Barricade Ends With Army Reservist's Death - Soldier Upset By Call Back To Duty

LEONARDTOWN, Md. -- A man who authorities believe was an Army reservist just called up to serve in Iraq was fatally shot by police Tuesday after a standoff that began Christmas night.

James Emerick Dean, 28, was shot by a St. Mary's County sheriff's deputy when he pointed a gun at a tactical team that was about to use gas to try to force Dean out of his father's house on Dusty Road in Leonardtown, Sheriff Tim Cameron said.

Dean's family contacted police Monday night, saying he was armed and threatening to kill himself, the sheriff said. Dean later told police he would shoot anyone who entered the house.

Dean was despondent about several things, including recent orders for him to go to Iraq, the family told authorities. Dean had returned in 2005 from a year-and-a-half-long tour in Afghanistan. Cameron did not know what reserve unit Dean served in.

http://www.nbc4.com/news/10610222/detail.html?dl=headlineclick

Suicide by cop

...and I suspect we'll soon be reading more accounts of veterans who chose to end their lives over the holiday season. Very sad.

Rest in peace, James Emerick Dean.

there was something in the news (it's been a while) about a serviceman in one of the suburbs of Boston (Lowell?) who decided that he would open fire at bystanders from his balcony. Apparently there was something about him having trouble differentiating life at home from life on the front lines? I'm having trouble finding a link after so many months. I've heard about so many DV incidents involving returning soldiers, many of whom have untreated issues.

I wonder about how many of those we're going to see as well.

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From the sound of it, the police did nothing wrong. You're dangerously close to accusing the police of something here of which they are not guilty.

Absence of Malice, who do we blame for Dean's death?

Honest to gawd, he said that to a woman who was grieving for her son who had died in Iraq.

I imagine he would shrug at this guy's death, thinking he's probably weak and it's just as well. That's the way sociopaths think about their victims.

What can we expect from people being send back into combat over and over again?

Oh wait....

against king george

just as it ever was. Our poor military personnel fighting this ill-gotten war...(shakes head)

RIP Jim Dean.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Associated Press

Leonardstown, Maryland - A member of the U.S. Army Reserves, despondent about being sent to Iraq,
was killed by police during a 14-hour standoff that began Christmas night when family members told
authorities he was armed and threatening to kill himself.

James Emerick Dean, 28, had barricaded himself inside his father's house with several weapons Monday
night, family members told police. He later told officers he would shoot anyone who entered the house.
His father was not home at the time.

Aroud noon Tuesday, while police were preparing to use tear gas to force Dean out of the home, Dean
came to the front door and pointed his weapon at an officer, St. Mary's County Sheriff Tim Cameron
said. Another deputy shot Dean once, killing him.

Dean has already served 18 months in Afghanistan and was despondent after learning recently that he
would be deployed to iraq, family members told police.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,239105,00.html
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/US/12/27/reservist.shot.ap

that's really fucked up. how sad. :(

The GOP assholes who backed Bush got blood on their hands too...

would do some damn reporting on the rise of suicides with men and women serving in iraq it would wake the damn american public up; But no, we have a press that is so caught up with bush and his listening tour and how he is getting intel from all quarters about sending more troops into iraq.
Excuse me but this is exactly what the so called liberal media did with the lead up to the iraq conflict....Does this seem like deja vu all over again? DAMN SKIPPY....bush has made up his mind to send more troops. Just like he already had his mind made up about iraq....tis a shame....

Somehow I think going back to the meat grinder also called Iraq topped his list.

The situation escalated when he threatened to kill anyone who came through the door. Apprehension or refusal to deploy had nothing to do with the police presence, as the Federal Government no longer wastes resources to track and hunt deserters, they haven't for a long while now (I think they stopped in the 80s, but could be wrong). And in today's Army Reserve, the operations tempo is so ungodly high that they aren't going to waste time with one weekend warrior who refuses to deploy. I think in the vast majority of these cases where Reservists refuse to deploy, the only consequences are a less than honorable discharge.

I wouldn't do that. I'd talk to him and try to help him figure out what to do.

This kid needed psychological help. At least the sheriff might have found someone to talk him down.

This is a "casualty of war", IMHO, though it will never be listed as one.

