Thursday, March 16, 2000
Friends of dead suspect criticize police
'It still don't matter if he had a gun or not'
BY PERRY BROTHERS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Pope
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As police searched Wednesday for the second suspect in an Avondale robbery that led to a fatal police shooting, friends of the dead man gathered near the spot where he was shot and criticized police.
Alfred Lamont Pope, 23, police say, was shot to death after he pointed a gun at three Cincinnati officers responding to a robbery call about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday at 3326 Reading Road. The officers fired 26 bullets at Mr. Pope; at least 10 hit the Bond Hill man.
“It still don't matter if he had a gun or not, the police still didn't need to shoot that many rounds,” said Meme Jones, 27, a resident of the building at 3326 Reading.
Police said the number of rounds fired will be investigated, along with other details in an array of routine post-police-shooting investigations.
Ted Schoch, director of Cincinnati's police academy, said the officers are trained to fire until the threat to life is stopped. He also said the Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic weapons that Cincinnati officers carry can fire a number of bullets quickly and easily.
“It's not like a movie where you wing a person in the shoulder,” said Mr. Schoch, a retired assistant chief. “You're firing and you're also adding other elements into the equation — adrenaline, for one thing.”
Officer Kenneth J. Grubbs shot three times; Officer Daniel Carder, seven; and Officer Jason K. Lamb, 16. Officers Grubbs and Lamb have just over two years' experience, and Officer Carder has nearly eight.
Ms. Jones said she knew Mr. Pope for eight years and he was well-liked.
“They're making him look like a violent person; he wasn't all that bad,” she said, glancing at the grassy embankment where the confrontation between Mr. Pope and police took place. “He's a well-liked person.”
Mr. Pope's criminal record included several misdemeanors. He had five felony convictions. Since 1993, the 23-year-old had been arrested on at least 26 charges — including misdemeanor drug abuse, carrying a concealed weapon and felonious assault.
He was indicted on charges of disorderly conduct and criminal trespass in February. Warrants were issued for his arrest on Feb. 29.
Ann Janette Taylor, 30, of Avondale, criticized police for shooting Mr. Pope, her friend of six years, so many times.
“They are supposed to be out here to help us,” she said.
As investigations into the shooting continue, police are searching for Tarrell L. Gross, 20, who may have lived in the Reading Road apartment building and in the 1000 block of Wellsprings Drive. Police say the 5-foot-9, 165-pound man with 1/4-inch black braids frequents the 3300 block of Burnet Avenue and Blair Avenue.
Mr. Gross is wanted on felony warrants for three counts of aggravated robbery in connection with Tuesday's robbery. Police say Mr. Gross and Mr. Pope committed aggravated robbery in the hallway of the Reading Road apartment building minutes before the shooting.
Police said the three robbery victims were pistol-whipped, and eight gold caps were removed from the mouth of one of the three. All three were treated and released Tuesday by University Hospital.
Police said the officers opened fire when Mr. Pope pointed a 9mm at them after a brief foot chase and a struggle.
WHERE TO CALL
• Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Cincinnati Police Division's Homicide Unit at 352-3542 or Crime Stoppers at 352-3040. Crime Stoppers offers rewards for information leading to arrest. Callers may remain anonymous.
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