Investigation still open in PS3-related police shooting

Prosecutors look to bring cop who shot and killed a suspected thief before a second grand jury after failing to get an indictment the first time.

Earlier this week, a grand jury in North Carolina apparently indicted former sheriff's deputy Christopher Long on second-degree murder charges in the December 1 death of 18-year-old Peyton Strickland. Strickland had been accused of robbing a student of two PlayStation 3 consoles when the system launched last month and was shot and killed when police and deputies came to his home to serve a search warrant and arrest him.

However, the grand jury foreman later told authorities that he checked the wrong box on a form and had accidentally indicted Long when he had intended to clear him of the charges.

Today the Associated Press is reporting that prosecutors are pursuing the case despite the original grand jury's finding and that the investigation into Strickland's death is continuing.

Long was fired from his position as a sheriff's deputy after the shooting, when he reportedly mistook the sound of other officers using a battering ram on Strickland's door for gun shots coming from the residence and opened fire.

163 Comments

  • darthogre

    Posted Dec 19, 2006 5:13 am PT

    FriendOfFoe, none17256375947;

    Both of you seem to forget a grand jury found that he should not be put on trial. I don't know if you are aware but there is a saying, prosecutors can indict a ham sandwich. If the prosecutor can't even convince the grand jury, I assure you the evidence suggests the police had reasonable suspicion to believe these thugs could pose a danger. No doubt the police officer made a mistake, mistake does not equal murder. Maybe if you can show me he was hopped up on something, yeah then that sounds like you can go after him. Everything I've read leaves me to believe this was a mistake and it seems it will ruin two lives. Rest assured the ex-officer will more than likely be sued in civil court so I'm sure his life is pretty much over financially.

  • SocaWarrior

    Posted Dec 18, 2006 7:48 pm PT

    Well, this police officer is stupid. What an arse. How the hell can you not tell that someone is bangng on the door with a battering ram? What a loser. Some law enforment officers these days.

  • TheGuardianX

    Posted Dec 18, 2006 4:53 pm PT

    To videogamesjunki:

    Im not aiming for you to take me seriously. And sadly, I guess I shouldn't take you seriously since your name "videogamesjunki" explains the rest.... >_>
    Once again, someone who thinks or feels there more intelligent with useless comeback comments. Yea...what else is new in these forums....

    Criminal or not, I guess you feel like the better person for saying who deserves to die or live?
    You basicly leveling yourself with a criminal or murder.

  • virtuadc

    Posted Dec 18, 2006 12:18 pm PT

    Ah, ha. I knew it wasn't over.

  • OldWiseBob

    Posted Dec 18, 2006 11:26 am PT

    Well this cop wasn't doing too good of a job.

    This however, does not undermine cops and how they keep our communites (and such) safe. My deepest condolences to the family who lost their son. Hopefully when conducting a search, cops (or one) will do a better job in making sure that the person is possibly a threat before thinking the person is armed and dangerous.

  • none17256375947

    Posted Dec 18, 2006 10:59 am PT

    "I think it's sad when a life is lost and I don't believe a person should ever have this happen to them BUT when you engage in violent activity you have effectively opened yourself up to that same treatment. "

    no where has it been reported this guy did actually steal the PS3's. we know he had at least one, as he was at the door with a PS3 controller. but no where is it stated they "recovered the 2 stolen PS3's"

    chances are, that never happened, and this story does not need any more bad publicly on the police so no one's reporting this.

    this poor kid probably just got finished waiting in line for 3 days to get his PS3, the dude that was robbed noticed he "had" one and said "he must of stole it"

    now this poor kid is dead, it's an utter shame. Those of you “assuming” he was guilty, why don’t you move to Iraq or somewhere where you guilty until proven innocent, because we don’t do that here in the US.

  • FriendOfFoe

    Posted Dec 18, 2006 10:21 am PT

    darthogre:

    He his still innocent, even if he's dead, I don't recall having seen any proof of guilt...Too many unknowns, but you sure make him sound guilty, unfortunatly, he won't be able to defend himself. It is murder, not first degree, but hey, he killed a student for no apparent reason, except him being edgy...I wouln't want to end like that.

    'OPEN POLICE, we have a search wa..BANG, BANG.....oh gees!'

