, I lost every last bit of steam there.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

the next generation of consoles are dangerous.
What ever happened to a warning or a tazer like they did with the kid at the school.
A lot of cops reminding me of him


How ya doing, buddy?

The lesson is to buy your controllers in bright colour schemes, colours they don't make guns in.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I think it's kind of sad. I mean, in two years, people will be pitching dead PS3s in the garbage, and this kid gave up his life for one (okay, two).

Jam it back in, in the dark.

yeah but still, is anyone questioning the psychosis in this? I mean, all this for a game system? I mean I will enjoy the PS3 when I get one, but how can anyone go to such lengths for this thing?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I had the feeling that there would be a big fuss over the PS3 but this takes the cake!

Do those guys think it was worth it?

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Talk about overreacting. I'd be kind of shocked too when I hear someone trying to break down my door (the article says the cops bashed the door open), and probably would've had a controller in my hands too when I go to see wtf is going on at my door. I'm sure the cops knocking on the door and telling those guys in a firm, authoritative voice that they have a search warrant to find some stolen PS3's that someone says those guys took would've been a lot more appropiate.

But apparently this was a high-risk case, and they couldn't afford to take any chances. I'm surprised they didn't have SWAT guys coming in through the windows after rappelling down from a helicopter, and covert, hidden guys popping out of various things in the guy's house, like the couch, the bed, or the kitchen sink (the way it's starting to sound though, they probably did do that, and just covered it up).

Reminds me of a scene from the Simpsons where Chief Wiggum kicks down a door, then rings the doorbell after the door's been kicked out lol. Guess there really are cops like that.

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Seems to me that key points of this story are being left out that would aid in our full understanding. It's just hard to believe that the thief's lack of answering the door promptly was what encouraged the cops to bust down the door followed by killing the guy. Perhaps a threat was made? Regardless, I can see it being fully possible that the cops would mistake the controller for a weapon...after all, it is wireless now. Holding a cordless, black object in one's hand while in a high-tension situation like that might cause an cop to overreact and shoot.

I remember reading the stories and hearing the news about the rush to get this console. It's a shame to hear about so much violence over a product whose hype will probably die down by late January. In the meantime, the violence surrounding it continues...

I was speaking idiomatically.