Suicide by cops in Texas

[Opti]

I might be the only one on the board that will feel this way, but I am impressed by the fact even while going down in flames he did not murder anyone especially family nor did he commit suicide.

www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/texas-shooter-snapped-after-losing-custody-battle-for-his-son-family-says/ar-BBlbsJM?ocid=iehp#page=2

He said, ‘Dad, I have lost my house, my tools, my son. I’m going through every dime I’ve got,'” Jim Boulware told CNN. “‘I’ve lost everything.'”

Because of the assault allegations, Boulware had found it increasingly difficult to hold down a job, his father said. Once a successful automotive technician, he was forced to work odd jobs at Pizza Hut, Home Depot and doing asphalt work in West Texas, his mother said. He reportedly sold his house and started staying with friends. For a while, he slept in his car behind a grocery store.

Hammond said although she was devastated when she heard her son was involved in a police shootout, it didn’t come as a surprise. She said he had a history of mental problems and anger issues.

Hammond said Boulware was committed to a mental hospital when he was 14 and, though he was never formally diagnosed, doctors suspected schizophrenia. By 17 or 18, he was struggling with suicidal thoughts and had attempted a drug overdose, she said.

Not surprised. TY Texas guy for not taking out a bunch of people with you. I hope the afterlife treats you right.

[Deleted]

Seems to me the court made the right decision. Mom had sufficient proof & I'm sure he performed in court in such a way to ensure that he should not have custody. 

Boulware, who had an alleged history of domestic violence and delusional behavior, had been distraught over a recent custody battle for his 11-year-old son. Boulware’s mother — the boy’s grandmother — had fought him for sole custody and won. He claimed she stole his boy. It was “the final straw for him,” Boulware’s mother, Jeannine Hammond, told The Washington Post.

He hit his limit on "everything being taken away" but it wasn't enough to convince him to put himself in in-patient treatment? His mentality was that OTHERS took these things away from him, not that HIS BEHAVIOR caused those actions to be necessary.

Sorry, not going to have sympathy/empathy for an adult that refuses to get himself proper treatment & instead attempts to kill others. Whether he directed it at police or his family it is sick, pathological behavior. The only difference is that the police were better equipped to handle it. If his anger had turned on his family, they would have been dead. 

Being impressed that he didn't kill anyone else, when he clearly intended to, when he had a history of it? WTF Opti?

[Tennesseer]

He had every intention of trying to harm folks.  Thank goodness he was taken out.  He was a sick, deranged man.  

[Opti]

OK, if we are going to play it that way, Rockit, should I be miffed he didn't kill his mother, child, and take other people out in a blaze of personal pain? Supposedly committing suicide is selfish by much of YMAM. Really, if he's going out before his time, isn't door #3, which he chose which saved him face, the best of three bad options?!

WTE, do you want? Not everyone can be perfect, not everyone lives this life to figure it out. I believe some lives are to try and fail. FWIW. YMMV. I believe in reincarnation, etc.

[kittensaver]

Jun 15, 2015 19:13:08 GMT -5 @rockit said:

Seems to me the court made the right decision. Mom had sufficient proof & I'm sure he performed in court in such a way to ensure that he should not have custody. 

Boulware, who had an alleged history of domestic violence and delusional behavior, had been distraught over a recent custody battle for his 11-year-old son. Boulware’s mother — the boy’s grandmother — had fought him for sole custody and won. He claimed she stole his boy. It was “the final straw for him,” Boulware’s mother, Jeannine Hammond, told The Washington Post.

He hit his limit on "everything being taken away" but it wasn't enough to convince him to put himself in in-patient treatment? His mentality was that OTHERS took these things away from him, not that HIS BEHAVIOR caused those actions to be necessary.

Sorry, not going to have sympathy/empathy for an adult that refuses to get himself proper treatment & instead attempts to kill others. Whether he directed it at police or his family it is sick, pathological behavior. The only difference is that the police were better equipped to handle it. If his anger had turned on his family, they would have been dead. 

Being impressed that he didn't kill anyone else, when he clearly intended to, when he had a history of it? WTF Opti?

