A Marine sergeant fatally shot by an Orange County Sheriff's deputy in a dark San Clemente high school parking lot this week was not armed and the incident doesn't appear to be alcohol- or drug-related, sheriff's officials said.
A sheriff's spokesman said the deputy feared for the safety of two young girls sitting in a parked car when he shot Marine Sgt. Manuel Loggins Jr. Tuesday. The shooting occurred as Loggins started to get into the SUV where his two daughters — ages 9 and 14 — were sitting, authorities said.
Jim Amormino, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Department, said the deputy was fearful that Loggins — who he said appeared to be acting irrationally — was about the drive off with the girls.
"The real threat that was perceived was the safety of the children," Amormino said.
"The deputy formed an opinion that he had a deep concern for the children, that he would not allow Mr. Loggins to drive away with the kids," Amormino said.
"The deputy formed an opinion that he had a deep concern for the children, that he would not allow Mr. Loggins to drive away with the kids," Amormino said.
A former commanding officer said Loggins routinely went to the school during the early morning with his daughters to walk the track and read the Bible.
About 4:30 a.m. on the day of the shooting, the deputy was doing paperwork inside his car near San Clemente High School when he said he saw Loggins driving a white GMC Yukon at an "unsafe, high rate of speed" into the school parking lot, Amormino said.
The SUV, according to Amormino, crashed through a locked gate and the deputy pulled in behind him.
Loggins walked onto the football field, and about three to four deputies arrived to set up a perimeter, Amormino said. The deputies said they lost sight of Loggins for about five minutes, and when he reappeared, he walked toward the car and climbed inside, ignoring deputies' commands, Amormino said.
Loggins walked onto the football field, and about three to four deputies arrived to set up a perimeter, Amormino said. The deputies said they lost sight of Loggins for about five minutes, and when he reappeared, he walked toward the car and climbed inside, ignoring deputies' commands, Amormino said.
Amormino said that Loggins made statements to the deputy before he was shot. He would not elaborate.
The shooting is being investigated by the Orange County district attorney's office. The deputy, a 15-year veteran, is on paid leave, which is routine in shootings.
The shooting is being investigated by the Orange County district attorney's office. The deputy, a 15-year veteran, is on paid leave, which is routine in shootings.
Marine fatally shot by deputy described as deeply religious
Sgt. Manuel Loggins Jr. was shot by an Orange County sheriff's deputy in a parking lot at San Clemente High School. He regularly went to the campus track with his young daughters for early-morning prayer walks.
A decorated Marine who was fatally shot by an Orange County sheriff's deputy in a high school parking lot was described Thursday as a deeply religious man who regularly went to the campus track with his young daughters for early-morning prayer walks.
Sgt. Manuel Loggins Jr. was shot to death during the predawn hours Tuesday under largely unexplained circumstances in a parking lot at San Clemente High School.
Loggins' daughters, 9 and 14, were sitting nearby in the family SUV at the time of the shooting.
Loggins, who was based at Camp Pendleton, was driving "at a high rate of speed" when he crashed his Yukon SUV through a gate at the parking lot about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, said sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino.
A nearby deputy who'd been doing paperwork in his patrol car pulled up behind the Yukon. Loggins emerged from the SUV and headed toward the athletic field, apparently ignoring the deputy's orders to stop, Amormino said.
When Loggins turned and headed back to the Yukon, the deputy suddenly felt threatened and opened fire, Amormino said.
Amormino said he did not know why the deputy felt threatened, or how many shots were fired, or whether Loggins was armed. Marine sources said Loggins was not in possession of a weapon.
Loggins was taken to Mission Hospital, where he died.
Major Christopher Cox said Loggins had been scheduled to work at 7:30 that morning at the base, where he managed the in-bound and out-bound cargo.
Cox, who was Loggins' supervisor, said the 31-year-old Marine was a devout Christian who often took his daughters to the San Clemente High track for what he called "prayer walks."
"They would take their Bibles and walk around the track in the morning," Cox said.
He said Loggins' wife usually accompanied them but is pregnant and was unable to go. "She's just so pregnant now, she stopped going," Cox said.
Cox said Loggins volunteered with a Big Brothers group and at nursing homes, and was close to earning a bachelor's degree in nursing.
"He was a mentor, somewhat of a father figure, to a number of the Marines," Cox said. "He was very soft-spoken, very nonconfrontational — very, very respectful. He was just the epitome of respect.".
Cox said he and other Marines were trying to make sense of the shooting and were frustrated with the lack of information.
"I've got some Marines that are very upset," he said.
The deputy who shot him was placed on administrative leave, which is routine. His name has not been released.
The Orange County district attorney's office, which is investigating the shooting, declined to comment.
Loggins, a native of Joliet, Ill., joined the Marines in 1998. Among other commendations, he had received a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Navy Unit Commendations and three Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-marine-shot-20120210,0,584000.story
Sgt. Manuel Loggins Jr. was shot to death during the predawn hours Tuesday under largely unexplained circumstances in a parking lot at San Clemente High School.
Loggins' daughters, 9 and 14, were sitting nearby in the family SUV at the time of the shooting.
Loggins, who was based at Camp Pendleton, was driving "at a high rate of speed" when he crashed his Yukon SUV through a gate at the parking lot about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, said sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino.
A nearby deputy who'd been doing paperwork in his patrol car pulled up behind the Yukon. Loggins emerged from the SUV and headed toward the athletic field, apparently ignoring the deputy's orders to stop, Amormino said.
When Loggins turned and headed back to the Yukon, the deputy suddenly felt threatened and opened fire, Amormino said.
Amormino said he did not know why the deputy felt threatened, or how many shots were fired, or whether Loggins was armed. Marine sources said Loggins was not in possession of a weapon.
Loggins was taken to Mission Hospital, where he died.
Major Christopher Cox said Loggins had been scheduled to work at 7:30 that morning at the base, where he managed the in-bound and out-bound cargo.
Cox, who was Loggins' supervisor, said the 31-year-old Marine was a devout Christian who often took his daughters to the San Clemente High track for what he called "prayer walks."
"They would take their Bibles and walk around the track in the morning," Cox said.
He said Loggins' wife usually accompanied them but is pregnant and was unable to go. "She's just so pregnant now, she stopped going," Cox said.
Cox said Loggins volunteered with a Big Brothers group and at nursing homes, and was close to earning a bachelor's degree in nursing.
"He was a mentor, somewhat of a father figure, to a number of the Marines," Cox said. "He was very soft-spoken, very nonconfrontational — very, very respectful. He was just the epitome of respect.".
Cox said he and other Marines were trying to make sense of the shooting and were frustrated with the lack of information.
"I've got some Marines that are very upset," he said.
The deputy who shot him was placed on administrative leave, which is routine. His name has not been released.
The Orange County district attorney's office, which is investigating the shooting, declined to comment.
Loggins, a native of Joliet, Ill., joined the Marines in 1998. Among other commendations, he had received a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Navy Unit Commendations and three Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-marine-shot-20120210,0,584000.story
whoops. that random black criminal and suspected
ReplyDeletepedo was actually a marine... killed in front of his daughters....
once again, a marine comes home to less than
proper respect on account of the color of his
skin. I guess you should have a look in the mirror before you decide to stand up and fight for the freedom of your fellow countrymen... just to make sure your not black first
racism is over, obama etc etc etc... yea.