Stephen Bours, 30

Although I did not know Steve very well, he was always mild mannered and distant... at least with me, He is my friend's brother and It saddens me to think of the manner in which he passed. He was only 30 years old and he was an Iraq war veteran. I was briefly chatting with his father last night at the vigil and he was telling me that he had no criminal record. It is likely that he suffered from post traumatic ....... but I'm not certain. I do recall him at his house at the grill and playing a few tunes with his guitar. He was a veteran like me and that's about all we had in common. Please pray for Him and his family, also, me and Mark are going to organize an event to raise funds for his funeral expenses. Please e mail me for further info.

I served with Bours in Iraq and I was always impressed with the guy. He was extremely mild mannered, but a tough bastard. This news surprised me at first, but I saw him spinning out of control during the deployment. He came to visit us in Arizona a few months after we got back and he had definitely changed. We lost contact with him, but heard that he wasn't doing too good. It just pisses me off that I didn't do more,or try to help him, I just blamed it on the distance we lived from each other.

Why did these officers have to shoot to kill him? he didnt have a gun yes he had an ax but whats more serious ax or gun? they didnt have to kill him...they couldve shot his arm or his hand to knock the ax out of his hand..it really angers me how cops are quick to kill even if it isnt a gun the victim is holding. Why did killing him have to be the solution!? its really sad

Sad.. Yes he could have been shot w bean bags, blanks or tazed. We have no idea what they endure during war.. trauma is not always appearent right away!

We appreciate all the sacrifices soldiers make!

Donna until your life is on the line shut up

Donna, I agree with you-they did not have to shoot to kill, they could have wounded him instead. Gary- We know that most police officers' lives are on the line but a man with a knife could have been shot in the arm or leg and been taken care of- some law enforcement officers just like to kill innocent people.I wish his family the peace and comfort that only God can grant. God bless this family

Weezy, only in movies does someone aim at the leg or arm.

In real life its shoot to kill. Wounded people can fight back. You aim at the largest par tof the body, namely the chest.

MY PRAYERS GO OUT 2 THE FAMILY. WE LIVE IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD, WENT 2 SCHOOL 2GETHER, AND KN0W ALOT OF THE SAME PEOPLE. THERES SO MANY OF US THAT KN0W THIS JUST ISNT RIGHT.WE ALL TOOK THIS PERSONAL. STEVE WAS A GOOD GUY. . . I WOULD ALWAYS C HIM OUTSIDE HIS HOUSE DOING YARD WORK.. HIS PARENTS NEED 2 STAY STRONG. i didnt realize how many people steve knew. Every where i go, people are talking about him.

Oh, come on now, - they did not have to shoot to kill, they could have wounded him instead; but then I guess it easier to kill, isn't Gary?

I live in the same block as stephen bours, I always would see him walking by, and he seem like a good person. I just want to say to his family, that I'm very sorry for their loss. Be strong.

I am pretty sure they took the proper precautions prior to shooting. Weezy he is not innocent he had an ax in his hands that he refused to put down while walking through opposing traffic. Hello please refer to the man who just axed a baby and mother because he felt like it walking down the street in Las Vegas. Now they were innocent and the baby is DEAD! Please understand that he could have swung the ax at your car with your child in it on Paramount and Imperial while charging the police wit that ax, then think about it.

They didnt have to kill him!! Thats retarded...and plus I dont trust the police officers story. He was a big guy and Im sure very intimidating to the cops who pissed their pants, panicked and shot him dead. Imagine that he survived Iraq but couldn't survive the cops here. He needed help after coming back from Iraq. He told me stories of what he did there and its enough to make you break down and cry. Im not saying he was innocent but I have a funny feeling there is more to this story..to his family..I am so sorry for your loss..xo Kalise

Oh and here is something else I heard but havent confirmed..he was doing yard work that Sunday so that explains the axe...and the cops had beat him up a week before so when they approached him maybe he was being defensive? Afraid they would attack him again? I dont trust cops and if you do if your either old or live in a fantasy world...

steve was/is my brother.I am his older sister and I am sure that this was very wrong.why didn t they shoot at his knies.and my brother hurting somebode else?? no no...not my little bro..indeed he survived iraque but not the cops...hope his kids and my his jenn and my dad and stepmom can handle this.mayby the can get help from their neigbourhood because I am living at the netherland.

