04-24-2007, 09:58 PM
Sheriff's deputies justified in firing 280 bullets at suspect
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DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Sheriff's deputies were justified in firing more than 280 bullets at a man who led authorities on a high-speed chase last year, an investigation found.
Antonio Isaias Magdaleno, 21, of Boynton Beach, was killed after being shot 31 times, State Attorney Barry Krischer wrote in his report, released Monday.
Magdaleno led authorities on a 19-minute chase last May through Palm Beach County, firing repeatedly at them as he sped away, according to Krischer. He fled from deputies after he allegedly got into a fight with several men.
Krischer determined that the deputies were justified in the shooting because Magdaleno endangered their lives and the public. No criminal charges will be filed.
However, Krischer questioned why 18 patrol cars participated in the chase.
"What's the tactical advantage there?" he wrote. "That's a lot of traffic and intersections that they are driving through. It creates the possibility of a risk to the general population."
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw acknowledged there were problems with the way the pursuit was handled. He said his department policy calls for no more than three squad cars to participate in a chase under most circumstances.
The lieutenant who supervised the pursuit retired during the investigation into the shooting.
"He did a horrible job with this," Bradshaw said. "He endangered people's lives.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_DEPUTIES_SHOOTING_FLOL-?SITE=FLTAL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
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DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Sheriff's deputies were justified in firing more than 280 bullets at a man who led authorities on a high-speed chase last year, an investigation found.
Antonio Isaias Magdaleno, 21, of Boynton Beach, was killed after being shot 31 times, State Attorney Barry Krischer wrote in his report, released Monday.
Magdaleno led authorities on a 19-minute chase last May through Palm Beach County, firing repeatedly at them as he sped away, according to Krischer. He fled from deputies after he allegedly got into a fight with several men.
Krischer determined that the deputies were justified in the shooting because Magdaleno endangered their lives and the public. No criminal charges will be filed.
However, Krischer questioned why 18 patrol cars participated in the chase.
"What's the tactical advantage there?" he wrote. "That's a lot of traffic and intersections that they are driving through. It creates the possibility of a risk to the general population."
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw acknowledged there were problems with the way the pursuit was handled. He said his department policy calls for no more than three squad cars to participate in a chase under most circumstances.
The lieutenant who supervised the pursuit retired during the investigation into the shooting.
"He did a horrible job with this," Bradshaw said. "He endangered people's lives.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_DEPUTIES_SHOOTING_FLOL-?SITE=FLTAL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT