Seattle police shoot California lottery winner

[GrandDad]

SEATTLE - A man shot to death by police outside a football stadium has been identified by his family as one of the winners of an $87 million lottery jackpot.

advertisement

Rick Camat, 32, was shot early Sunday as dozens of people fled to avoid a fight outside a bar before a St. Louis Rams-Seattle Seahawks game.

Police alleged that Camat was carrying a handgun and fired at a car that was leaving the area. Authorities said he crouched behind another vehicle and pointed a handgun at officers.

Relatives insisted Camat only fired into the air to break up the fight and said officers never issued a warning before shooting him.

“He shot once in the air to scare people away. He didn’t aim it at anyone,” said Camat’s brother, Brian, who was with him at the time.

Officer Debra Brown said the family’s account “differs vastly from the statements of dozens of witnesses who were at the scene that evening.”

CLICK FOR RELATED STORY
Idaho school rejects $10,000 lottery check


The officer who fired at Camat remains on paid administrative leave. An internal police review and a court inquest are planned.

Camat was one of 13 Starbucks employees in Los Angeles who shared an $87 million California lottery jackpot in 2000.

He recently bought a house in Federal Way, a suburb between Seattle and Tacoma, relatives said. He previously used his share of the lottery winnings to buy a house for his mother and cars for his siblings.

[MobilePCPhysician]

Let's see, carrying, and shooting a gun in public, outside a bar, and police officers are present.

Lucky enough to win the Lottery, maybe even lucky enough to win a Darwin Award..

[jaeger]

Firing a shot into the air? What a maroon.

[Ya_know]

Firing a shot into the air? What a maroon.

You are too gullible ...he was witnessed by dozens of people shooting at a fleeing car, and taking aim at police officers...

What we have here is an above the law complex, and he found out real quick that money can’t buy you everything. I hope the state sues his estate for a few million, and prosecutes his brother for perjury or giving a false statement to the police.

[Camaro80z]

You are too gullible ...he was witnessed by dozens of people shooting at a fleeing car, and taking aim at police officers...

What we have here is an above the law complex, and he found out real quick that money can’t buy you everything. I hope the state sues his estate for a few million, and prosecutes his brother for perjury or giving a false statement to the police.

Unfortunately, I think the family will end up suing the state saying that he shot into the air.

[thirdfey]

Unfortunately, I think the family will end up suing the state saying that he shot into the air.

Yes but by now authorities have the firearm and shell casing in their possession and will be able to determine that the shot/shots fired were not blanks so he was still endangering the lives of people by firing in the air because what goes up.....

[El Clammino]

Funniest thing I've read all day. Darwin award = YES.

[3fingersalute]

He = teh gay. (What a moron)
His family = in denial and trying to save his name.

[jaeger]

You are too gullible ...he was witnessed by dozens of people shooting at a fleeing car, and taking aim at police officers...

What we have here is an above the law complex, and he found out real quick that money can’t buy you everything. I hope the state sues his estate for a few million, and prosecutes his brother for perjury or giving a false statement to the police.

Not gullible, but taking the best course of events possible for him, he still earned his death.

[Orangeman]

Firing a shot into the air? What a maroon.

Hey I like Maroon....