I heard about this story from a Downey resident who claims to have seen what happened. At least up to the point where Stephen was running. The man said he didn't see Stephne with an ax. He said from what he saw the man was just running and booom-boom-booom. I hope the family finds out the truth. You can't JUST believe what the police say. They DO LIE and ALOT.

Steve died in Iraq, his body on Paramount Blvd in Downey. May God rest his soul.
Condolences to the family.

hi I'm an adopted member of the Bours family, my name is Nicki, and his name is Steven. He didnt have a axe, it was a small axe like thing that he was going to get sharpened at a friends. And for the record the first shot was to the chest and he went down, they didnt need to go further, but instead they put 8 more bulletts into him and he died on the spot not the hospital.It was beyond overkill it was murder. I see they arent talking about the incident that happened in Feb when they beat him and tazered him, why not? Was it the same cops? THEN THE COPS THAT KILLED HIM TAKE A LEAVE THATS PROBABLY PAID. Bottom line is they over killed him with 9 shots when a tazer would have been enough but instead murdered him. Hes my brother and anyone can feel free to e mail me with whatever they want. Steve was mild and quiet, yes he came back from the war with issues as alot of people did, but what people forgot was he fought for your freedom in Iraq, fight for his now. I love you and miss you Steve.
Nicki

hi henriette, its Nicki, I wrote something but I see they didnt publish it, Im watching over opa and mom and mark, to bad u couldnt be here, send me your e mail, give it to daddy and Ill keep u posted. Take care
nicki

serve your country and get kill by pigs, it doesn't sound fair. sleep tight may your consious get the best.

My uncle....
seen your eyes as a kid when we talked with our hands and feet
i always assumed there would come another day we'd meet
thousand of miles, an ocean & lives apart
still this feels like someone took a dream out of my heart....

To all... I was in the 3rd car heading southbound on Paramount bl when I saw the shooting. I could not believe my eyes! It was the most surreal moment in my lifetime. I have read every report of what "so called" happened, but I saw it and it was horrifying. I had nightmares of this occurance for days. I also questioned "why" not shoot in the leg or arm?? At the very moment that the police officer fired his weapon Stephen's arms where at his side as he walked aimlessly down the street holding an object in his right hand. The look in his eyes where blank and distant. I couldn't fathom at that moment why this was happening. Why did Stephen walk into the danger zone? It was a senseless death. My prayers go out to his family.

Cops are trigger happy bastards that are just waiting for any opportunity to shoot at anybody. Their famous line of "I fear for my safety or for my life" is so burnt, but yet accepteable to the courts. Cops have killed so many people, but none have ever been convicted of a crime. I have yet to hear a cop say I made a mistake by shooting at a person. There are various methods of bringing down a person without having to kill them.

montes, to you the police are "pigs". To a majority of us, they're the line between sociopaths and quiet neighborhoods.

I suspect you know nothing about what happened that day, nor the state of mind the deceased was in and the danger the public was in.

To fear your own police is a serious issue, especially since it is not generally fear that keeps us abiding to laws but a mutually shared understanding of survival. Our officers are at worst corrupt and at best ill-trained. They need to recognize the importance of the public's view on them and search for better ways to be of service, whether it be through better training, more restraint or other. Just being a cop is hard, but being a good cop is a duty.

To the Family my Condolences.

For Steven's sister's I wish you peace and at least one night of sleep. I hope that some closure will come with some answers from the real investigators.
I must respond to syscom3- every time I read something from you it is so very negative- you never offer your sympathy to the family all you do is make negative comments and defend the police -no matter if they are right or wrong- you always judge and say things that YOU THINk will make a conversation but only angers and hurts people.

thinredline, so just what did the police do that was wrong?

Mr. Bournes had a deadly weapon in his hands and acted like he was under the influence if drugs.

Tragic ending, but the safety of the public comes first.

I first met Steven after a deployment he served with my cousin. He was such a nice, polite, sweet guy. I like to think that we became friends and sort of kept in touch and he even helped me out in a time of need. Those are the kind of people you never forget... I know I won't... My only regret is losing contact with him. But I am glad I had the opportunity to meet him... To his family my thoughts and prayers are with you... GOD BLESS...