  • darthogre

    Posted Dec 18, 2006 9:43 am PT

    I think it's sad when a life is lost and I don't believe a person should ever have this happen to them BUT when you engage in violent activity you have effectively opened yourself up to that same treatment. He violently mugged a person, what if that person woudl have mistakenly died? People die falling downt he wrong way all the time, would the shooting been more justified if the mugger killed the person with the PS3?

    I don't think so. The cop should be fired as he was obviously trigger happy but come on, the kill shot was a richochet was isn't it? But lets face the facts, the young man was a criminal. The college student was already well known to be violent and had pictures of himself with guns on a website. We are not dealing with an angel obviously, anyone can see the ending was headed for a disaster. Moral of the story is don't violently mug people and maybe you dont' have to worry about a cop beating down your door while mistakenly shooting you in the head. We are talking about stealing over 1k worth of items, I'm sorry if the young man was killed by police have to enforce the law which sometimes you are going to have what happened.....that is someone thought they saw/heard something they didn't and a life is taken. There is fault for sure but I think saying the cop murdered someone is overboard. I've seen people steal millions causing people to lose their life savings which then causes them to kill themselves......yet these type of people get a slap on the wrist. Here we have a cop trying to make an arrest and a mistake was made.....come on, as much as I dislike police at times saying this is murder was just ridiculous.

  • dbeddow

    Posted Dec 18, 2006 7:46 am PT

    Where is Jack Thompson on this one? Surely he hasnt given up...

  • Supreme_Fantasy

    Posted Dec 18, 2006 7:22 am PT

    This is da America!

  • datniccah187

    Posted Dec 18, 2006 2:33 am PT

    Out of control

  • SmallPower

    Posted Dec 17, 2006 8:31 pm PT

    Cute and relevant picture of Peter Sellers. Fatal shootings are kooky and fun.

  • porsche204mph

    Posted Dec 17, 2006 4:37 pm PT

    the gaming gods frown upon theft. steal a PS3 and a cop will come to your home walk into your room and shoot you in the throat

  • 9paa

    Posted Dec 17, 2006 3:24 am PT

    "and gets shot while playing on said item. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! Got exactly what he deserved. Thieves and criminals are the absolute scum of the earth." and what makes the police any better if they do the same thing? if they shoot an unarmed person they are just as bad as the criminal.

  • Harvestbuddy

    Posted Dec 17, 2006 2:58 am PT

    welcome to america

  • Riddick123

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 9:36 pm PT

    I read in an earlier post he was shot while playing Tiger Woods? So he is "enjoying" his stolen PS3 (who he shot someone for) and gets shot while playing on said item. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! Got exactly what he deserved. Thieves and criminals are the absolute scum of the earth. Too damn dumb to get a job and work and join society. So they rob and steal what they can't earn. They should give that cop a medal, not a trial. Saved the tax payers all kinds of money trying to rehabiltate this loser.

  • TintedChimes

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 2:04 pm PT

    I hope Peyton Strickland burns in hell for causing tax payers even more money now. Just ignore this prosecutors because this guy was scum. If you don't believe me, google the mofo. Not just robbing, but he's a repeat offender. I say pray the lord that the almighty caused the bullet to kill him...wished he suffered though. Too bad about Christopher Long, he shouldn't have been fired and now his life is in ruins. That's why criminals suck, we always say oh what a tragedy but we never think about the lives they ruin. So yeah, maybe he didn't deserve to die, wait what am I saying, of course he does, he was wasting air, time, money, and contributing to global warming by being alive. The question is, am I being sarcastic or real. You decide.

  • tr00pa_26

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 11:15 am PT

    pig.

  • alpha_company

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 9:34 am PT

    Anybody who steals a PS3 is really gonna get it good...

  • MetallicaKings

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 12:12 am PT

    corrupt cop raikageryu? How does that make him corrupt? He was some deputy. Scared, finger hard on his trigger. He would be corrupt if he killed the kid then took the stolen ps3's

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 12:03 am PT

    Corrupted Cop?

  • Chavagnatze

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 12:03 am PT

    JESUS!!!!!

