Christopher Penley

Christopher Penley (1990 – January 15, 2006) 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.

See also

• Suicide by cop

External links

• "Florida Eighth-Grader Shot by Deputies Dies" (Reuters) accessed January 14, 2006
• "Milwee Middle School Web Site"
• Orlando Sentinel
• Candide’s Notebooks
• WESH 2 News
• CNN Transcript
• Center Dedicated to Christopher Penley

Persondata
Name	Penley, Christopher
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1990
Place of birth
Date of death	January 15, 2006
Place of death