WAS THIS DEPUTY JUSTIFIED IN SHOOTING HIS SUSPECT TEN TIMES? [+] serious ballot by RunsWithScissors ACTIVE Fri Jun 08, 07 - Wed Mar 03, 10 Corpus Christi, Texas June 8, 2007 A Nueces County Sheriff’s deputy fatally shot a 32-year-old man early Thursday on Interstate 37 during peak-hour traffic, after the man wielded a machete and ignored orders by the officer to drop the weapon, Sheriff Jim Kaelin said. A preliminary report by the Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office indicates that Miguel Angel Ramirez was shot 10 times, Kaelin said. The shooting happened about 7:30 a.m. on Interstate 37 between Southern Minerals and Corn Products roads, Kaelin said. Motorists had reported that a man was walking on the inside emergency lane of southbound Interstate 37 in the direction of oncoming traffic, Kaelin said. Deputy Burl Smith, 37, who has been an officer for two years — 10 months with the Nueces County Sheriff’s Department — arrived first at the scene, parking his patrol car in the inside emergency lane of northbound Interstate 37, Kaelin said. Smith previously worked for the Kleberg County Sheriff’s Department. The officer and Ramirez were separated by a concrete barrier, until Smith jumped the barrier when Ramirez refused his orders, Kaelin said. Ramirez, wielding the 18-inch machete, continued approaching Smith, Kaelin said. Preliminary investigation shows that Ramirez advanced 25 feet toward Smith after the first shot was fired at the suspect, Kaelin said. Thirteen rounds were fired, Kaelin said. The incident happened within one minute, Kaelin said. “He didn’t stop,” Kaelin said. “If the first shot doesn’t stop someone from doing what they’re doing, you have to fire a second and third shot.” Witnesses reported that Ramirez appeared to be angry, Kaelin said. At least one witness said Ramirez was in striking distance of Smith, Kaelin said, adding that Smith was justified in shooting because his life was in danger. One requirement for deadly force is that the officer fears for his life and the life of a third party, Kaelin said. Kaelin said morning traffic was backed up, with people headed to work. Fortunately, Smith and Ramirez were “eye to eye,” Kaelin said, and the shots were fired in a direct path at Ramirez, who was parallel with the emergency lane. All procedures were followed, Kaelin said, commending the officer. The Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate why Ramirez was walking on the interstate, Kaelin said. They planned to interview family and friends, he said. Ramirez, who is from Rosanky, near Austin, might have been in Corpus Christi doing construction work, Kaelinadded. Kaelin met with District Attorney Carlos Valdez Thursday to give a briefing about the incident, Valdez said. It’s a policy of the District Attorney’s Office to take every officer-involved fatal shooting case to a grand jury, Valdez said. “From preliminary evidence, the shooting seems to be justified,” Valdez said. Corpus Christi officers were originally dispatched to the scene, but a sheriff department’s deputy first took the call because he was in the area, said Corpus Christi Police Department Capt. John Houston. -------------------- Was this officer justified in shooting the man with the Machete, ten times? Yes No I don't know Ballot #115494 : SEE RESULTS Comment: show your vote with comment?

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