I respectfully quibble with the bolded statement above. Because I work in public mental health, I also have periodic contact with law enforcement. I know of two (and have heard of a few others) officers who were left with a nasty case of PTSD when they realized someone was using them to get killed. I agree it is a totally sucky and unconscionable thing for anyone to do to a cop (force the cop to kill you).

[NastyWoman]

I think this guy deserves a big FU, rather than anyone being impressed.  He did commit suicide even if he did not pull the trigger himself.  No, he had to saddle someone else up with the effects of his actions. 

After a police sniper killed him, authorities found two pipe bombs inside the van.

And this tells me that he was prepared to kill many others (be they cops or civilians or both) if the police didn't do his bidding to his satisfaction.

Note that I am an outspoken oppponent of trigger-happy policemen but these officers were nothing of the sort.  I feel for them and their families as they work through the after effects of this event.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Jun 15, 2015 19:21:08 GMT -5 Opti said:

OK, if we are going to play it that way, Rockit, should I be miffed he didn't kill his mother, child, and take other people out in a blaze of personal pain? Supposedly committing suicide is selfish by much of YMAM. Really, if he's going out before his time, isn't door #3, which he chose which saved him face, the best of three bad options?!

WTE, do you want? Not everyone can be perfect, not everyone lives this life to figure it out. I believe some lives are to try and fail. FWIW. YMMV. I believe in reincarnation, etc.

The man had a long history of mental illness - and violence - including choking his mother (the custodian of his child) and wishing to do harm to others - blaming all the problems in his life caused by his own state of mind on everyone else.

He went to the trouble of buying an armed vehicle and going to the police station intent on a showdown.

A large number of people could have been killed by this person given his state of mind. He even said he wanted to cause harm.

How can you feel empathy or "hope the afterlife treats him better"?

[Tennesseer]

I don't believe in an afterlife.  But if there is one, I do hope he find peace in it.  

[Deleted]

Jun 15, 2015 19:21:08 GMT -5 Opti said:

OK, if we are going to play it that way, Rockit, should I be miffed he didn't kill his mother, child, and take other people out in a blaze of personal pain? Supposedly committing suicide is selfish by much of YMAM. Really, if he's going out before his time, isn't door #3, which he chose which saved him face, the best of three bad options?!

WTE, do you want? Not everyone can be perfect, not everyone lives this life to figure it out. I believe some lives are to try and fail. FWIW. YMMV. I believe in reincarnation, etc.

He had many points at which he should have heard what he was being told & gotten himself into treatment. This is not a case where the only options were 'kill your family' or 'try to kill some cops'.

You were in-patient in your youth, surely had and were aware of what a Safety Plan is - GET A CLUE #1 and implement your safety plan when your life started going to pieces

He physically abused his mother, attempting to strangle her, and was convicted - GET A CLUE #2 and get into treatment
**This probably wasn't the only incident of DV either, so probably more clues that you are out of control**

Your own mother, who is grandmother age, is so concerned for your child's safety, she is going to take on parenting for your child - GET A CLUE #3 and get into treatment (in case you missed clue one and two)

The judge tells you that you are on delusional rants and are not safe for your child to be around and awards sole custody to your mother - GET A CLUE #4 and check yourself into treatment!

You are making pipe bombs, getting guns and buying an armored vehicle so you can "take on the cops that took your kid away from you" - GET A CLUE #5 Not normal behavior. Fix yourself is still not an option? Getting help still not an option? Why the hell not?

You have guns/weapons? Surely there is a court order by now telling you that you may not possess weapons - GET A CLUE #6 You are again violating a court order, how has that been working out for you so far?

There is no scenario where opening fire on police officers from an armored vehicle is something to be impressed by.

THE ONLY impressive thing this guy could have done was to get himself into treatment to improve his mental state and rebuild his life and regain stability so he could have access to his children.

Having personally been subjected to a situation that reads eerily similar to this one; I am personally offended that you think "going out in a blaze of fire" is appropriate. This guy became a terrorist to his family, the court, and the police; nothing redeeming about that no matter how you want to cast it. 

[Value Buy]

Obviously our board here is a little more judgmental than everyone thinks.

[Tennesseer]

Jun 16, 2015 9:44:12 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

Obviously our board here is a little more judgmental than everyone thinks.

How so?