Hi this is Stevens sister and to the guy that saw what happened I would appreciate if you would contact me via phone or e mail. cruzn49@aol.com, and to the guy whos so negative, mt brother had a small tomahawk thing no bigger than 8 inches, it wasnt a big hachet or ax. hes not the first to be killed by Downey pd. have you read thier record of police involved shootings? what about the autistic guy they killed the same day as my brother? What about the harrassment he went thru with them in Feb? Until you know all the facts you shouldnt judge.I hope it doesnt happen to your family.
nicki

THIS IS TO SYSCOM3, WHAT DID THE COPS DO WRONG? they murdered a human being. if I shot a person 9 times I would be sitting in jail.yeah 9 times, would you call that over kill? the first shot was in the chest, he was down yet did they call paramedics no, why couldnt they just call medics? he was down but they had to pump 8 more bullets in him, is that right?when he was dead in the street the last shot by that undercover cop was to the head again just to make sure he was dead.1shot in the chest was enough then 2 in the head and 6all over his body. when we had the viewing we had to put gloves on him from him trying to protect hisself.want to see what he looked like ill send a pic to u

To Mr. Bournes Family My thoughts & Prayers are with you. May God bless you.

To Nicki In the name of your brother please have a Federal Grand Jury Investigation open. 2 shoots in the head after he is down? with 6 bullets in his body. All this shooting in a havy traffic street, very safe?? This police Department has one to many controversial shootings!!!

The very fact they described a hatchet/tomahawk as an Axe calls in to question the veracity of the cop story. They need it to sound more deadly than it was. they will take weeks to issue the report and have it revised several time with lawyers to justify the shooting. The report should be issued and available within 24 hours in the cops own words so they cant lawyer it up to justify the shooting. Cops lie as much as if not more than the average person. Its amazing that people think those with a badge are above reproach and bad judgment. THey will take an OATH before god and then perjur themselves in court bc they feel justified in that lying is OK if it locks up what they perceive to be a bad guy.

Thank you for the information JJ I will do that. And you couldnt be more correct, fishy. There are toooooo many police involved shootings, not just in Downey, even though they seem to be one of the highest. What happned to "protect and serve" not "shoot to kill"? On behalf of the family we thank you all for your kind words. As we speak people are still passing his vigil where he was killed and placing candles and flowers, we thank you all for your thoughts and prays.We laid him to rest yesterday, may he rest in peace.
Nicki

Hey fishy,
Are you saying a tomahawk isn't deadly? A tomahawk can be more effective than a full size ax when you are using it as a weapon. There is a reason Native Americans fashioned them smaller than an ax.

People wonder why the police have to fire so many bullets. Have any of you ever seen how unstoppable a person can be on PCP? -And I'm not saying guy was on PCP, I'm just saying.

when I read all this I am getting angry again.didn know all the facts about my brothers dead..but now I know how many bullets they fired at him...I know for sure I will see him one day..but I hope the cop that killed my bro don t sleep another night without seeing my little brother..
I could say goodbye at his funeral because I don t have the money for it.I dont want to let him go..and leave my tears on this page..and pray for my little bro.I will also thank everybody for their prayers and hope the neighbours and my family overthere will look after my dad and stepmom.my emailadres is haenen1956@hotmail.com so If u want to mail me... bye b ye
nicky I emailed you

Cannot the same argument that it's easier to kill be levelled at Bour and the other illegal aggressors of the United States in Iraq?
"Let those who are without Sin cast the first stone" said some Middle-Easterner, born in Bethlehem of now Palestine.

I can't believe that this happen again the abuse of authority on the officers shooting a man that did not have a record and to top it off he was a war hero. my prayers and deep condolences to the family may he rest in peace. this cops lately are abusing their power and are killing innocent victims and always their famous by saying afraid for their life,this cops needs more training to handle people not just shoot and killed,lately we all hear how some of our troops are coming back home mentally disturb and I can understand why this government does not help them,they are paying the price for keeping us all safe they are getting killed not at war but here back home,don't know him but maybe one day in our life time we cross path like we all do in the streets may god keep him and my prayers to all his family thank you and god bless them.

