POLICE SHOOTING Radio Traffic Released In Deadly Police Shooting
Reported by: Kallie Cart
Web Producer: Kallie Cart
Reported: Jan. 18, 2012 6:07 PM EST
EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO C L I C K T O P L A Y
South Charleston
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
We are learning more information about a deadly police shooting in South Charleston. It happened early Tuesday morning. On Wednesday police radio traffic was released detailing the events leading up to the shooting.
On the tapes you can hear officers spot Tommy Ransbottom's car. They had been looking for it after he allegedly fired shots in Cross Lanes and told family members he wanted police to kill him. They then, get him to stop in the parking lot of the Rock Lake Presbyterian Church and try to get him to cooperate but police say he got out of his car three times and on the third time pointed a gun at officers and that's when they shot.
At a news conference Wednesday, South Charleston Police Chief Brad Rhinehart says his officers were put in an extremely tough situation but they did the right thing to protect the safety of fellow officers and the public.
"That's something you don't want to do and you don't think of but those officers were given no choice, no choice. They shot to save the lives of their other officers and protect the public," Chief Rhinehart says.
The names of the two officers who shot Ransbottom are not being released. Chief Rhinehart says they did nothing wrong and deserve privacy. They are on paid administrative leave.
Kentucky teen dies with dog lead on neck May 20, 2013 6:37 PM EDT Authorities say a Kentucky teenager known as a jokester was strangled by a dog lead he put around his neck while playing with friends at the start of summer vacation.
Kallie Cart
