Recently, I was asked for my thoughts on the death of a young man named Mike Cho. Cho was gunned down by police officers in La Habra, Calif. The only information I had at that time was that Cho made an attempt to strike the cops with a tire iron prior to his expiration.
It sounded like a righteous shooting to me.
I’ve since had some time to find more information about the shooting. Here’s what I’ve learned so far (from words and video): on December 31, 2007 at approximately 2 p.m., police officers were responding to a vandalism call. A surveillance video showed two cops tactically deployed behind the open doors of a police vehicle. The suspect (Mike Cho) walked towards them with a tire iron in his left hand, and a cigarette in his right. Police said that they ordered him to drop the tire iron. Instead, Cho turned approximately 90-degrees to his right and walked away, off camera. Both cops lowered their guns and followed. Off camera, Cho raised the tire iron over his head in a striking position. In response, police officers shot him a total of ten times.
There have been a lot of questions as to why the police did what they did. Why did they have their guns drawn? Why did they have to shoot the kid ten times? Why didn’t they use a taser or some other less-than-lethal weapon?
The answers to those questions are so blatantly obvious (and have been answered in other forums) that I won’t go into them here. Instead, I have questions of my own: why would you approach two guys with a tire iron in hand, especially when their guns are leveled at you? Disturbing to me is the manner with which Cho approached the two cops, puffing on his cigarette. Slowly. Deliberately. Like he didn’t give a fuck. Why? Was Cho on drugs? Was he crazy? Did he commit suicide by cop?
My thoughts on the death of a young man named Mike Cho, for what they’re worth: it was a tragic death, but one the suspect brought upon himself. Unless some new information is released that will sway my opinion otherwise, I’d say that the shooting was righteous.
Note: Check out the Los Angeles Times for an article about the shooting. A Korean language news source showed surveillance video of Cho’s encounter with La Habra police, moments before the shooting. A clip has been posted on YouTube.
Tags: death · la habra · michael cho · police · shooting
Mr. Grudge
02/19/2008
Hi Kimchihead,
I am so glad I never had to shoot anyone while I was on the job. I came close a couple of times, but close does not count. Thanks for understanding the seemingly insurmountable scrutiny police face when trying to protect themselves everyday. -Mike
Kimchihead
02/19/2008
I, too, am glad you never had to plug someone up with lead!
The problem, I think, is that most people in the general public have seen way too many movies and have an unrealistic expectation of how a use of force should go down.
offendedblogger
02/19/2008
I agree with you, so many questions as to why Cho did what he did. Sometimes the cop is not the bad guy. :/
bloggernoob
02/19/2008
10 times? i found this blog via offendedblogger, and she’s right. i can’t wait to read some of you short stories. don’t know if it’s cause i’m korean, but the story seems close to home. shooting someone ten times? i don’t understand that at all. Why, was he a vampire? the terminator. ok he had a weapon, but u would think that a shot or two to the leg or something would do. very disturbing.
bloggernoob
02/19/2008
crazy, i just saw the youtube clip, cho is a bad ass. he had to have been on something. smoking a cig and walking away, if i were the officers, i would have been freaked out too. the clip is something out of a movie scene.
alice
02/20/2008
Hm. This is the first I’ve heard of this. Gonna go read on about it.
Kimchihead
02/20/2008
The thought of shooting someone ten times might sound excessive to someone who has never been trained in the use of a firearm. Between the two cops, ten shots could have been fired in less than two seconds. It’s quite possible that the suspect didn’t go down until he was hit by the tenth round.
The idea of shooting someone in the leg or arm is so utterly asinine that I can’t believe so many people would even consider this an option. It is unsound to aim for anything but center mass. You aim for the biggest target there is–the upper body. Anything else puts you in harm’s way. Your chance of missing an arm or leg is much greater than missing the upper body. Anyone who suggests shooting an armed suspect in the arm or leg has watched way too many movies.
Tara
02/20/2008
*shakes head* Tragic indeed . . . Ten times is quite a lot. But it seemed like that dude had it coming.
