Gastonia police kiill homeowner during health check
Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2015 6:14 pm
Full story: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2015/0 ... NlNOFVVhHwFamily ‘Sickened’ After Police Shoot Ailing 74-Year-Old Veteran Dead During Welfare Visit
“I am so hurt that he had to die like this,” James Allen’s sister told reporters after police shot him dead in his own home. Mary Battle — who found out about her brother’s death on Sunday as she left home for church — added:
“Maybe the police were frightened. Maybe they were. I don’t know. But he wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
WSOC-TV reports police came by for a routine welfare check — no, not that kind of welfare check — on Allen, a 74-year-old veteran who was recovering from heart surgery after a relative asked them to make sure he was okay. When they left, Allen was dead.
Gastonia, NC Police Chief Robert Helton claims Allen had threatened the police officers with a gun.