death of sword-wielding robbery suspect

[sarge]

December 6, 2005 http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051206/NEWS01/512060473

Authorities: Deputies justified in fatal shooting
Sheriff's Department is investigating death of sword-wielding robbery suspect

By Vic Ryckaert
vic.ryckaert@indystar.com

Marion County Sheriff's Department officials say two deputies were justified in fatally shooting a sword-wielding man Sunday night.
Nevertheless, the investigation into the shooting continues, sheriff's spokesman Capt. Phil Burton said Monday.

Deputies Jody L. Glass and Daniel Kistner shot and killed Alexander Zagovalov, 24, in a parking lot at the Gardens of Green Briar Apartments in the 1200 block of Viburnum Drive shortly before 7 p.m. Sunday.
Zagovalov, police say, ignored the deputies' orders to drop the 4-foot sword he was holding, then rushed at them with it. Both deputies fired. Zagovalov died of gunshot wounds, the Marion County coroner's office reported Monday.
Minutes before, deputies say, Zagovalov had used the sword to attack CVS pharmacist Josh Bennett, 27, outside the drug store at 86th Street and Ditch Road, cutting Bennett's hand and face.

Zagovalov fled the drug store, ran into the apartment complex and smashed through a glass patio door leading to the apartment of 77-year-old Mildred Davis.

Davis could not be reached for comment Monday, but in an interview with WTHR (Channel 13), The Star's news-gathering partner, Davis said she somehow held her door closed against the intruder and yelled for help: "I said, 'Help, help, help, somebody, please help me, please help me, please help me.' '

Davis eventually ran into the hallway and was assisted by neighbors who called police. Zagovalov left, encountering the police a short time later.
Zagovalov lived in the same complex, which receives federal subsidies for renting to senior citizens and the disabled.

Friends or family members could not be reached for comment.
Police records show Zagovalov had been arrested several times for drunken driving and public intoxication. On Oct. 24, records say, Zagovalov called police to report he had been the victim of a harassing phone call.
When deputies responded, Zagovalov greeted them at his door with a sword in his hand.

 

[M Wadel]

its a sword, couldnt they have shot him in the leg or something to prevent him from rushing at them?

 

[Will P.]

Don't be daft - if someone's running they are hard to hit, let alone hit in the leg. According to SOP for many police units, someone within 20 ft. of you armed with a knife is a lethal threat - it's considered the distance he can probably close with you before you shoot him.

As for it being "just a sword"... swords are lethal weapons, and were among the best weapons availible for centuries.

 

[arawn]

While I am sorry for the family/friends of Mr. Zagovalov, who was obviously either not well or intoxicated, I commend the officers for completing their public duty before anyone else was injured.

B.

 

[senoBDEC]

As for it being "just a sword"... swords are lethal weapons, and were among the best weapons availible for centuries.

Completely agree about the 20 ft rule (can be covered running in maybe 2-3 seconds, sometimes "effectively" less if you're surprised and don't see 'em coming.

The best weapons were actually projectile weapons and polearms for many years. And a horse if you're cavalry. Swords are more sidearms than anything else on the battlefield...though certainly very useful during civilian eras.......

Also, it's sad how these sword crimes always make the news.... is it that odd that someone crazy enough to charge the police would have a sword rather than a knife, or gun? The tool choice makes little difference I suspect.... hence sometimes paranoid gun and knife laws such as in England (pretty recent as I recall too... in the last 20 years or so).

 

[Watchful]

There was a website out there, and I'm sure somebody on this forum knows where it is, that lists the sword-related crimes that occur in the course of a year.

There are a lot. A surprising amount.

The website's author, IIRC, doesn't present this as reasons to outlaw swords, but just the opposite: why swords need to be taken seriously as weapons even today and respected. As Will P rightly says... they've got a lot of precedent as a serious killing weapon.