Batbitch
02/20/2008
My best friend is a deputy and I’d be pissed as hell if she shot an armed suspect in the fucking leg. I want her around for a good long time to come.
Iron Pugilist
02/20/2008
I don’t really know what to say about this, except if Cho was indeed guilty of doing a crime, then I guess he deserved to be punished. Unfortunately for him, he won’t be able to repeat his crime.
ozymandiaz
02/21/2008
Rule #1
Never bring a tire iron to a gun fight.
Monica
02/22/2008
I have a quick thought here… I think.
#1 - I am not a police officer. I had to drop out of that whole application process ’cause of a seizure. LOL Can’t be a cop with those! But, my bro and cousins and ex are. So, I kinda get the mindset a bit. (enough for an outsider)
#2 - my 15 year old son weielded 2 HUGE butcher knives (courtesy of the kitchen drawer) in a botched suicide attempt (thank GOODNESS!) and we called in the cops to assist (we were an hour away when neighbors called).
He’s 6′1″ and 230lbs. 15 years old yes, big enough to do some damage - yes. SWAT came in the house (I still have bootmarks on doors) and found my child in a bedroom with knives over his head and moving twords them. I was told less than 3 ft. THEY DIDN’T SHOOT HIM. Why? It was the situation, they had time to close the bedroom door and move back… then talking him out.
5150 - yes. Dead child - no. Did I thank them profusely? HELL YES. (btw he was ODd on a bunch of pills that created a psychotic “episode” according to emergency). Phhht.
What the heck was my point? I absolutely HATE when I hear that cops don’t think… they do! My baby (big as he is) is alive and healthy thanks to the whole TEAM of folks *thinking* through the situation.
So - although not everything is like that I’m sure, I’m thinking there is a reason sometimes…
There’s my book for the day…
Over and Out
Mon
randomguru
02/24/2008
i agree… why couldn’t they have used taser guns? maybe the police officers were justified. but either way, they will have to live with having killed someone. i would have a hard time for sure, and that’s why i’m not a police officer. in many of the great religions they say not to kill. but, in society i guess it’s justified. i’ve always been on a quandry about this.
lily
02/24/2008
Do you remember me? I do. How are you? really how are you… I hear you’re doing great. If you get a chance, let me know how you are doing. miss you… be safe out there. I’m still stuck here…
Iron Pugilist
02/25/2008
Whoa creepy post above mine.
lordmanilastone
03/02/2008
Had I been one of the cops, I would have done the same…
Iron Pugilist
03/02/2008
Had I been one of the cops, I would have just pistol-whipped him. To death. Is that legal?
Michello
03/05/2008
DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMNED!
Cecilia
03/13/2008
guilty or not guilty, police do not have the right kill someone. b/c you are a policeman, you have right to kill anyone carrying anything on their hand? bs! this is tyranny. let’s see if you will meet those officers on the street and you be the one who got shot at! What will you say then?
Kimchihead
03/13/2008
No, having something in your hands does not give the police the right to shoot you. If Cho had a teddy bear in his hands the police would not have shot him.
If, however, you threaten a cop with a blunt instrument that can cause serious injury or death don’t be surprised if he or she pops a cap at you. It is generally unwise to threaten anyone with a tire iron. Especially if that anyone is pointing a gun at you.
FOP
03/14/2008
It’s hard to argue with the Kimchihead. Again man, dig your site!
adventurer
06/20/2008
Solid and logical. My condolences to the Cho family and the officers involved. I don’t think anyone likes to see this happen. One only can wonder philosophically why Mike decided to do this.. But there are hints as he changes overtime from childhood to quarter-life crisis age.
Raph
07/16/2008
Hey Cecilia, when’s the last time you got hit in the head with a tire iron? My guess is probably never. I would also guess that you’ve never been in a fight and wouldn’t recognize a life threatening situation if you were in one. Keep eating grass and let the meat eaters protect you.