A Hurricane’s Chaos. A Cry of Looting. Then Gunfire.

Mr. Brooks did definitely not deserve to die but, at least from what I read in this story, he caused his own death.

An armed populace requires armed law enforcement. The inevitable result is more citizens shot dead by police, and more police shot dead by citizens. Contrast with countries where neither cops nor citizens are routinely armed. Such tragedies are statistically rare. Cops are trigger happy because caution and complacency can cost them their lives. Their counterparts in the rest of the industrialized first world can interact more calmly with the public they serve because they don’t expect to be shot at. It’s not rocket science.

This is a troubling and confusing story. After the hurricane struck Mr. Brooks left his fiance's parents' house to go to his own house on foot, shoeless, surely an odd thing to do after a hurricane, when dangerous debris usually litters every surface and lurks in every puddle of water. A witness saw Mr. Brooks rifling through cars and "...holding a few items he seemed to have taken from parked cars...," and notified nearby police. Then Mr. Brooks entered a police car and closed the door, then police dragged him out and a struggle ensued in which Mr. Brooks was shot. Yes, there are many uncertainties and unanswered questions. Did Mr. Brooks engage looting? Did he enter a police car and close the door, forcing law enforcement officers to remove him? Did he resist arrest? Was he armed or did he reach for a weapon in the police car or on the officers? Was Mr. Brooks' unusual behavior (walking barefoot through hurricane debris, entering a police car and closing the door, looting) related to use of legal or illegal drugs? The information in this article is insufficient to answer most of these questions. Presumably an investigation will be made and an autopsy conducted to know if Mr. Brooks was under the influence of prescription or illegal drugs or other factors not mentioned in the article. Until all of these questions--and many others--are answered, I think it is premature for the NYT to suggest that this is a callous shooting of an unarmed man by the police.

What is it with this deadly force while in a uniform, under color of authority, against unarmed civilians? Don't any of these cowards/bullies have any option other than shooting to kill? No Tasers? No tackles, no hand cuffs, no mace? I'm beginning to believe my friend who observed giving some people a uniform turns them into utter monsters.

Bottom line: another unarmed man killed by the cops. Almost not newsworthy any more.

I disagree with the way this is reported. The implication is that the officer shot Brooks because he was a assumed to be a looter. But that is not the case. Regardless of how the altercation began — whether or not the officer assumed Brooks was looting — Brooks was acting erratically and was indeed a threat to others. He got in the police vehicle and close the door. He scuffled with an officer and grabbed for the officer’s gun. Whether the shooting was a valid use of deadly force is something that will be decided by others. But the reported facts point to a man experiencing a mental breakdown, and an officer who was doing the best he could in a very chaotic situation.

"The officers, part of a state agency that generally investigates arsons and insurance fraud, rushed back out toward the street. At least one drew his weapon" arson and insurance fraud investigators? are these the type of "officers" that should have weapons and the ability to kill? some girl, who won't reveal her name, makes a claim and this man dies. no compassion, no decency, no common sense. just reactive behavior and letting emotions dictate your opinion and actions.

Shoot first ask questions later or just swipe it under the rug.

It is a new world out there. Catastrophic climactic events are going to uproot a lot of our comforts and preconceptions. While it is difficult to prepare against everything perhaps we should start having courses in Middle and High Schools about the lengthy consequences of an event devastating a community, be it weather related, Wall Street related, or globalization related. That could be a way to introduce, meteorology, economics, history, sociology etc..in a more meaningful way.

Looting in hurricane chaos? How do we know it is looting? What if people are looking for supplies to survive with? People accusing each other of property crimes during a hurricane...need to stop it. In an emergency, saving lives is the issue at hand. Even one's own. Once things calm down, then people can sort out property issues. Very sad for this incident. The inflammation of society we are experiencing right now....is making people lose common sense and concern for fellow human beings and other species. It needs to stop.