Thug shoots police K9, partners return fire
Posted on 10. May, 2008 by Derek Bargeld in Race
Police plan to review surveillance footage of a fatal encounter between two Pittsburgh police officers — one of them a K-9 officer — and a Knoxville man with a history of arrests.Cameras outside a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center facility on the border of Knoxville and Mt. Oliver might have captured the Tuesday evening shooting that left Justin James Jackson, 19, dead.
Jackson died from a gunshot wound in the head and one in the chest, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said. The K-9 officer’s dog, a 6-year-old German shepherd named Aulf, died of chest wounds at a veterinary hospital.
“This needs to stop. The police are using excessive force and killing young black men,” said the victim’s father, Donald Jackson of the West End. “It doesn’t make sense. This is terrible, and I want answers.” MORE HERE on Justin’s violent criminal history.
Fellow officers identified the K-9 officer as Christian A. Sciulli, 34, an 8-year veteran. Police spokeswoman Diane Richards refused to confirm his identity and would not identify the second officer.
Both officers were placed on paid administrative leave while authorities investigate, which is standard procedure in police-involved shootings.
“They had a horrendous night. They have taken a life and lost a partner,” police Chief Nate Harper said during a late-afternoon news conference Wednesday.
Sciulli had never shot anyone on the job before, fellow officers said.
The District Attorney’s Office and county police are investigating.
Donald Jackson said witnesses told him his son did not have a gun, and family members said Justin Jackson was not known to carry one.
Court records show Justin Jackson had an arrest record on offenses including firearms violations, simple assault and criminal conspiracy. His last arrest was in April 2007, when he was 18, accused of simple assault and a firearms offense. In that case, he pleaded guilty to simple assault and was sentenced to six to 18 months. Records do not show whether he served any jail time.
Donald Jackson said his son was trying to turn his life around.
“He was a good kid,” he said. “He had some trouble as a juvenile, but he was trying to change things. Everyone makes mistakes when they’re young, but he didn’t deserve this.”
Justin Jackson was working in construction and studying for his driver’s license exam, his father said.
“Justin was a happy, normal kid,” said his aunt, Scheryl McCoy, 32, of East Liberty. “I’m speechless that this happened. I just don’t know what to say. They shot him because of a dog.”
The flag outside police headquarters in the North Side flew at half-staff, and some officers wore a black band over their badges to signify they are mourning a fallen officer. Police are planning a memorial service and burial for Aulf on Saturday.
Harper called the shooting “an unfortunate” but justifiable action.
“The officers acted within the guidelines of policy and procedures,” he said.
Sciulli and another officer, both in uniform, were driving on Arlington Avenue in a marked police car to respond to a report of shots fired when they spotted Justin Jackson, police said. They stopped because they believed he was carrying a gun, Harper said.
Sciulli ordered Aulf to attack after Jackson pulled a .357 Magnum handgun from under his shirt, police said.
Harper said Jackson began “firing at the officers, and the police officers returned fire.”
Investigators initially believed that the officers opened fire after Jackson began shooting at the dog.
“They did not realize that the dog had been shot” until Jackson and the dog lay mortally wounded, Harper said.
The officers and Justin Jackson fired several shots, investigators said.
Aulf was shot in the front legs and chest and pronounced dead on arrival at a veterinary hospital.
“The bullet retrieved from the K-9 was consistent with a .357 (Magnum),” Harper said.
The gun Jackson was carrying had been reported stolen in a 2006 burglary in Elliott, the chief said. MORE>>>
Its always the same story with these jigs. He was the nicest kid you ever meet. He just stoped selling crack and beating his girlfriend. He was even “studying” to get his driving permitt. And of course the standard : It was the cops fault for shooting BACK at him.
Are these scum ever to blame for their behavior!? Dog or not that was a cop this ‘happy, normal kid’ shot and killed. That’s two stories on the home page of blacks treating dogs cruely, it’s a racial cometment to cowardly behavior and it makes me sick.
I feel the sadness of the loss for the dog.
If that jig’s dad wants answers he needs to look within the black community. He wasn’t known to carry a gun? He was arrested for one a year ago! It’s unfortunate the dog was killed. At least that life was valuable.
““This needs to stop. The police are using excessive force and killing young black men,” said the victim’s father, Donald Jackson of the West End.”
Excessive force, of say, returning fire when fired upon? I can understand any father being upset about his son’s death, but he needs to take a long hard look at himself. Racial stuff aside, he was responsible for his son’s upbringing and his son obviously turned to out to be criminal. No one can argue that.
But instead he decides to whip out his race card while playing the blame game. It ain’t his or his son’s fault, nope!
Poor dog. I’m sure I speak for all of us here when I say that that dog will be missed more than that criminal.
Well at least no humans died in this incident.
“Donald Jackson said witnesses told him his son did not have a gun, and family members said Justin Jackson was not known to carry one.”
Gee that is really convincing considering the spook has a extensive criminal record involving fire arms and violence.
Considering that the K-9 officer was blatantly shot to death and the officer was obviously the next target, their communal Kunta Kinte rhetoric of ” they a be a no gun misstah bossa man” should be seen for the lie it obviously is yet due to the iron grip of PC’ism every one just turns a blind eye to crimes like these or they spin doctor the truth into the usual “poor oppressed local hero” fairy tale B.S.
Hell I’m surprised the guy didn’t just turn tail like most officers who have the misfortune of being in the urban jungles like Harlem or Hunters point.He had the courage to do his job despite the obvious threat of being sacrificed to the dagger snout controlled media all in the name of equality.
I hate niggers.
Niggers are but a symptom. Jews are the actual disease. Lose the jews and all your nigger problems will take care of themselves.
““Justin was a happy, normal kid,” said his aunt, Scheryl McCoy, 32, of East Liberty. “I’m speechless that this happened. I just don’t know what to say. They shot him because of a dog.”
Well, you stupid bitch, a police dog is part of the fucking family. So when you shoot the damn dog, you can expect the police to shoot to kill.
aulf was a brave dog
there is nothing better than a faithful dog