We did the best that we could. He had fired a shot gun and would not answer the phone. We called the cops in hopes of getting assistance. We did not want this to get escalated but they brought in the swat team and cut us off from him. They then provoked him with 73 rounds of tear gas, at that point he fired back. All along the police lie to us and told us that he was talking about coming out, we tried to talk to him but the police would not let us.

It's always easier to throw grenades than catch them

I don't. But my experience is different than yours. I know too much about cops to trust them.

My condolences on the death of your nephew. I feel very sorry for him and for you.

Today marks another sad day in the life of a soldier. Today Dec 26th 2006 I lost my 28 year old nephew Jamie E. Dean in a battle that should have never taken place. Some say that he was lost long before today’s events but I say he was just a little off his course and needed some guidance. It all started on that oh so familiar crisp cool Sept 11th morning in 2001. A country that had been shaken was also a call to duty for some. Jamie did not steer away from fear after the Sept 11th attacks he decided that it was his calling to serve his country, so he decided to join the U.S Army. Jamie voluntary enlisted and was sent off to Hawaii were he did exceptionally well as a soldier and was soon sent to fight in Afghanistan. While in Afghanistan he led his troops fearlessly into battle and made rank quickly for his outstanding duty. Many times while clearing caves Jamie would not allow the younger troops to enter first, rather than loosing any of his soldiers he elected to be the first man in on many occasions. This was something that upset his commanders, they did not want to loose a leader but Jamie felt that it was his duty to bring home all of his men. After his initial voluntary service of 4 years Jamie was not allowed to return home due to an Executive Order not allowing any troops to leave the military. So along with his comrades he continued to fight in Afghanistan until they were allowed to return home. Once home it was apparent to me of the damages that the war had on Jamie, he was very isolated and hard to talk to but eventually he came around. On several occasions he seeked assistance from the VA but to no avail, mind you that was on his pro activeness. Finally with the help of friends and family he started to get his life back in order. Two years ago this Aug he met his wife Muriel and he married her this past Aug 2006 and all was well.
Some how the United States Army felt that Jamie had not given enough, it was not enough that he voluntarily enlisted, that he fought in a war that had not direct objective and resulted in senseless killings and so they ordered Jamie to return to war in Iraq. Jamie did not feel that he deserved to be treated this way and that he had served his country honorably. He told me on Christmas Eve that this was sure to be his last Christmas with us (the family) and that he kept have nightmares about dying in Iraq. I tried my best to assure him that he was wrong and he would be alright, he then hugged me good bye and told me he loved me. I should have noticed this odd behavior but I thought that he was just down with the depressing letter calling him back to duty. It was 11:30 pm on Christmas day that I received a call from my sister, his mother that he was locked in this father’s house with weapons and had stated that he was not going back to war. I got into my car and drove with my wife to offer assistance but by this time the St. Mary’s County Sheriffs department was on the scene. The Sheriff’s department informed the family that they would not try to force Jamie out of the house and that since there was not anyone in the house with him. At 3:00 am the tactical swat team shot 73 rounds of tear gas (keep in mind that up to this point Jamie had not done anything aggressive to the police) into his father’s house thinking that this would force Jamie out of the house. Jamie held his ground in the house and was only aggravated and according to the police then fired a shot gun out of the house window. Mean while I was with his mother and sister a short distance away and were not being allowed to talk to Jamie and were being told that all was well.
Ultimately I don’t think Jamie wanted to die and he did not want to hurt anyone he just was pushed beyond his capacity. We (the family) want everyone to know that we appreciate the sympathy and hope that other families who have soldiers fighting in this senseless war have their love ones returned home soon.

Jamie if I could tell you one thing: It would be that I am proud of you and I am sorry that I could not fully understand what you were going thru

Yours truly,
Uncle Rob

I live in St. Mary's County, too, and have read a dozen different news accounts of this horrible event. No doubt there'll be investigations into the police actions and how things ended up going so wrong, but I just feel sorry for everyone involved, especially Jamie. For God sakes, fighting in one war should be all his country has a right to ask of him.

It's just the saddest thing to happen in our community for some time, and my heart goes out to your entire family.

What a sad story that should never have happened. I wish peace to you and your family.

:grouphug: