That is a good question, is our County have the equipment to do the job? I doubt anyone that was onsite during this wanted this outcome. I've read about suicide by Cop, I'm not a professorial on the subject. I am a Marksmen in the top 1%, the question you raise about not lethal shot placement is easy to say after the fact. Hitting a moving target while being on site for hours in the heat, or cold weather. Then you get a spit second to make a decision, with a suspect with a loaded firearm in a neighborhood full of people. He left the Police little options. if one of this young mans round was fired and killed an one of his neighbors. This tragedy would of been Worst. Our Mental heath system is broken, maybe the county can work with local mental heath practitioners for them be called on if needed. I know the last thing anyone wanted was this young man to be killed. I don't know how this poor family feels, as a father myself it must be devastating... We all hope this would never happen again, I hope for a different outcome if it does..

As a long time resident of our county and Licensed Professional Counselor I have always welcomed the opportunity to support our Sheriffs Department with trainings and any other needs the Sheriff's Department may have. I have made the offer a few times and am still happy to help in any way to prevent further tragedies. I am a strong believer that all government agencies need to reach out to the private sector and vice versa. After all, we are all in this together and when we become isolated we cant offer our best to the community .It has long been said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over. I hope we as a community can make some positive changes to salvage some bit of meaning to this tragedy. No doubt this is a difficult and sad situation for everyone involved. My thoughts and prayers go out to all - Ita Gilbert Dore, LPC Cherokee Center for Change Counseling, Inc.

Totally agree. There are other ways to take someone down besides a lethal bullet. I realize in some cases this procedure is best, but police knew it was a suicidal teen they were dealing with - not a dangerous criminal. I hope we can learn from this and that we all remember Andrew's friends and family who will forever live with these questions.

let me see.. when you rush a door and you have a swat team on the other side.. you will be shot!! DEAD!!

Society sometimes doesnt learn, Therefore, we have Justice for Andrew Messina group whoswe ultimate goal is to bring about policy change for swat teams when engaginc with a minor in crisis. Known as Andrew's Peace Procedure.

Julia God forbid anyone in your family, perhaps your child, finds himself struggling emotionally and not thinking clearly, maybe in need of professional help. I hope your grandchild can get that help rather than be shot down in one hour.

I think some of you are missing the point Mr. Debranski is asking for input. It is a right of citizens to question the tactics used by law enforcement to try to keep the peace. I think the message he has is lost in other's bashing the police for what happened that day without knowing all of the information. I would think to get the best answers for a better outcome next time we would all be better served by forming a positive relationship with police in a face to face forum. Perhaps at some point a town hall meeting when tempers are not flaring. As difficult as it seems emotions can not be involved in problem resolution.

I feel badly for the Messina's I feel like they are being drug through the mud by people using their personal tragedy for their own agenda's. Their pain must be unbearable and it should not have to be so public.

I agree. I don't think anyone was bashing the police. I just don't understand why we are awful people because we dare to look at ways this could be maybe handled differently in the future so such a tragedy doesn't happen again.
N.obody obviously is very knowledgeable, and I'm sure, if he is part of the law enforcement community, it is kind of an open wound for them too. These officers are human and they have families too.No one would ever want to be put in that situation. That's why it's important we learn from this.

My purpose is not to argue the facts of the Messina case or to lay blame on anybody. My purpose is to have a discussion about possible ways to move forward intelligently and learn from this tragedy and possibly make changes for the better. I would hope people responding would keep an open mind to the possibilities that there may be better ways to handle a situation out there.

Andrea I know there have been people bashing police on other forums. I agree that it is our duty as citizens of this community to open an intellectual dialog with police to prevent this ever happening again.

A SWAT team sniper in Eagle Watch...? The 'official' explanation is that the situation had too be contained within the home to protect the neighborhood. If Cherokee County law enforcement can't contain a middle class , Eagle Watch high school student off his meds without a snipers bullet, well....

What do you think the perfect outcome of this situation could have been? What is the difference between a deranged 16 year old armed person and a 30 year old deranged person with a weapon? Is deadly. Force ever necessary? If so, under what circumstances? After they are outside a building opening fire? I am seriously wondering what policy-procedure needs to be changed?

What if this man lived off 140 and was a high school drop out that was mentally ill or on drugs waving a gun around? Would everyone be screaming about changes? What if it wasn't an election year? Would this subject still be circling around message boards?

Do the research on other agencies and see what their policy is. I think you will find the procedure will be the same.

Thank you for your comment, People are Crazy. Maybe I am crazy but, regardless of policy, I would like to know that somebody with mental health skills and suicide prevention training was dealing with a situation like this. Maybe I am crazy but I would like to know that, before killing anyone regardless of age, interim steps were taken to take the person down without deadly force. Maybe I am crazy but I think a lot of people agree with me that a discussion needs to take place. Maybe I am crazy but I believe an open mind is a good thing. Maybe I am crazy but I believe all life is worth trying to save. Maybe I am crazy but I believe deadly force should be employed as a last resort after considering other options.

I told you I am not going to argue the facts of the Messina case out of respect for the Messina family. If you are a law enforcement insider the tone of your message as well as that of People are Crazy's speaks volumes.

Furthermore, according to the Georgia constitution, the sheriff is also responsible for the transportation of mentally ill residents of his county to mental health emergency receiving facilities.

Isn't the first point made in gun safety is to assume the gun is loaded? You can't be so naive to think that our teens don't have access to anything they want, if they really want it. That would include bullets, liquor......everything. The first call should have been to CC Suiside prevention. People rarely commit suiside is such a public display. If that was his intent, he would have done just that. In today's society, what teen or adult would not be aware of the fact that if a weapon is showed towards a law enforcement official or a citizen that deadly force was a certain a possibility? I am so sorry for the family's loss and I can't imagine the deapth of their pain. Maybe some suiside prevention should be implemented in our school......Kids know more then we know they do. They need to know there is a safe place to share the concerns they may have with a friend/classmate. Could that be a living legacy to Andrew's memory?

Thank you, Mr. Castleberry. Coming up with intelligent alternatives is the reason for the discussion in the first place.

Where would I find the GBI's findings on this issue?

I like the folks who refuse to question the actions taken by the police. Or for that matter the government. Isn't the freedom to question authority one of the basic rights and responsibilities of being an American? I could be confused. Perhaps, I'm thinking of Canada...

Amen Steve

By signing this Petition, we may be able to get accountability!

http://www.change.org/petitions/justice-for-andrew-messina?utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition