Pubdate: 14 Mar 2009
Source: Grand Valley Lanthorn (MI Edu)
Contact:  2009 Grand Valley Lanthorn
Website: http://www.lanthorn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5002
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

WHY WAS HE SHOT?

During the recent shooting at a Campus View apartment, the Ottawa County
Sheriff's Department mishandled the drug raid and fired a weapon without
just cause.

The Grand Valley State University community was left confused by last
week's shooting of sophomore Derek Copp at the Campus View apartment
complex.

During the execution of a search warrant for drugs, an Ottawa County
Sheriff's deputy fired his weapon at Copp. Copp was shot in the upper
torso and remains in stable condition at Spectrum Health Hospital.

But after the details of the story unfolded and rumors were cleared, the
main question that remains on everybody's mind is: Why was Copp shot?

The Ottawa County Sheriff's Department admitted Copp was unarmed and did
not seem to be aggressively defending himself in any way. They were simply
delivering a search warrant to inspect his apartment for drugs. So then
why was a gun fired in the first place?

Some say Copp was shot as he opened the door, and others speculate the
deputy fired through a sliding glass window. Rumors still remain in
existence, but the fact of the matter is a gun was fired and was done so
without just cause.

Even if Copp was being defensive or trying to evade the authorities, the
more plausible solution would be to chase him, or even at a last resort,
shoot him in the foot.

However, shooting someone in the chest does not signify need; it
constitutes negligence and the inability for the Ottawa County Sheriff's
Department to behave rationally.

Whether or not the shooting was accidental, there still remains a 20 year
old laying with a gun shot wound in the hospital. He did nothing to
justify being shot, and the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department needs to be
held accountable for its actions.

Copp's first statement of, "Give peace a chance," was delivered to a
protest held on GVSU's campus on Friday. Peace is what Copp wants, but the
greater West Michigan community wants and deserves answers -- answers that
only the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department should provide.