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Teenager Fatally Shot By Mobile County Deputy

By Steve Alexander

Sheriff's officials say suspect pulled a weapon on the deputy. Teenager Fatally Shot By Mobile County Deputy

Published: Thu, November 01, 2007 - 9:24 pm Last Updated: Thu, November 01, 2007 - 9:58 pm

Mobile County Sheriff's Officials say an 18 year old man shot to death by a deputy threatened the deputy with a handgun.
The shooting happened in the Happy Hills community near the corner of Montgomery Avenue and Herman Drive.
The dead man has been identified as Robert Lucas.
Mobile County Sheriff's Officials say just after 2:00 Thursday afternoon, members of their narcotics unit got information about a person on Herman Street.
Chad Tucker with the Mobile County Sheriff's Office said, "Investigators were trying to talk to a gentleman they were told had a large amount of marijuana, crack cocaine and a rifle. He pointed a weapon at them and the deputies, or the deputy, returned fire. He had to use deadly force because obviously his life was in jeopardy."
Sheriff's officials say they searched Lucas's vehicle and found a rifle, marijuana, crack cocaine, and what appears to be codeine.
But many people in the area had questions about what had happened.
One man who said he watched the shooting from across the street had a different story from what the sheriff's office said.
Randy Reese said Lucas was carrying candy, not crack cocaine.
Reese said, "I'm walking out, I'm seeing this man get shot five times in his chest."
When asked if he saw whether or not Lucas had a weapon, Reese said, "He didn't draw a weapon. After he got shot, that's when weapon fall, that's it. This man did not reach or do nothing, this man had his hands in the air when he fell, he hit his knees and he fell face first on the ground."
When asked if Lucas was involved in drugs, Andre Jones, Lucas's stepfather, said, "No, he's got a brand new baby. He didn't sell drugs: I know that for a fact."
Tucker said, "As we interview everybody that was there, we try to find as many witnesses as we can and put the facts together."
The Mobile County Sheriff's Office has not identified the deputy involved in the shooting.
Officials do say they will release their report to the district attorney's office for review by a grand jury.

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Lindie Says:

Tue, Nov 06, 2007 at 7:31 am

wlb.... you need to learn to comprehend what you read. Nowhere did I say that the thug with the gun was innocent. Please reread, thanks.

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wlb Says:

Mon, Nov 05, 2007 at 10:37 pm

lindie do you understand the 18 yr.old had a gun he pulled it on a man...a police officer he was fighting the law and the law won..mr. burch saved the tax payers a lot of money...dope kills.guns kill and thugs kill...who knows how meany lives mr. burch saved....how much safer are the streets are tonight...and why was there 200 adults home are out in the streets at 2 p.m. and not at work...drugs that is why !!! they were home because they dont work most likey...that is only my feeling sorry if you dont agree..

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psycomonkey Says:

Fri, Nov 02, 2007 at 9:06 pm

It is always sad when a life is taken. It doesn’t matter what the
circumstances are. However, being the wife of a police officer I know
that an officer would not shoot someone without just cause. I’m sure
this young man was probably a good person that made bad choices.
Having a weapon in your hand when an officer approaches you is
a bad choice. I feel for the families of all involved. I know the officer
will replay this in his head and 2nd guess himself for a long time. I know that some where a mother is hurting over losing her son. This
is a no win situation no matter how you look at it.

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rmseek1234 Says:

Fri, Nov 02, 2007 at 4:36 pm

I would suppose a witness could be arrested if he had a warrant on him or if it was a matter of disorderly conduct. There are many good people in the projects, just like there are thugs in your so-called “good neighborhoods.” The point is the deputy felt his life was in danger and acted accordingly. Apparently there was some substance to their initial investigation as there were drugs and weapons found.

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rmseek1234 Says:

Fri, Nov 02, 2007 at 12:56 pm

Yeah 5 times-don’t think he wouldn’t have opened up an assault weapon and done worse if given the chance, or anyone else who is dealing drugs. All these people who want to complain about law enforcement need to walk in their shoe one day. See what they have to put up with. The same people who are crying that the police shot this guy would be the same ones hollering where were the police when an innocent bystander got killed by the dealers in a deal gone bad!

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Amber B. Says:

Fri, Nov 02, 2007 at 9:00 am

5 Times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Come on. What’s up with that????????

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jlapointe Says:

Fri, Nov 02, 2007 at 6:59 am

our law enforcement has to endure many tragedies but having to use deadly force is the highest of all. can you imagine the trauma that the officer will have to deal with by being forced to take another’s life. he or she was not only protecting themselves but also the good citizens of that community and all of mobile county. Thank you for protecting the good citizens of mobile.
john lapointe

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NO JUSTICE NO PEACE Says:

Fri, Nov 02, 2007 at 2:29 am

i feel like if it was very important to say who the child was who got gunned down, then there should be no reason why the deputy name is not being released.

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