  • Chavagnatze

    Posted Dec 16, 2006 12:02 am PT

    This Generation of gaming is not turning out to be fun. People are hurting themselves and breaking things with Wii remotes and people are getting shot over the PS3. When will people learn that game consoles are not this serious. You can sit on your couch and play Wii. THE REMOTE RESPONDS TO MOTION. YOU DON'T NEED TO USE LOTS OF FORCE. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GET A RUNNING START AND UPPERCUT THE AIR TO BOWL ON THE Wii. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO THROUGH THE MOTION OF BOWLING. ALL THE CRAP THEY DO ON THE COMMERCIALS IS NOT NECESSARY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUN AROUND THE ROOM AND FLAIL AROUND LIKE YOU ARE BEING EATEN ALIVE BY ANTS! JUST WAIT. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF PS3s TO GO AROUND. THEY WILL PROBABLY BE MUCH CHEAPER TOO. STOP SHOOTING GUNS AT PEOPLE OVER A GAME! IT IS JUST A GAAAAAAAAMMMMMMEEEEEE!

  • majestikk

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 10:45 pm PT

    It is hard to comment on this topic without being provided all of the information, thus the need for a continuing investigation.

    I mean it's hard to defend the thief, because of how he obtained the PS3, not to mention that there was a rifle and two shotguns inside the house. I mean not one, but two shotguns.

    And as for the officer, there must be a logical explanation for being fired. For one, if he acted accordingly, and followed procedure, and the action was justifiable, he would've never been fired.

    What was the cop thinking? The first shot, out of the five, struck the door before it was even broken down. They killed his dog too.

    It's sad what happened to Strickland, being gunned down while playing Tiger Woods PGA tour, on a stolen PS3, in your home. He didn't even sell the PS3 on Ebay... he was playing it.

  • thekey

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 9:30 pm PT

    Don't feel sorry for him at all, he got exacty what he derserved. He shouldn't have shot that guy over a crapy PS3, once those things are plentyfull there's going to be plenty of them on store shelves. But then again id he did that(Shot and robbed an innocent man just trying to get his console of choice) he probably would steel the PS3's right from the stores themselves.

    If he did what they say he did, screw him.

  • videogamesjunki

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 6:59 pm PT

    TheGuardianX makes the comment that posters on this site are ignorant and should grow up, because they don't feel compassion for a criminal. Then TheGuardianX says he wishes those same posters would "never existed or got instantly killed." Yeah, I take him seriously.....right.

    My heart doesn't bleed for criminals. The guy risked his freedom to steal game systems and almost killed someone else in the process. He was being arrested and got shot. That happens. The police aren't going to risk *their* lives and trust someone who's already proven himself violent. TheGuardianX, I hope you are never the victim of a violent crime. It's a horrible experience. I can understand why people aren't upset the offender got shot. I wouldn't celebrate his death, but I'm not going to lose sleep over it either.

  • lightningbugx

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 6:38 pm PT

    And how often do you hear about shootings involving the visit from the repo-man?

  • blackldragon

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 5:25 pm PT

    People killing other people for a consoul when there is a much simplier way by using the link >> http://PS3Grab.com/index.php?referral=2081

  • Frags-o-Plenty

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 4:43 pm PT

    dee2k... you say all these things about the PS3 and R:FoM, but all the games you have listed in your collection are for XBOX and PSP. If you're going to lie, at least make it plausible.

    As for this whole shooting thing, I don't really blame the cop for it. I honestly just wish that karma worked like this more often.

  • dee2k

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 3:49 pm PT

    Just bought a PS3 today...and it's disappointing so far. Already running hot after a few minutes and Resistance froze up on me a few times. Anyone who says that game is better than Gears is nutz!! The textures aren't that good (not even Call of Duty 2 good) and even with 40 players, the online is relatively uneventful and somewhat boring. 18GB's of shameful waste, but sadly it's the best FPS the Playstation has offered and Sony boys are soaking up (like it's something new). While Xbox players have been playing this stuff for years, imagine the reverse for Xbox players with Blue Dragon.

    Anyway...It's not even worth stealing, hell I would give my PS3 away, if not for the fact that I have a nice cheap Blu-ray player!!

  • superporing

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 3:40 pm PT

    only in america...

