“The shooting played out in front of the Funky Buddha Lounge at 728 W. Grand Ave. in the early hours of Nov. 30, 2014 as the [off-duty] deputy responded to a fight,” chicagotribune.com reports. “The deputy was not hurt and the wounded gunman survived. The other gunman was later arrested and was sentenced [to ten years] this week after pleading guilty.” Let’s go to the tape . . .
Michael Raines, the off-duty sheriff’s deputy, is down the street and races toward the suspect with his own gun drawn, the video shows. Raines shoots Lopez, who then runs to the sidewalk in front of the bar, clutching himself.
Raines rushes toward Lopez and grabs him when a second man, identified by police as Mario Orta, walks toward them with a gun, according to the video. Raines crouches with Lopez, holding a gun to the suspect’s head and using him as a shield, the video shows.
Raines keeps the wounded suspect in front of him and ducks when Orta points his gun at him, according to the video and police. Raines points his own gun at Orta, in a standoff, as the wounded man tries to push the deputy’s arm away.
Orta eventually gets into a parked car, then jumps out and runs away, the video shows.
I hate to say it — armchair Monday morning quarterbacking being of questionable value — but using a bad guy for a shield may not be the best possible solution. Even if the BG is wounded and you have a gun to his head, it raises the possibility of his sudden escape. Cover (leverage?) gone.
Equally worrying, at least for me, is the eventual arrival of the Boys in Blue. I wouldn’t want to be pointing a gun at someone’s head when the cops drive by/arrive. Or waving a gun at passersby.
To his credit, Officer Raines eventually put his gun down, gets his badge out and puts his hands up. And, of course, result.