Killing of Christopher Penley

Christopher Penley (circa 1990 – January 15, 2006) was a 15-year-old U.S. schoolboy who was shot by a SWAT team on January 13, 2006—and died of his injuries—after he had briefly taken Maurice Cotey, another student, hostage in a classroom and then later holed himself up in an outdoor bathroom at Milwee Middle School in Longwood, Florida, with an Airsoft gun painted entirely black to disguise it as a Beretta 9mm. After the gun was discovered by a fellow student, he forced the student into the closet and shut off the lights in the classroom. The student immediately fled and informed security, who called the police. SWAT arrived on the scene shortly thereafter, while a negotiator attempted to initiate contact with Penley. After a twenty minute stand-off he aimed the pistol at Lieutenant Michael Weippert, who responded by opening fire.

He was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center where he remained on life support for two days before succumbing to his wounds. A number of his organs were removed and used as transplants.

Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger said the boy was suicidal and would not respond to negotiators who tried to talk him down in the bathroom.

Some students at the school told the media after the incident that they knew he had "something planned".

Police have been criticized for initiating action instead of waiting for Penley's father to arrive so that his father might talk him out of the situation. The Orlando Sentinel reported that Ralph Penley was not told of events until after his son was shot. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigated the shooting and found it entirely justified, as Penley pointed a weapon at the deputy. Christopher Penley's organs were donated by his family. Chris Penley’s death gave 9 people vital organs. Christopher Penley has also had a game room at the Landmark Church dedicated to him and a Youth center. The youth center the Adolescent Life Coaching Center ( adolescentlifecoaching.com ) opened in honor of Christopher Penley's memory and to give a place for the voice of youth to be heard.

See also

• Suicide by cop

External links

• "Florida Eighth-Grader Shot by Deputies Dies" (Reuters) accessed January 14, 2006
• "Milwee Middle School Web Site"
• Orlando Sentinel
• Candide’s Notebooks
• WESH 2 News
• CNN Transcript
• Center Dedicated to Christopher Penley