The police didn't fail him, everyone else did. Family ,friends, the army..EVERYBODY .The police did their job the best that they could do at that horrible moment on that awful day with that American hero who was in crisis . Had it been 2am with no bystanders around to be in danger, and the police with a few extra minutes to size up the treat and talk with him and make a plan. Maybe he would still be with us in a hospital getting the treatment he needed. Cops are marriage counselors, baby sitters, parents to grown adults ,psychologist, judge but never executioner. When we exit our radio cars, we are tasted to ensure everyone’s, safety and referee your little dramas .We have seconds or less to make life decisions. Death is never the intent but unfortunately sometimes the outcome of our decisions on how you make us stop your treating actions. But 9 times you cry. Do some reading on what sever psychosis and meth and other stimulants do to our bodies. I intend to visit his grave when I return from Iraq. I didn’t know him, but I know him well. Bring on any rebuttals !!!

the man was murdered no doubt

robert c, I suspect the DA thinks otherwise.

Next chapter: lawsuit

Won't be about justice, it will be about money. Bet on it.

Sorry Res, but once Mr. Bours was approaching the officer with a weapon, the officer was within legal rights to shoot him.

This is a sad story any way you look at it.

Sad, soldier that fought to protect us, slained by cops that swore to protect us.
I have questions I asked myself. was this cop a rookie? had he/she never dealt with violence? first time using his weapon?

sorry. but to me seems like the cops in the wild west shoot first and ask questions later................... just saying..

I'm sure it eats at that cop, he KILLED a soldier.no brownie points there.. cant brag about that like toe tagging a "gangster"

I can only hope the family stands together and files an " wrongfull death" suit against the officer and city. $$hit them where it hurts!$$

You people watch way too many movies. Only in a fake movie do cops magically aim for a leg to wound someone. You people should all go to a shooting range to see how difficult it is to actually hit something accurately. You aim at the center of the chest because thats where you have the most probability of stopping someone. If you aim for a leg you'll most likely miss because the target is so small. DUHHH!!

I wonder if the public would have had the same reaction if Stephen Bours would have been a minority? Welcome to the real world...this is what minorities have to live with everyday...being killed by cops.

Mirror, its sad that the deceased was in need of psychiatric care. And its also sad the police had to shoot him for the safety of the public.

As for minorities being shot by the police, what factual information do you have for that in which the shooting was declared as unjust by the DA?

Syscom3 I think that you need something better to do with your time than upseting families that are already hurting. I have been looking through alot of these articles and you are posted attacking people families. You are sad. If I knew who you were I would report you to the police or atleast to LA times you dont deserve the right to speak. Your ignorance is unbelievable. To the family of this young man my prayers go out to you. I have suffered a loss and know that regardless the reason its still painful be strong.

Realist, no one but the editors of this blog can stop me from posting.

As I have said many times, the primary function of this newspaper is to provide the news. And as a feature provided by the editor, the public is invited to comment on any news story that is published. As such, I will provide my observations that the public can either enjoy or disagree with.

I find it amusing that the people who dont like what I have to say, dont really contribute to the debate about the subject of this blog. But, this is the internet. You need a thick skin to participate in public discussions.

Hey this is for Gary who told Donna to shut up, their lives were hardly in danger, bunch of trigger happy cops as usual, I bet your a cop and thats why you are such a..hole. He was a good guy that served in Iraq, and was suffering from PTSD, what have you ever done except kiss cop butt

Tracy, it just wasnt PTSD, he was on drugs and had severe mental issues.

Deranged people on drugs with a hatchet are people who could easily kill someone.

Unfortunately there are two sides and they are both tragic. Stephen raised a deadly weapon in a threatening manner and the police felt they had no choice to use deadly force. I'm sure the police are not proud of that...it was just part of their duties. I am not the officer that was there so I can not judge what he perceived as a deadly threat. On the other hand, many of us Irag/Afghan veterans come back with severe PTSD that civilians cant even comprehend what we went through. Add to that substance abuse to deal with our feelings when coming home if not already addicted while serving a 2 or 3 tours. Why can't the government allocate funds for better mental health programs to prevent or lessen such tradgedies that effect many people besides the veteran.

My condolences to the Bours family. I hope that his children will be able to have some closure and move forward with their lives that their dad was a war hero and not be plagued with the harsh reality that their father had turned to meth as a lasdt resort to cope with what he endured in Iraq.

To those that have been commenting on what the police did: this is not the forum. An investigation is in process. Allow them to determine if the police officers' actions were extreme. A person has died leaving his family with absolutely no closure. Allow them to heal their wounds.

Well put, Ofcr Steve

I think we all died a little during our tour in Iraq. Steven, didn't have to die such as horrible death. My condolence to the family. I miss my friend greatly.