What can we learn from Lakewood?
That said, it is clear that one lesson to be learned from the Lakewood incident is the need for ever-present vigilance.
Who shot Clemmons in the torso?
Officer Richards, who had also closed distance on Clemmons but started much further away than Officer Owens, continued in the physical confrontation with Clemmons. During the struggle, Clemmons fired the .38 revolver several more times, and Officer Richards’ TASER and TASER holster were ripped from his duty belt. With his .40 Glock, Richards shot Clemmons once in the torso, but Clemmons was somehow able to get control of the pistol and shot Richards in the head, killing him instantly.
How long did the Clemmons attack last?
Clemmons reportedly had had no formal firearms training, and according to testing later conducted by the Lakewood PD investigators, his attack lasted less than one minute.
Who wrote the after action report?
The authors of the after-action report — Detective Jeff Paynter, Officer Brian Markert, Officer Michael L. O’Neill, and Assistant Chief Michael Zaro — concluded, “This incident was akin to a suicide bomber walking into a coffee shop and, without notice, detonating an explosive. The difference here is there were specific victims targeted and the suspect did not die in the attack.”
Who observed the trap in the 1990 Acura?
Street Survival Seminar Instructor and Police1 Columnist Betsy Brantner Smith wrote late last year that when Officer Kelly observed the trap — a 1990 Acura on the street with the hood up and the engine running — and “noticed a male approaching the driver's side of the patrol car from behind. Kelly immediately exited his vehicle, recognized Clemmons and began issuing orders.”