Murderer's Family wants to sue?

Fallen Heroes - Funeral of Fallen Deputy Matt Williams and K-9 partner Diogi
@amafrias (455)
United States
December 20, 2006 10:37pm CST
This is what happened, and now the family of the slain murderer wants to sue for his death. Do you think he should have been shot? He had the murdered deputies gun in his hand.. [Taken from "The Ledger" Lakeland, Fl.] LAKELAND -- Ten members of an impromptu SWAT squad combing heavy woods Friday morning literally stumbled onto the man wanted for killing a Polk sheriff's deputy. The man was ordered to raise his hands, but he put up just one -- and there was a gun in it, Sheriff Grady Judd said. "It was the last thing he ever did," Judd said. The man, who had burrowed deep under a fallen oak tree, was shot numerous times by nine of the 10 SWAT team members about 9:35 a.m. He died instantly. Investigators could not say how many shots hit the dead man. "But you can imagine," the sheriff said. He was the subject of the largest manhunt in Polk County history after killing Deputy Matt Williams and his K-9, Diogi, and wounding Deputy Douglas Speirs on Thursday following a traffic stop on Wabash Avenue. About 1,000 police officers, including 200 from various SWAT teams throughout the region, were used during the 20-hour search in West Lakeland. The suspect, who has many aliases, was arrested in 1999 under the name of Angilo Freeland. Freeland fled into the woods after being stopped for speeding and the two deputies and the dog went after him. Judd said he "ambushed the two deputies" as they searched for him in the thick underbrush. The deputies had no reason to know that the suspect was armed. Speirs fired back, and is expected to recover fully from a leg wound. After shooting Williams, the killer took Williams' .45-caliber handgun. Deputies say the man killed Friday morning at one point had a Florida driver license with a Lakeland address and a birth date of Dec. 25, 1978, which would make him 27. About 20 minutes after shooting the two deputies, Freeland stood in the 1446 N. Wabash Avenue backyard of Paul and Rosemary Prebor. Paul Prebor, 76, was outside his home when Lakeland Police Detective Jeff Birdwell and Officer Jose Bosque pulled into his driveway. Prebor said they asked him whether the man in the back yard had any business being there. When Prebor said no, the man, instead of running, came toward the three men and shot at least twice, Prebor said. He said Birdwell shot back twice as the gunman disappeared. Two shots hit an overhang on a utility room."I didn't have time to be scared," Prebor said, "But I was worried about my wife."He managed to get her out of the house quickly and across the street to a neighbor's home. Rosemary Prebor, 75, wasn't as stoic."Oh, I was scared," she said. "I've never been that close to a shot."Police suspected Freeland might have gone into the Prebors' house and holed up. They teargassed it, to no avail. The fumes were still stifling on Friday. Freeland apparently ran behind the home, out of sight of the two policemen, and into heavy woods. Dozens of officers arrived quickly. Their initial job was to find Williams. At the time, it wasn't known whether he was dead or alive. By morning, Judd said Freeland had dug a hole underneath a good-sized oak tree that had fallen, probably during a hurricane. Above the hole was what deputies described as a canopy of vines that concealed the suspect. The dozens of police dogs that sniffed around for the suspected killer never found him. Sheriff's Chief of Staff Gary Hester said he thought the reason was that so many officers were in the area that too much human scent masked the scent of the suspect. Judd said the 10 SWAT members who approached the suspect included people from the Polk Sheriff's Office and Lakeland Police. The team members were shoulder-to-shoulder in the thick brush, when one of the SWAT team members got so close to Freeland that he reached down to grab his shirt. Judd said Freeland was ordered to raise his hands, but only one hand came up, with Williams' .45-caliber handgun in it, and the SWAT team opened fire. News of the killing spread quickly and an audible cheer arose from the command post a few blocks away, manned by dozens of police officials and deputies. Neighbors also breathed a sigh of relief. Freeland's death meant they were no longer trapped in their own homes.
2 people like this
16 responses
• United States
21 Dec 06
I absolutely think he should of been shot. He had already killed and seems to me that he would have had no problems doing it again. If his family sue and win anything it'll surprise me.
