Man seeks millions after being shot by police in game-related swatting incident • Hacker News Board

Re: Man seeks millions after being shot by police in game-related swatting incident

#51

Post by throwway120385 » Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 9:53 PM UTC

atmavatar wrote: post #19

cyanregiment wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In San Francisco the cop cars don't say "To serve and protect" they say "Safety with respect" lmfao cuts to 6 cops beating a guy with clubs

That's because the Supreme Court has ruled that police have no constitutional duty to protect citizens. Special note: that includes cases where protective orders like restraining orders are concerned. The Castle Rock v. Gonzales ruling specifically states that police have no obligation to enforce them.

We could easily create a duty at the state or local level if we wanted to. The US Constitution is pretty silent on a lot of issues that are remanded to the states.

Re: Man seeks millions after being shot by police in game-related swatting incident

#52

Post by utternerd » Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 9:54 PM UTC

exabrial wrote: post #45

utternerd wrote: post #28

It explicitly said in the article that he pulled out a gun. He shouldn't have been swatted, obviously. That said, if you pull out a gun when police are responding to what they believe is an active shooter, the chances of you being shot are extremely high. Additionally consider what would have happened if this had been an active shooting and they simply disregarded the phone call.

No. You are beyond wrong. Personal firearm ownership is a constitutionally protected right, just as protection from unreasonable search (as this was). Arming oneself when someone breaks into your house is beyond reasonable. Police should expect residents to be armed and shouldn't be breaking into residences. And please, stop blaming the victim.

It is factually accurate that he pulled out a weapon when police were responding to an active shooter call.

Re: Man seeks millions after being shot by police in game-related swatting incident

#53

Post by giancarlostoro » Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 9:54 PM UTC

Police agencies arent the only ones alone to take blame here, the judges who on a whim sign these warrants should face liability or be removed from their position if there are casualties as a result of a false report.

Re: Man seeks millions after being shot by police in game-related swatting incident

#54

Post by hamper653 » Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 9:55 PM UTC

wl wrote: post #42

efnx wrote: post #5

They need to get sued _hard_ and lose millions, as well as have cops put in jail before real change happens. I feel sorry for this kid but he's doing the right thing.

This guy needs to be compensated for his pain and suffering, his economic losses due to his disability, and for the care he'll need for the rest of his life. Jailing the people whose negligence is responsible for his injuries doesn't help him.

Jail isn’t about helping victims.

Re: Man seeks millions after being shot by police in game-related swatting incident

#55

Post by user43928 » Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 9:55 PM UTC

atmavatar wrote: post #33

elevation wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> cops put in jail Right. The real justice comes from treating this incident like you would if there were no municipal coffers at play, and simply punish criminals for criminal action.

Real justice when it comes to swatting is multi-faceted. Sure, the person making the bogus call to police should suffer some consequences vis a vis jail time. However, swatting only works because police regularly take a shoot first and ask questions later stance. They go from an anonymous tip about an ongoing crime at an address to shooting up said address in short order without any effort to verify a crime is actual…

I am as horrified by the outcome here as the next person, but what exactly do you imagine police should do when responding to a call about an active shooter where they encounter a suspect armed with a handgun?

Re: Man seeks millions after being shot by police in game-related swatting incident

#56

Post by utternerd » Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 9:57 PM UTC

tverbeure wrote: post #38

utternerd wrote: post #28

It explicitly said in the article that he pulled out a gun. He shouldn't have been swatted, obviously. That said, if you pull out a gun when police are responding to what they believe is an active shooter, the chances of you being shot are extremely high. Additionally consider what would have happened if this had been an active shooting and they simply disregarded the phone call.

It also says that he heard glass breaking, thought they were criminals, grabbed a gun and hid behind a door. If you’re going to mention the gun fact, why not provide the whole context?

I assumed everyone also read the article if they're commenting on it, but I fail to see what additional that context that adds; I can't imagine he was pulling it out because it was time to oil it. Police were responding to an active shooter call, and this guy pulled out a gun.

Re: Man seeks millions after being shot by police in game-related swatting incident

#57

Post by marssaxman » Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 10:00 PM UTC

utternerd wrote: post #28

It explicitly said in the article that he pulled out a gun. He shouldn't have been swatted, obviously. That said, if you pull out a gun when police are responding to what they believe is an active shooter, the chances of you being shot are extremely high. Additionally consider what would have happened if this had been an active shooting and they simply disregarded the phone call.

When you have violent intruders breaking into your house through the window, it's reasonable that "these must be police officers, here to arrest me over a misunderstanding, and I should calmly cooperate with them so I won't be hurt" might not be the first thought which comes to mind.

Re: Man seeks millions after being shot by police in game-related swatting incident

#58

Post by ASalazarMX » Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 10:01 PM UTC

kulahan wrote: post #23

HiPhish wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> kid The man is 24 years old.

Not done growing until 26. The law says you’re an adult at 18, but that’s not even a little true. 18 year olds are children.

What are 12 year olds according to this criteria? Babies?

Re: Man seeks millions after being shot by police in game-related swatting incident

#59

Post by gammalost » Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 10:01 PM UTC

[dead]

Re: Man seeks millions after being shot by police in game-related swatting incident

#60

Post by hamper653 » Thu, Jul 30, 2026, 10:02 PM UTC

utternerd wrote: post #52

exabrial wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No. You are beyond wrong. Personal firearm ownership is a constitutionally protected right, just as protection from unreasonable search (as this was). Arming oneself when someone breaks into your house is beyond reasonable. Police should expect residents to be armed and shouldn't be breaking into residences. And please, stop blaming the victim.

It is factually accurate that he pulled out a weapon when police were responding to an active shooter call.

Why are there so many guns in this God-forsaken country? Why did local cops respond to an active shooting call? Why did they enter the house, instead of waiting for a specially trained team? Why did the victim have a gun?