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Father James Griffin, a retired Chicago police officer, and son Michael Griffin, were staying up late bumming in the couch watching Jay Leno. As what usually happens, the elder father falls asleep. Meanwhile, son Michael left the apartment and returned through the backdoor. Father James thought it was a burglar. He shoots him in the head. Stephen, another son, called in the incident. The Chicago police are still investigating.
This story is chillingly similar to another case last month involving a teacher killing a man wearing a mask who turned out to be his son.
Well, why did the cop, and the teacher have a gun? And why is it their first instinct to shoot first?
A retired Chicago police officer has shot and killed his son, after mistaking him for a burglar.
Michael Griffin, 48, died of a gunshot wound to the head at his father's home in the northwest side of Chicago, CBS Local Chicago reports.
It was a tragic case of mistaken identity for Michael's father, Chicago Police Detective James Griffin, according to another son.
"My brother was staying there, and last I heard they were watching the Jay Leno show and my dad fell asleep," Stephen Griffin told CBS Local Chicago. According to police, Michael had apparently left the apartment and returned through a back door.
"And I guess he assumed my brother was at home sleeping, and when someone came in the back door, he just naturally assumed it was an intruder," Stephen said of his father.
"At that time he didn't know who he shot," Griffin, 47, told the Chicago Tribune. "Then he called me back and told me the bad news,'' said Griffin, whose mother died in 1999. "I'm just glad my mom wasn't around to see this."
Griffin said his father, who is 77, was a police officer for more than 40 years, serving as a homicide detective and then retiring in 1998.
He told the Chicago newspaper that his father's senses "aren't as sharp as they used to be,'' but that he is still healthy enough to play in a local basketball league.
"He's in pretty good health except for some bumps and bruises from playing basketball," Griffin told the Tribune. "I don't know if his age had a lot to do with it."
This is the second incident in recent weeks in which a father shot and killed a son, mistaking him for an intruder.
Last month, a Connecticut teacher shot and killed a young man wearing a mask in his neighbor's yard — only to learn later the young man he had killed was his son.
Chicago police have not filed any charges in the Griffin family incident. They are investigating.
"I'm still freaking out about it," Griffin said about his father's case to the Tribune. "I have two sons of my own, and I can't imagine how he must feel.''
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Shooting to kill before being able to identify your own son is extremely questionable in my opinion. Not saying he murdered his son, just seems so inconceivable to me.
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Because they are idiots and guns shouldn't be allowed for regular people. Written by a biased european.
From what i see it, they shoot to kill because they are afraid to identify first? I mean maybe they are afraid that the "intruder" also has a weapon and that they would get the first shot in if the father didnt use the element of surprise.
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Jeez that's one fucked up story. But why are you asking why they had firearms? You know as well as I it's their right guaranteed to them. You shouldn't use a sensational story to further your view on others.
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Is it legal in the US to shoot trespassers on sight? Self-defense is one thing, but this is something else entirely.
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You allow people to own guns and inevitably accidents like this will happen.
Sucks, but short of restricting gun access (which is no doubt what this thread will derive into), that won't change.
Feel bad for the son that's dead, the son that's living, and the father; in that order.
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On October 12 2012 14:52 Mambo wrote:
Because they are idiots and guns shouldn't be allowed for regular people. Written by a biased european.
That sounds correct. I am also biased.
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On October 12 2012 14:54 killa_robot wrote:
You allow people to own guns and inevitably accidents like this will happen.
Sucks, but short of restricting gun access (which is no doubt what this thread will derive into), that won't change.
Feel bad for the son that's dead, the son that's living, and the father; in that order.
I feel for them equally, none of them wanted this to happen or saw it coming. That said, I just don't understand how you can kill your own son with a headshot before being able to identify him.
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OP,
Well, why did the cop, and the teacher have a gun? And why is it their first instinct to shoot first?
Time for another gun control debate, huh?
On October 12 2012 15:00 GolemMadness wrote:
This is why people shouldn't own guns. Too many lack the common sense to use them properly.
No one should have the freedom to do X because a few people abuse X? Sounds rather silly, and I personally don't even care to own a gun.
On topic: It's a tragedy. Perhaps they lived in a neighborhood where there's a lot of crime, or seeing as how it was late at night, perhaps the man was scared or tired. Obviously it was a mistake. Let's see what a judge says.
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I saw bowling for columbine yesterday night.
I am not impressed.
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Canada11044 Posts
This is why people shouldn't own guns. Too many lack the common sense to use them properly.
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No surprise really, family members are the ones who get shot when you have guns in the home to protect from burglars.
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These things occur all too often, it seems like some tragic accident happens then everyone starts talking about gun control/laws. I keep reading these things, and I have to admit that I'm starting to creep towards increased gun control. Which is something that I don't think that I would consider myself doing, since my family owns a lot of guns.
It still does seem odd that he has enough time to get a gun and shoot his son in the face. When you think of it as a black and white scenario it is very strange. I guess the cop training kicked in and he just reacted.
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Wow, that's terrible OP. How could a supposedly modern country have backwards laws like this? People can just own guns and shoot someone walking in their house. I think we need stricter gun control.
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As an American, I personally believe that personal possession of firearms should be outlawed in our country. Yet many ignorant and conspiracy theorists claim that if we don't keep guns, then there no way" to overthrow the government". That is an actual quote from a conversation that i had 2 weeks ago with a friend. Its propoganda like this from organizations such as the National Rifle Association taht make people believe that we actually need protection from the government. The last time Congress issued a moratorium on gun sales was around 2000 i believe, and was passed by a Democratic congress. After loosing their majority in the next election, they concluded that passing another bill would be political suicide. Until we get people to change their minds and for congressmen and women to stand up for whats right, not for what will get them reelected, will tragic events like these be prevented
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On October 12 2012 14:54 epicanthic wrote:
Is it legal in the US to shoot trespassers on sight? Self-defense is one thing, but this is something else entirely.
Depends on the state but more are allowing it. I know in Arizona, if you're in someone's house you're pretty much free game for murder regardless of why you're there.
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There was something in Houston today. (thursday) A cop shot dead a guy that "was charging" at him yet the guy was like six feet away with no weapons. A lot of people are pissed, albeit what got the cops called on him in the first place. (usual fight with father, molested his step-son or something)
Also, if you create more laws, it's just more time in jail. Laws do not prevent, just discourages.
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On October 12 2012 15:07 jdseemoreglass wrote:
Time for our weekly neighborhood "stupid Americans have guns and shoot people" thread.
TL General NEVER gets old!
pretty much
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On October 12 2012 15:08 CTSChao wrote:
As an American, I personally believe that personal possession of firearms should be outlawed in our country. Yet many ignorant and conspiracy theorists claim that if we don't keep guns, then there no way" to overthrow the government". That is an actual quote from a conversation that i had 2 weeks ago with a friend. Its propoganda like this from organizations such as the National Rifle Association taht make people believe that we actually need protection from the government. The last time Congress issued a moratorium on gun sales was around 2000 i believe, and was passed by a Democratic congress. After loosing their majority in the next election, they concluded that passing another bill would be political suicide. Until we get people to change their minds and for congressmen and women to stand up for whats right, not for what will get them reelected, will tragic events like these be prevented
Oh the irony.
Sad story :/.
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Even if it he would be 100% sure that it was a burglar, taking the decision to kill another person over having some stuff stolen, is completely beyond my understanding. Killing before even being sure who it is, is just sad. 
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EPT
