MSNBC’s Katy Tur Suggests LAPD Had Overarmed Response to Possible Gunman

On Thursday afternoon, MSNBC host Katy Tur pushed for police officers to be less armed when they go into dangerous situations as she fretted that LAPD officers had too much weaponry when they responded to reports of a violent attack at a Burlington Coat Factory.

It was not mentioned that the responding officers believed they were fighting a gunman, as some 911 calls misrepresented it to be an active shooter situation. Tur introduced the segment by recalling that 14-year-old Valentina Orellana-Peralta was tragically and accidentally killed as police shot at a man attacking customers who was striking them with a bike lock.

She didn’t mention that Daniel Lopez was the assailant. Instead, she worried about how many people were shot to death this year.The year ended with the LAPD suffering five fatalities in just nine days. The reporting shows that 18 officers were killed by the department in 2021. This is more than double the 2020 figure.“

Once you have brought aboard The GuardianSam Levin was invited to the party. She soon became concerned that some police officers might be too well-armed.

The LAPD arrived in tactical gear, long guns, and was dressed as if they were going to war. That’s what we have seen — the militarization and reorganization of all police departments in the country. Do you think there are any discussions about the equipment being used in response to these incidents.

Levin did not tell viewers that police were expecting an armoured gunman, as he said: “So that’s a very serious weapon they’re using. And there are questions about if that is necessary in case where this person didn’t have a firearm. He didn’t have a knife. His bike lock was his only possession.

On Tuesday’s program, Tur was absent so fill-in host Lindsey Reiser told viewers that officers were responding “to conflicting 911 calls reporting an armed assault and a potential active shooter at a Burlington shop last Thursday.” Priscilla Thomson, a correspondent, stated that initially police claimed that they were responding “to an attack with a deadly weapon or possible shooting.”

The anti-police bias on MSNBC’s Thursday show was partially sponsored by Centrum. The contact information for both of them is available in the linked document.

The following is a transcription:

MSNBC’s Katy Tur Reports

December 30, 2021

Eastern, 2:45 PM

KATY TUR: And last week, the LAPD mistakenly shot a 14-year-old girl in a dressing room. Valentina Orellana Peralta was killed when police opened fire upon a Burlington Coat Factory suspect accused of attacking customers using a bicycle lock. Orellana Peralta, who was shopping for holiday clothes with her mother, was hit by a single bullet and killed. The year ended with the LAPD suffering five deaths in nine days.

This report claims that the department killed 18 people in 2021 – more than twice as many deaths as 2020. This reporting is by Los Angeles correspondent. The Guardian, Sam Levin. Let’s discuss this reporting. The LAPD had seen a decrease in on the job deaths — now, they are seeing an increase. Is there a problem with these tactics?

SAM LEVIN THE GUARDIAN Loss of life has been very severe in this month at LAPD. This year, we have seen an enormous increase in civilian shootings by LAPD. Concerns are growing in L.A. about how police use tactics to escalate situations. Many people have been killed while holding knives, but not actively threating specific individuals. This raises many questions about police tactics.

TUR: Let’s talk about what we saw at the Coat Factory — the Burlington Coat Factory — the video, the surveillance video of the suspect that the police were going after is very scary guy was hitting a woman with a bike lock. It was horrifying — it was very violent. However, LAPD officers arrived at the scene in complete tactical gear — long guns — and dressed like soldiers.

This is what we have seen — the militarization and reorganization of all police departments in the country. Do you think there are any discussions about the equipment being used to deal with these situations? Surely, the high-powered nature of the guns they were using enabled that bullet to go farther than it would have if they were using something with a little less force. The gun is still there, but it’s not as powerful.

LEVIN: The most frightening thing about this shooting was the fact that an officer came in carrying an assault rifle. It was drawn and so strong that Valentina’s mother said that it knocked them both over. This is an extremely serious weapon they are using. There are some questions as to whether this is required in an instance where the person involved did not own a firearm. He didn’t have a knife. He had a bike lock.

(…)

MSNBC’sKaty Tur Reports

December 28, 2021

Eastern, 2:16 PM

LINDSEY RESPONDER, FILL IN HOST: Last Thursday’s attack in Burlington was reported by police.

(…)

PRISCILLA THOMPSON: Police say they were responding to an assault with a deadly weapon and possible shooting.