Christopher Penley
Encyclopedia
Christopher Penley was a 15-year-old American
schoolboy who was shot by a SWAT
team enforcer on January 13, 2006. He later died of his injuries after he had briefly taken classmate Maurice Cotey 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 92
. After the weapon was discovered by Cotey, he forced him into the closet and shut off the lights in the classroom. The student immediately fled and informed security and later phoned 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 shooting him.
He was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center where he remained on life support for two days before dying of his wounds. Several 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 convince him to surrender. 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 aimed a weapon at the deputy.
Penley's organs were donated
by his family. His death gave nine 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 opened in honor of Christopher Penley's memory and to give a place for the voice of youth to be heard.SEAN PENLEY brother also died 8/10/10 in car crash we all miss him R.I.P SEAN AND CHRIS.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
schoolboy who was shot by a SWAT
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
team enforcer on January 13, 2006. He later died of his injuries after he had briefly taken classmate Maurice Cotey hostage in a classroom and then later holed himself up in an outdoor bathroom at Milwee Middle School in Longwood, Florida
Longwood, Florida
Longwood is a city in Seminole County, Florida, USA. The population was 13,745 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 13,491. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, with an Airsoft
Airsoft
Airsoft is a sport in which participants shoot round non-metallic pellets launched via replica firearms.Gameplay varies in style and composition but often range from short-term skirmishes, organized scenarios, military simulations, historical reenactments, to competition target shooting events...
gun painted entirely black to disguise it as a Beretta 92
Beretta 92
The Beretta 92 is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. The model 92 was designed in 1972 and production of many variants in different calibers continues today...
. After the weapon was discovered by Cotey, he forced him into the closet and shut off the lights in the classroom. The student immediately fled and informed security and later phoned police. SWAT
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
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 shooting him.
He was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center where he remained on life support for two days before dying of his wounds. Several of his organs were removed and used as transplants
Organ donation
Organ donation is the donation of biological tissue or an organ of the human body, from a living or dead person to a living recipient in need of a transplantation. Transplantable organs and tissues are removed in a surgical procedure following a determination, based on the donor's medical and...
. Seminole County
Seminole County, Florida
Seminole County is a county in the U.S. state of Florida. Located between Orlando to the south and Deland and Daytona Beach to the north, it is part of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. Its county seat and largest city is Sanford...
Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
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 convince him to surrender. The Orlando Sentinel
Orlando Sentinel
The Orlando Sentinel is the primary newspaper of the Orlando, Florida region. It was founded in 1876. The Sentinel is owned by Tribune Company and is overseen by the Chicago Tribune. As of 2005, the Sentinel’s president and publisher was Kathleen Waltz; she announced her resignation in February 2008...
reported that Ralph Penley was not told of events until after his son was shot. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is a Florida government agency. FDLE is composed of five programs: Executive Direction and Business Support, Criminal Investigations and Forensic Science, Criminal Justice Information, Criminal Justice Professionalism, and the Florida Capitol Police...
investigated the shooting and found it entirely justified, as Penley aimed a weapon at the deputy.
Penley's organs were donated
Organ donation
Organ donation is the donation of biological tissue or an organ of the human body, from a living or dead person to a living recipient in need of a transplantation. Transplantable organs and tissues are removed in a surgical procedure following a determination, based on the donor's medical and...
by his family. His death gave nine 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 opened in honor of Christopher Penley's memory and to give a place for the voice of youth to be heard.SEAN PENLEY brother also died 8/10/10 in car crash we all miss him R.I.P SEAN AND CHRIS.
External links
- "Florida Eighth-Grader Shot by Deputies Dies" (ReutersReutersReuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
) accessed January 14, 2006 - "Milwee Middle School Web Site"
- Orlando Sentinel
- Candide’s Notebooks
- WESH 2 News
- CNN Transcript
- Center Dedicated to Christopher Penley