The Preventable Death and the Law

Nestled in northern Arizona surrounded by mountains and pine trees, is the sleepy little town of Flagstaff, Arizona - population 50,000, where in June 2000, a 17-year old boy shot and killed a police officer - the first officer killed in the line of duty. Why am I mentioning this? Because this young man was diagnosed by both the prosecution and defense as being a paranoid schizophrenic. His behavior had begun deteriorating a year before - he began drinking only bottled water because he thought the city water had lead in it; he thought both his parents and the citizens of Flagstaff were aliens; he stopped playing sports - dropping the dreams he had of becoming a professional athlete. He remarked that the only way to stop the aliens was with bullets. His mother had him tested for drugs - negative. Later, he got arrested for drinking and drug possession. His parents tried to commit him - so he could get help. However, the state declared that he was not a threat to himself or to others. Committing him was denied. June 21, 2000, this young man stole his brother's truck and drove around a neighborhood in the middle of the night with the stereo blasting. Understandably, the police were called. Shots rang out, an officer fell. An officer that believed in community service - he chopped firewood for people who were unable to do it. He did it because he wanted to.

At the trial, the judge admitted that this young man is delusional, yet in the same breath declared that he was sane during the act of murder. He is now charged with first degree murder and will go to prison for life.

Unfortunately, there are no winners here. The family of the teenager wanted to get help for their son. They were wondering what was wrong. The family of the officer, a father to one, is grieving. The community lost a valued member. This could have been prevented if only a young man had been committed and received the help he required. Now, two lives are lost.