Police Kill Army Reservist During Standoff

(AP)  An Army Reservist despondent about being sent to Iraq was killed by police during a 14-hour standoff that began Christmas night when family members told authorities he was armed and threatening to kill himself.

James Emerick Dean, 28, had barricaded himself inside his father's house with several weapons Monday night, family members told police. He later told officers he would shoot anyone who entered the house. His father was not home at the time.

Around noon Tuesday, while police were preparing to use tear gas to force Dean out of the home, Dean came to the front door and pointed his weapon at an officer, St. Mary's County Sheriff Tim Cameron said. Another deputy shot Dean once, killing him.

Dean had already served 18 months in Afghanistan and was despondent after learning recently that he would be deployed to Iraq, family members told police.

During the standoff, Dean fired several shots at police, including one that struck a car where a deputy sat. The officer was not injured.

Cameron did not know what reserve unit Dean served in.

Wanda Matthews, who lives next door to Dean's father, told the Washington Post she knew the young man was depressed about heading to Iraq.

"His dad told me that he didn't want to go to war," Matthews said. "He had already been out there and didn't want to go again."

[dev1in]

One thing to remember...These heroic men and women in our military signed up of their own accord, they were not drafted. They knew they were signing up for a very dangerous job where they could have a very real chance of dying in combat. There are STILL people signing up in fact!

If we didn't go to war and oust the murderous dictator and you heard of all the massacares, murders, and torchers he was commiting you'd be whining that we should do something to stop him.

Theres no satisfying you whiney liberals!

Oh and "mrvolleyba11" President Bush DID serve in the military. After serving he recieved an honorable discharge.
Before you shoot off your mouth research your facts.....

[markbrookhar]

Saddam is being hung in less than a month for his presidental part in sending his troops to fight againt less than 300 kurds who he said plotted to over throw him (I recognize there are other charges). No question that he has done wrong. But consider...Our president's war on terror has resulted in the deaths of almost 3000 US soldiers, & tens of thousands of Iraqi non-combantant civilians, women, and children, many, many directly at the hand of US military because of the "rules of engagement." But he has done no crime against humanity.? Posters be careful, it is criminal to speak against the president in this current war on terror. PS. Why did WT7 collapse?

[maaburne]

Agnim,

Maybe the army reservist who was killed should have thought of that scenario before he joined, but we aren't a society of thinkers. Our initial enthusiasm about engaging in an unneeded/unwarranted war make that clear.

[sharncedar]

I guess it was another of Bush's sacrifices. Now we have to give him more sacrifices to justify that one and so on.

Something's really wrong when one man can murder so many Americans. We have got to take away the excessive power of the presidency. We should only go to war when the American people are behind the war, and authorize the war through Congress.

If there are honest liberals out there, please understand that Clinton smashing the War Powers Act during his Yugoslavian adventure is the direct precursor to this young man's death. You need to be consistent, not just bash Bush but do something to help America. Which means to punish and censor the Clintons for their role in the casting of president as warrior-in-chief. It isn't courageous to attack one's political enemies, it is courageous to oppose ones allies when they are abusive of power.

Democrats, are there any heroes amongst you? Are there any who love this country more than selfish spoils? Now is when America needs your leadership. Not to bash Bush, he bashes himself, why even soon God will bash him until there is nothing left of the man but a cowering pile of fear, mark my words. But speak out and defeat the abusive tendencies in your own party, the laziness that seeks a king or queen rather than a democratic government. Stop worshipping Hillary, or Obama, or any of them, and demand a logical, reasoned, democratic government with the proper checks and balances in place.

[delta5243]

allgood, well said....couldn't agree more.

[nyckate]

perhaps its time to face some tough facts about America today - war is much tougher than the movies portray it - and also we have a president who has totally mismanaged both iraq and afghanistan. This mis-management doesn't just have political ramifications - its a direct threat itself to our soldiers who are the ones faced with the very real consequences of the mismanagement and lack of armour, etc. We have soldiers battling there for reasons that no longer make sense, without proper gear and with little or no arabic translators - they don't know who is friend or foe - they are ending up training those who turn around and attack them - suicides rates of US Soldiers(those reported anyway) are twice as high and the injury rate is astronomical.

Many US soldiers are on their 3rd tours in Iraq - its tough on them and on their families especially as the nation was left unprepared for such extended foreign action as was the military. I remember Mr. Rumsfeld opining that he though it might take 6 weeks never 6 months - now we are in Iraq longer than we were in WWII.

[bobbyzworld]

Being a soldier who has been to war myself (Desert Storm), I have love, respect, & sympathy for every soldier who is deployed in Iraq or anywhere else at this moment, but especially Iraq. I say this because, if you have read or watched anything about this war in Iraq, we (as a country were lied to, misled, led astray (you get the picture), as to the reasons to go to war in Iraq. Saddam, tyrant that he is/was, apparently had nothing to do with what happended in America on September 11. But G.W. lied, Congress didn't challenge the information as much as it should have, & now we're in a lose lose situation. Yes, our military is now all volunteer, & yes, unlike most recruiters will tell you, the purpose main purpose of the military is to fight wars, BUT THAT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN UNDER FALSE PRETENSES!

If "weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)" are a reason for us to go to war, then why haven't we invaded Iran, or North Korea (COUNTRIES WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT HAVE WMDS)?!?!? Riddle me that Batman?

My point is if there were no war in Iraq, this soldier might still be here.

[petesis]

Dear Allgood
I deployed alot let me tell you and I did not like the rules of engagement. I got out because of things like that. (I joined to fight for the USA, not ARAMCO) I voted with my feet. I agree with your intent of what you say but I say that lately it seems the cops shoot first and ask questions later. Much more than they used to. That poor guy did not have to die. I live near Pensacola and they have a swat team that when they come out, someone is getting shot. Heck, they dress like turkey hunters. It is a big outing for them. A vast majority of these standoffs can be solved peacefully through patience but patience seems to be something they do not want to exercise.

[allgood34]

Petesis,

I do not fully agree with the police and defend their every action. In fact there have been many times I've wished someone would police the police but I do tend to side with the ones that uphold the law and aren't just power hungary fools abusing their powers while hiding behind their badge.

During your time in the military did you deploy? Did you have to uphold the BS rules of engagement that pretty much say you cannot fire until fired upon even if the enemy is walking around waiving guns in the air? If so do you remember how threatened you felt while knowing there wasn't much you could do about it? i remember that feeling all to well. If a citizen isn't breaking the law and doesn't want to be shot drop the weapon and show no signs of aggression. Get a good lawyer and work it out in court. Shooting or threatening to shoot cops or anyone else isn't the way to handle any situation whether you are wrong or right and just misunderstood.

[fascistusa]

It's all about the Rich.

Fascism. Nazism.

It's all a TRICK. The easiest way to get the Labor/ Wealth from a vast Majority while keeping power/control over that majority of people.

You say work towards a Future. I say REVOLT against a sick, evil Ruling Class.

The police are STORMTROOPERS/ Clones. Cheney is the EMPORER. BUSH is Darth Vader.

What does that make me?