Cops shoot Halloween reveler w/ toy gun

Posted by Tim Elliott from 24.41.0.151 on October 30, 2000 at 12:01:30:

Remember my friendly reminder a month or so ago about
Halloween, toy guns and nervous cops? I rest my case.

Tim

Police Kill Actor at Los Angeles Halloween Party
RTR
Oct 29 2000 3:01PM
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A police officer responding to a noisy
Halloween party at a mansion north of Beverly Hills shot and
killed an actor, who police said pointed what turned out to be a
fake gun at him, police said Sunday.

Anthony Dwain Lee, 39, who appeared in the 1997 movie "Liar,
Liar" and on several television shows including "NYPD Blue,"
was shot several times early Saturday by Officer Tarriel Hopper
who fired through a glass door from an exterior hallway, the Los
Angeles Police Department said in a statement.

The shooting took place about 1 a.m. at a crowded party
attended by scores of costumed guests, many of them actors
and other entertainment industry professionals, at a mansion
known as "the Castle" for its spires and stained-glass windows,
the Los Angeles Times reported.

It was not immediately known who owned the house or if the
owner attended the party.

"He was a Buddhist. He hated violence. It is amazing he died
this way," Mitch Hale, a writer whose play "Buffalo Soldier"
starred Lee and earned him a local acting award, told the
newspaper. "He was an incredibly gifted actor and person. It''s
devastating ... Why did they shoot someone at a Halloween
party?"

Police said Hopper and Officer Natalie Humphreys were
attempting to find the owner of the home in the Benedict Canyon
area of Los Angeles after neighbors complained about the party.
The officers were at the rear of the house when Hopper looked
into a small room and spotted three people.

Police said that when Lee saw the officers he pulled what looked
like a handgun and pointed it at Hopper, who, in fear for his life,
fired several shots from his service pistol, wounding Lee, the
LAPD statement said.

Lee was later pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Officer Charlotte Broughton, a spokeswoman for the LAPD, said
many of the party-goers were in costume. One guest told the
Times that some of guests were dressed as cops, but it was not
known if Lee was wearing a costume. It was also not clear if Lee
realized Hopper was a real officer with a real gun.

The police department said Lee''s supposed weapon was a
fake, "a replica semiautomatic pistol, dark in color."

The shooting is being investigated by the LAPD''s
Robbery-Homicide Division and a team from the district
attorney''s office.

Another party-goer, Robert Hull, told the Times, "It was a shock
that an officer would shoot at such a party. This was an exclusive
party with security. Some of these people are making six figures,
and this officer saw a toy gun at a Halloween costume party and
opened fire."

Another of the victim''s friends, Mary Lin, told the newspaper, "His
biggest fear was getting killed by cops, because he''s a tall black
man."

Lee''s friends said Sunday they were planning to hold a
candlelight vigil in his honor Monday evening.

Follow Ups:

• grim news, but reveals a particular -dare I say class- consciousness lobo 13:39:02 10/30/2000 (23)
  • Class-consciousness didn't have anything to do with it. Joe D. 03:14:15 10/31/2000 (1)
    • regarding class consc.: I didn't mean that to refer to either the cop or the unfortunate fellow with the toy gun; refers to commentary by party-goer. BTW, what do you fly? (nm) lobo 03:59:45 10/31/2000 (0)
  • So, are you saying its OK for people to point guns (real, toy, or otherwise) at policemen? Public Servant 22:12:16 10/30/2000 (3)
    • Ok, a comment lobo 23:20:33 10/30/2000 (0)
    • I say it isn't ok for a cop to shoot a guy with a toy gun at a Halloween party . Draft civilians that have enough common sense to realize that people in costumes at a party might have toys. (nm) Fedora 22:56:53 10/30/2000 (0)
    • I don't think that's what he's saying at all, go back and read it again.......(NM) DeWayne 22:25:29 10/30/2000 (0)
  • I have felt for years that policemen should be drafted like the military used to do. I have always suspected the motivation behind "wanting to be a cop" in the first place. I don't think it is as altruistic as we are led to believe(nm) Fedora 16:59:59 10/30/2000 (16)
    • Mr. Fedora just made my list!.....not the good one. A pissed off public servant 21:58:52 10/30/2000 (15)
      • That's what scares me (us?) about you cops/public servants. You're ALL pissed off. And that's what impugns your judgement. America is becoming a POLICE STATE! nm Pro Libertate 15:34:12 10/31/2000 (0)
      • My friend , I am no liberal and.... Fedora 22:43:06 10/30/2000 (7)
        • You're not Liberal, just 10 years old.... Joe D. 03:33:05 10/31/2000 (6)
          • Ah , you must insult me to make a point, which invalidates any point you wish to make(nm) Fedora 12:55:03 10/31/2000 (5)
            • Yeah, and my dad can beat up your dad. You're in time out, when we're ready to talk like adults again we'll continue this. Joe D. 22:09:58 10/31/2000 (4)
              • Re: Yeah, and my dad can beat up your dad. You're in time out, when we're ready to talk like adults again we'll continue this. Fedora 00:16:07 11/01/2000 (3)
                • Fedora. My Reply Joe D. 13:29:59 11/01/2000 (2)
                  • You are an allright guy. Thanks for the reply.(nm) Fedora 17:58:15 11/01/2000 (1)
                    • You too, subtleties are lost on forums without real conversation and facial expressions to see where the other person is coming from. Joe D. 03:07:36 11/02/2000 (0)
      • I suppose being a roofer would also make me too much of a "moron" to be a cop. I don't think belittling the working class is the way to make your point.(NM) DeWayne 22:35:57 10/30/2000 (5)
        • I would feel alot safer with regular Joes like yourself policing my community(nm) Fedora 22:47:19 10/30/2000 (4)
          • Which begs the question, Fed (if I may call you that) lobo 23:38:31 10/30/2000 (3)
            • Re: Which begs the question, Fed (if I may call you that) Fedora 00:19:42 10/31/2000 (2)
              • ok lobo 01:40:33 10/31/2000 (1)
                • Point understood. Thanks for the civility, it's getting rare these days(nm) Fedora 17:09:09 10/31/2000 (0)

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