  • death919

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 3:23 pm PT

    Alot of people here who think it was the cop's fault seem to think that us who agree with the cop's actions think that the person deserved to die because he stole the PS3's. However, that's not the case, the reason that we feel that the cop's actions were appropriate was because the person was not just a thief, but a mugger, he beat an innocent person with a blunt object. Just picture that, picture someone who has a pipe beating some innocent person over and over and over again. Saying that people like this should be able to just waltz around the street committing this sort of immature crap is nonsense.

  • death919

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 3:19 pm PT

    Judging by the fact that a battering ram needed to be used and the fact that the person who died had firearms on the premises, I say it was only a matter of time before he shot one of the police, then one of the police would return fire anyways. When confronting a double-edged sword, I'll take the less-sharp side any day of the week, thank you very much.

  • gclark50

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 3:01 pm PT

    If Peyton was truly involved in the theft of these systems he actually put himself in this situation. I'm not saying he deserved to die but like TheGuardianX said karma will come back to get you.

  • VladTheImpaler

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 2:49 pm PT

    Anyone on here who says the kid got what he deserves needs to take a hard look at themselves. First that means that his life was only worth the Value of 2 PS3's. Does this mean that you would advocate the death penalty in a case that could end up being a misdamenor.

  • miggidy24

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 2:33 pm PT

    This is great news!

    No law enforcement officer is above the law!
    If he's guilty, he will pay.
    If he's innocent then he's innocent.
    But no police officer is automatically innocent because of his position....

  • The_Carnage

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 2:28 pm PT

    I think I'm on cvfish's side now. And to TheGuardianX: I don't think he should've died, I think he should've been put to trial, but the cop shouldn't be blamed for his death.

  • Gamepro2421

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 2:25 pm PT

    how do you become a jury foreman if you can't even check a freakin box?....idio t

  • TheGuardianX

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 2:16 pm PT

    A 18 year old got shot to death. He got what he deserved? Some of you need to listen to yourselves in all honesty.
    A Person DIED over this. A Human Like YOU got killed over this! Flesh and blood. He has a family and friends Just like YOU!

    The Gamespot community is completely PATHETIC! I swear this site is nothing but a bunch of immature morons who feel their more intelligent and mentally stronger compared to anyone else. You can say anything you like on your computer or behind someone back or face. BUT Karma will come after you and I pray to God it hits you harder then you can take!!

    I am no where near being a cold hearted person. But after seeing more then half the ignorant posts on this story and this site, Im growing more to the point where I WISH some of you never existed or got instantly killed. Because this is Ridiculous. I wonder where some of your lives will end up in the future.

    How HEARTLESS can all of you be?! Seriously. Do any of you have a heart?!

    You think he deserved to get shot? I think YOU don't deserve to live.
    Think of the words that come out of your mouths before you speak and GROW UP!!

  • brianpoetzel

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 2:06 pm PT

    Isn't it illegal to try to indict twice with the same evidence? I thought they only get one shot unless new evidence can be presented. Otherwise they can just keep calling the grand jury until they get an answer they want?

  • Sheiko

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 2:02 pm PT

    Ok good news and bad news goods is fair case will now proceed bad news is he was scared and fired off 2 shots....

  • cvfish

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 1:46 pm PT

    To Jordansim:
    1) the suspect refused to peacefully resolve this matter with the campus police. an EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM was called in. they don't do this on a whim. it was not a planned assualt until the suspect refused to work with the campus cops. wow you are so freaking intellegent to point out that normal cops don't have battering rams, becuase this was a special operation when the moron let it escolate to that level. he forced the ERT to act and remove him.

    2) i don't know how many times i have to say it, but this was not a search warrent, it was an arrest. Fact 1: he used a blunt object to assualt someone. Fact 2: there were firearms on the premises, regardless of what type they were. Fact 3: the suspect escolated the situation to the point that the ERT had to be called and forced to remove him from the premises. Fact 4: if you had read more than just this one article, the police investigated and researched this for a month, hince knowing about the guns. 3) on cases that they investigated yes. plus, the campus cops that first went to the house did not have guns, the SUSPECT forced the situation to escolate. plus, it wouldn't get to that point with me unlike that idiot, because i would have complied with the campus police and let them search and interview me if they had a warrent for me. a reasonable person understands that these things do not go away. oh and good job with the whole cheetos thing, you are jumping to conclusions about me like you are with this cop. good job, hopefully soon you will see what a moron you are.

