Man With Toy Gun Shot, Killed By Police

First Posted: 09/01/11 10:33 AM ET Updated: 12/08/11 08:04 AM ET

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Associated Press

NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. -- Authorities in North Miami Beach say a man carrying what was later determined to be a toy rifle was shot and killed by police.

The incident began Wednesday afternoon when officers responded to calls about a man seen walking around with a rifle.

North Miami Beach police spokesman Sgt. Warren Hardison says there was an encounter with the man and officers and shots were fired. The man was flown to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police did not immediately release the man's name.

No one else was injured in the shooting.

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hnrast

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10:00 AM on 09/03/2011

After reading the comments of this post it is easy to understand why the USA has gone to the dogs, deservingly so.

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Kiaxpz

251 Fans

01:22 PM on 09/02/2011

When I was thirteen in 1955 I bought a WWI French machine gun through the mail.The barrell had a steel plug welded in and the action was welded shut.I had it in my parents drive way showing friends lots of times and none of the neighbors got paranoid.I guess a cop could have legally shot me on sight.

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CarlIII

Liberal Virginian living in Remlap Alabama

1731 Fans

12:19 PM on 09/02/2011

I remember a few years back. A black dude was reaching for his wallet and six New York Cops shot him around 40 times. Sad mistake. Scary mistake. Stupid mistake.

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rexxmoran

0 Fans

12:06 PM on 09/02/2011

Keep believing blindly in authority at your own peril....

http://vodpod.com/watch/2093527-the-largest-street-gang-in-america

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rexxmoran

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12:05 PM on 09/02/2011

http://vodpod.com/watch/2093527-the-largest-street-gang-in-america

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TomSaw

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11:51 AM on 09/02/2011

What does the fact that he's autistic have to do with anything? A gun is a gun.

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bashmentgal04

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11:25 AM on 09/02/2011

the article also fails to mention that the man is autistic. I live in the area and saw it on the news.

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TheTruthSayer

54 Fans

10:08 AM on 09/02/2011

Major kudos to the HP graphics department on the stock photo. A quick image search for "toy rifle" certainly frees up the HP to get to the red meat of the AP story. Soon the journalistic qualifications will simply be "Can you copy and paste?"

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jjtm562

167 Fans

09:58 AM on 09/02/2011

happens all the time. cops don't know gun is toy and can't be expected to wait to find out, to their sorrow. too bad.

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CarlIII

Liberal Virginian living in Remlap Alabama

1731 Fans

12:04 PM on 09/02/2011

When they arm you to the teeth with semi-automatic pistols and paralyzing tazers. Then train you to be completely paranoid. You are going to use lethal force as a first response. Since 911 the training has gotten very "anti-public". A poor autisic man with a toy gun is going to be electrocuted or shot multiple times or both. And the Cop walks. Welcome to the Police State of America. The PSA

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hnrast

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09:53 AM on 09/02/2011

For starters the 57 years old victim was autistic, therefore he was mental challenged, but the cowards of North Miami Beach wielding a budge and a gun didn’t see it because obviously, they were blinded by fear. The North Miami Beach community is just as responsible for the killing, for the simple fact that policemen, and politicians are the mere reflections of the community at large.

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ajajm

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09:23 AM on 09/02/2011

where's the rest of the story?

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lookin

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08:59 AM on 09/02/2011

The story does not say if, during the "encounter with police" the man pointed the gun at the police, or was ordered to drop the gun. The police would not be able to determine that the gun was in fact a toy until they examined it .

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lr27048

54 Fans

08:40 AM on 09/02/2011

So, what kind of encounter? The story is a little short of information. I would like to read something like the realistic toy was pointed at the police in a threaten manner.

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360Dunk

Feeder of slot machines

683 Fans

11:08 AM on 09/02/2011

It was a close encounter of the nerd kind.

What other adult carries around a toy gun in public?

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Thenodrin

9 Fans

12:00 PM on 09/02/2011

A parent? Older brother? Uncle? Maybe retrieving the gun from where the child forgot it?

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ordanance

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08:37 AM on 09/02/2011

once again cops acting like Nazi,s its shoot first ask questions later

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oceanview136

The Truth and Nothing but the Truth

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09:28 AM on 09/02/2011

You are much too hard on the police. This man may have pointed the gun at the police and threatened them. Some "toy" guns look very realistic, and if you are being threatened, you WILL shoot, which is what anybody would do !!!!!!

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eagle6348cc

37 Fans

11:04 AM on 09/02/2011

POINT A REALISTIC LOOKING TOY GUN AT ME, AND I'LL SHOOT YA , TOO!!!! CAN'T PUT MUCH BLAME ON THE POLICE!!!

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canduit14u

31 Fans

08:14 AM on 09/02/2011

article is missing way too much information ! its designed to cause controversy ! and its working if you read these comments !
quit letting the news manipulate you! learn the facts before speaking out !
only thing i get from this article is a tragic event has occured and someone died !

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