FINALLY! I can't attest to one of these "incidents" with true knowledge, and not go by the comment sections and day-to-day "updates" or "breaks" in the story.
I live in Allen, a neighboring city (remember, down the street from the monster HIGH SCHOOL stadium that couldn't be used)...and the community in question is literally 10 minutes from me. I have friends and co-workers that have told us they felt like they were trapped inside their own houses. Cars started showing up in parade-fashion and people were walking across yards like it was some music festival. Then, when the drama started, there were SEVERAL fights that were going on away from the pool. As the chaos continued, the frustration of "no party" and the cops showing up led to anger and retaliation in the form of littering, throwing bottles/rocks/etc, vandalism of yards and some houses (objects thrown at doors/windows) and tires cut.
Many say they were not interested (as most internet tough guys would insist) that they go outside and "stand up" to this mob. In fact, two friends decided not to navigate their street after entering the neighborhood and seeing all the cops speeding through and kids scattering.
As the norm these days, they used social media to spread the news (after calling police of course). Since day one, when the media grabbed hold of this, and the EDITED video was put up, they have been telling everyone that it was more than what was being shown...that the media was spinning it wrong. Comments made on YAHOO.COM where they named some of the neighbors who posted to facebook have been deleted. Other sites have the same comments down-voted, or moved outside the "top" comments. Neighbors ARE being threatened...whether they posted on FB or not. It's almost like Spike Lee tweeting (what he thought was) Zimmerman's address, but was an innocent person instead.
As for the officer pulling the gun, I am on his side thus far. That punk that tried getting in his face took off like a little girl, while the other guy QUICKLY froze, and rethought things. No one can hear exactly what he's saying to the cop, but his actions don't say he was just going to observe. Thank goodness the video (in all it's edited-ness) was taken, because the kid obviously thought it was a good time to show off and most likely would have shoved the cop if the camera phone was NOT out in plain sight. At which time, we know all bets are off.
Bottom line, it's one thing to watch CNN and have an opinion, but this happened where I live. People I actually know, know the pool's security guard who was assaulted from trying to do his job. They have neighbors being threatened for telling the TRUTH. And most importantly, they are being ignored because it doesn't make the story "juicy enough". When you hear Texas, you probably think high death penalty rate...but don't forget our open carry and castle doctrine. Kudos to my friends who keep their heads on, and don't react on a dime. Unfortunately, kids don't do the same these days, and it's gonna be another media field day when one of them gets popped for taking it too far. Over a bootleg pool party nonetheless...
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