@amafrias (455)
• United States
21 Dec 06
Well, these days nothing surprises me when it comes to law suits, but it would be unbelievable for sure. I have never seen such support for this deputies family. He had 3 children and it was his wife's birthday. He was shot 9 times, and his K-9 once in the head.
@nairhr (17)
• India
21 Dec 06
The SWAT squad had every right to shoot at him. A person who has already killed 2 officers and injured 1 cannot be trusted not to do the same thing again! I doubt whether the family is going to win this one.
@amafrias (455)
• United States
21 Dec 06
Thank you for your response, and I am glad you recognized that the K-9 officer was a deputy also.
1 person likes this
22 Dec 06
He can always offer to pay "BLOOD MONEY" for his crime.
@neon2000 (2756)
• Philippines
21 Dec 06
The murderer's family didn't know what happened. If the man committed murder, assure that his life is already at risk. He is already considered dangerous because of the gravity of the crime he did. So, if the police find reason to shoot him because he didn't raise his both hands, we can't blame them to open fire and shoot him.
@tba123 (457)
• United States
21 Dec 06
I do not think his family should be able to sue. He shot 2 deputies, 1 fatally, and was prepared to shoot more the officers did what they had to do to protect the rest of them and the civilians living close by. Hopefully his family will not get any money for this and the officers who did shot won't lose their jobs over it.
@amafrias (455)
• United States
21 Dec 06
He actually shot 3 deputies, 2 fatally. K-9 Diogi was a law enforcement officer also. Thanks for your reply.
@clover (104)
• Malaysia
21 Dec 06
what a joke. don't they, the family has the slightest of common sense. after what had been done by the murderer they have no shame at all. I remebered reading somewhere that a thief was suing a person because when he get into the house he slipped and injure himself. I don't know who win but most probably he lost the case BUT man... are you suing someone for your own wrongdoing? it applies here. he's murdering people, and it's just normal for the squad to shoot at him when he hold that guy they had sense of defense right. he might shoot first if the officer don't do it. the family is thickfaced I say.
1 person likes this
@ossie16d (11821)
• Australia
21 Dec 06
Some people have a nerve. I have always had a problem with people suing and getting huge amounts of money when they have actually been in the wrong. This person shot 3 police officers, fatally wounding 2 of them and his family want to sue. Gee, they must be off their heads and if any solicitor/lawyer takes the case, he is just as bad as they are. Talk about money grabbing. If the judge awards them any money, he should be taken out and shot too. Where do these people get off thinking they are "owed" when the man was a criminal.
@amafrias (455)
• United States
21 Dec 06
Oh they have an attorney, and I am sure he probably approached them in the first place. he is very vocal, in the news and all. He looks like he is slime city.
@wvchell78 (564)
• United States
21 Dec 06
I don't think they should be able to sue. He took the life of two officers. I read in a previous post that the attorney representing them is vocal and on the news alot. He is probably seeing dollar signs. Hopefully in the end it just costs him money for trying to sue over the police doing the right thing.
@shooie (4984)
• United States
22 Dec 06
Might have been an over kill but I believe he got what was coming to him. I believe you kill someone you die... I don't want to sound heartless but saves Fl. State tax payers some money. Don't do the crime if ya don't want to do the time or die.
@ssnaqvi (283)
21 Dec 06
if you are in pakistan so dont ever think of it.
@jen20619 (1300)
• Ireland
21 Dec 06
havent seent the news
@jen20619 (1300)
• Ireland
21 Dec 06
not good that
@jen20619 (1300)
• Ireland
21 Dec 06
not good that
• United States
21 Dec 06
I don't think the family should be allowed to sue. And for SWAT members shooting the man numerous times, I think they did the right thing. This man had already shot one of theirs.
@im_vjy (1480)
• India
21 Dec 06
I'l like to give you 1 piece of advise that dont create such log discussions!! coz rarely few will read these long post!!
• India
21 Dec 06
this is hypocritical......im feelin so sad 4 u guys.....im cryin now.waaaaaaaaaaa :|