[UPDATED with I.D.:] Cop Fatally Shoots Man Wielding a Knife and Bible in Anaheim Police Parking Lot: Report

By Matt Coker Wed., Jan. 25 2012 at 8:50 AM

Categories: Breaking News

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UPDATE, JAN. 25, 8:50 A.M.: Apologies for catching up on some updates I missed due to being out sick the weekend through Monday and having no time to get to them until now, but the man shot and killed by a cop in the parking lot of the Anaheim Police east station last week has been identified as Roscoe Cambridge.

The Anaheim 29-year-old was carrying a large kitchen knife and bible when he approached a police sergeant working on the computer in his service vehicle, according to authorities.

If a motive for the confrontation is known, it has not been divulged.

ORIGINAL POST, JAN. 19, 6:04 P.M.: A police officer reportedly shot and killed a man with a knife in the parking lot of an Anaheim police station this afternoon.

Details are sketchy, but at 1:15 p.m. an unidentified officer radioed to dispatch that he had been involved in a shooting at the east station, 8201 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road. The dead man also has not been identified.

A knife and bible were found near his body, the Orange County Register reports.

The cop wasn't hurt.

As is routine in police shootings, the Orange County District Attorney's office is investigating.

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another police killing for Rawcockus to sweep away.
Sorry. You are right, I was a little harsh without meaning to. I got it that you weren't really blaming the cop. It just seems like a lot of people think there should have been time to react and there probably wasn't.
You mean how I wrote... "Of course I wont pile on the cop for defending himself, he has the right to do so, and we dont know in what manner the guy approached the cop or anyone else with the weapon in his hand." Just like that?
You make it sound like the cop wanted to shoot this guy. Do you really think most cops are just looking for an opportunity to shoot people? Really? I think there are just too many unknows about this specific case to really speculate what happened.
Well, let's assume the policeman fell back on his training. He would have instructed the guy several times to put the knife down. If the guy doesn't put the knife down and keeps approaching, why should the policeman have to take a chance on using something that might not work? It sounds to me more like this guy had a death wish, and he got it. What if that is what the guy wanted all along? It's not all that uncommon.
Nah, I'd have to agree with my home girl Fish... Its just a knife, why couldn't they have tazed him? Or pepper spray? This guy doesn't look like or sound like he was a very imposing person. Of course I wont pile on the cop for defending himself he has the right to do so and we dont know in what manner the guy approached the cop or anyone else with the weapon in his hand. But at the end of the day I think a dude with a knife could have been subdued without getting shot. Thats my opinion.
You make a good point...I don't know what Mr. Cambridge ultimately intended to do...but no one ever will because he's dead. I'm still flabbergasted an officer of the law was unable to disarm a suspect brandishing a knife without killing him. Now if the guy actually charged at the policeman leaving the officer no choice but to shoot him that's a different animal...but if he had time why not try the beanbags or rubber bullets?
You make a good point...I don't know what Mr. Cambridge ultimately intended to do...but no one ever will because he's dead. I'm still flabbergasted an officer of the law was unable to disarm a suspect brandishing a knife without killing him. Now if the guy actually charged at the policeman leaving the officer no choice but to shoot him that's a different animal...but if he had time why not try the beanbags or rubber bullets?
You make a good point...I don't know what Mr. Cambridge ultimately intended to do...but no one ever will because he's dead. I'm still flabbergasted an officer of the law was unable to disarm a suspect brandishing a knife without killing him. Now if the guy actually charged at the policeman leaving the officer no choice but to shoot him that's a different animal...but if he had time why not try the beanbags or rubber bullets?
Is this a domestic dispute?
"A guy with a knife is not a threat, when he is facing a cup." But when he is facing a mug...look out!
"A guy with a knife is not a threat, when he is facing a cup." But when he is facing a mug...look out!
You're right. What was I thinking. The policeman knew all along what this guy's intentions were. And, the policman didn't feel threatened at all because, after all, this happens to him everyday. Well, maybe all of them don't have bibles. FWB, I think you are a little off on this one. The question you should probably ask yourself is, would you take a chance on some of those other non-lethal options working? Answer honestly. Personally, I would use the same force the policeman used.
You're right. What was I thinking. The policeman knew all along what this guy's intentions were. And, the policman didn't feel threatened at all because, after all, this happens to him everyday. Well, maybe all of them don't have bibles. FWB, I think you are a little off on this one. The question you should probably ask yourself is, would you take a chance on some of those other non-lethal options working? Answer honestly. Personally, I would use the same force the policeman used.
Liberal? Hell, I thought I was just showing a little compassion...
X-(
Typical liberal answer. The cop was typing on his 'puter when he saw a Jesus freak coming at him with a knife. Seriously, I would have immediately used the shotgun on his face and let god worry about it.
That's a pretty good mugshot for a dead guy.
Ron and Nicole were ambushed and overpowered by a much stronger attacker...how can you even make a comparison between those two scenarios? Besides, having a knife and waving it around isn't the same as actually trying to use it. No one is saying a knife isn't a deadly weapon, but the policeman had many options in subduing Roscoe Cambridge and still chose deadly force.
A knife can't hurt anyone. Just ask Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman.
He looks like he's just a kid...but he's only 4 years younger than I. :-(
He was wielding a deadly weapon... The Bible!
You can bet your bottom that DA Rauckaukus will say this killing is justified, no matter what the facts are.
Join us .... protest the Anaheim Pds use of excessive lethal force.. every Sunday @ 425 s harbor blvd, Anaheim California.2pm -4pm. join the family and friends of the many victims of these trigger happy cops...lets make change happen!!!!
A guy with a knife is not a threat, when he is facing a cup. However every sociopath in uniform is a threat to our society, and he will get away with murder.
Is it just me or does everyone else in the county feel UNsafe when cops are around? Gosh, seems like cops really try to avoid shooting people in other places. Around here, seems like they kill a guy and immediately collect valuable cash prizes!
Don't the police have access to a plethora of non-lethal methods to subdue suspects? What about MACE/pepper spray? A tazer? Bean-bags or rubber bullets? The guy was brandishing a KNIFE for pete's sake.
I was thinking the JW's were getting a bit more aggressive.
Orange county cops do nothing but hand out BS tickets to soccer moms, sit on their fat lazy asses oh yeah and take shots at the mentally ill when they feel "threatened". They are not heroes people!
Maybe he was mad about MegaUpload being taken down.
Jesus made him do it.