Mark A. Harrell

Deadly force

Dispatchers taking the 1 a.m. call about a distraught and suicidal Harrell realized they'd taken a nearly identical call four weeks earlier from the same household. During both calls Harrell reported cutting himself and had threatened to kill any police sent over. Eight officers responded, one of whom encountered the victim on his porch, leveling a rifle. Harrell was shot to death. The rifle was a BB gun.