    4) yes you are correct, but before to can prove yourself innocent you have to go through the motions. the cops investigated and named him the suspect. if he wanted to proclaim his innocence, defiling the cops and not coming out was not the answer. 5) you might have said the smartest thing right here than you have stated all day. ok, you want cops to go into extradiction prancing around, throwing flowers, and kissing the man on the check. honestly, if they do not prepare for every situation, cops would be getting killed everyday.

    Once again, in your final comment, you are fishing details out of the story that do not exist. he was fired, but he was CLEARED of the charges. even though the investigation might be continuing, what happened to that innocent until proven guilty thing you had stated earlier? i guess that only applies to people that agree with you. then you take my example and twist it. new orleans has a high crime rate because of gang warfare. i gave you an example of a college kid (remember, you said they don't fit the bill) killing a cop just for the heck of it.

    well as you wish me getting invaded, i wish you would be on the opposite end of crime. i hope in the near future you get robbed or even shot, just remember your words now when you are going to want the cops to find the person.

  • Kravyn81

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 1:34 pm PT

    article wrote:
    ...he reportedly mistook the sound of other officers using a battering ram on Strickland's door for gun shots coming from the residence and opened fire.


    OMFG. He confused a battering ram with gunshots. What a friggin' moron. He should've been fired for COMPLETE, MORONIC INCOMPETENCE. What a lame excuse. A battering ram sounds nothing like GUNSHOTS

  • imortiferus

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 1:28 pm PT

    "However, the grand jury foreman later told authorities that he checked the wrong box on a form and had accidentally indicted Long when he had intended to clear him of the charges."

    "Long was fired from his position as a sheriff's deputy after the shooting, when he reportedly mistook the sound of other officers using a battering ram on Strickland's door for gun shots coming from the residence and opened fire.".

    * * *

    LOL, LOL, LOL... how stupid are the people in North Carolina !!! Let's see check here for innocent or here for guilty! Battering RAM goes BOOM, BOOM, Shots go BAM, BAM!

    My god man, Ric Flair must be rolling in his grave ...

  • Bond007dude

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 1:15 pm PT

    This country is already messed up enough to have to worry about cops randomly shooting you. But what the hell is with the battering ram? I actually talked with a cop once, they assualted this guys house and didn't attempt to kill him until 2 police officers were shot down. Obviously you dont use a battering ram for someone who stole a PS3. Secondly, dont make assumptions. At minimum, there are 2 possibilities of what happened:
    a. Ignorant fool steals PS3 and police suspect previous he sold/used illegal drugs, possilby weapons, and cop is afraid so he shoots him instantly.

    b. The dude is peaceloving but someone who bullies him gets a PS3, he steals the PS3, ignorant fool feels compelled to shoot him nomatter what because ignorant cop does not know he has extreme skitzophrenia.

  • Sergsky

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 1:07 pm PT

    cvfish, I have to agree with Jordanism in most of his points. I also have to say that calling other members names because they don't agree with you tells so much about yourself. What you say is only a reflexion of your own mind.

  • gamer_girl15

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 1:01 pm PT

    Just more fuel to hurt the game industry. A tragic story though

  • deftones2307

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 12:57 pm PT

    Jordansim just PWNED everyone who can't seem to grasp the concept of innocent until proven guilty. It sickens me to see as many people as I do on here that are just unable to place themselves in that situation and instead make assumptions citing he got what he deserved. I don't care if I don't know how the police feel in high stress situatuions because honestly it was their decision to become an officer and they know damn well the risks involved. If you can't handle situations such as this then perhaps law enforcement isn't for you. And honestly a battering ram for a search warrant for a PS3, this isn't a drug raid people. It just doesn't add up. Also for those who say that the comments made about posters saying asinine things makes Americans look stupid is ignorance. If someone from your country had said something publicly stupid, does that represent the opinion of the whole country? I think not, it just seems some use any means to bash America thus making you look like an ignorant fool. Jealousy anyone?

  • The_Carnage

    Posted Dec 15, 2006 12:48 pm PT

    I still don't think the cop should be held responsible for the kid's death.

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