Family: Teen Killed By Police Officer Was Holding Wii Game Control

Euharlee, Ga. – The family of a teenager shot and killed by police officer disputes the officer’s statement that the 17-year-old had a gun in his hand when the fatal confrontation took place.

Instead, the family’s attorney says, Christopher Roupe had a Wii game control in his hand.

Roupe was in the ROTC at Woodland High School and wanted to join the Marines, says WSB TV.

The teen died Friday night when Euharlee police officers showed up at the door of his home in the Eagle View Mobile Home Park to serve a probation violation warrant for his father. A female police officer told investigators that Roupe pointed a gun at her when he opened the door.

“It just doesn't add up,” attorney Cole Law, who is representing the Roupe family, told the TV station.

Law said Roupe was about to watch a movie.

“We don't know where that statement came from. The eyewitnesses on the scene clearly state that he had a Wii controller in his hand. He heard a knock at the door. He asked who it was, there was no response so he opened the door and upon opening the door he was immediately shot in the chest,” Law told WSB.

Neighbors who ran to the home after they heard the shot said they saw a Wii game remote control in Roupe’s hand.

Neighbor Ken Yates said he saw the female officer moments after the fatal shot.

“This is tragic. … She put her head in her hands and she was sobbing. Supposedly, he opened the door with a BB gun and in my opinion I think he was playing a game with his neighborhood buddies,” said Yates.

The officer fired once, striking Roupe. He was taken to Cartersville Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, reports the Daily Tribune News.

Euharlee Police Chief Terry Harget told the newspaper, “The officer who fired the shot has been with our department for more than a year but has 10 years of law enforcement training and experience.”