Potomac, Maryland –-(Ammoland.com)- On Thursday at 4:30 AM, a police Special Operations Division Tactical Unit executed a “high-risk” search warrant at the Potomac Maryland house of 21-year-old Duncan Socrates Lemp. During the raid, police shot and killed Lemp.
Potomac is a wealthy suburb of Washington DC. It is located on the Potomac River in Montgomery County. The town has a low crime rate. It is one of the safest places in the DC area.
Sources close to the investigation said that this was a “no-knock” raid. In this type of raid, police do not knock and instead break down the door to gain entry into the home. The thinking is that by using the element of surprise, it lessens the risk on the officers serving the warrant.
Others believe that a no-knock raid increases the danger because the occupants could mistake the police for home invaders. There have been no-knock warrants served on the wrong houses in the past that lead to the police shooting innocent homeowners and homeowners shooting police.
The police received a complaint that Lemp had possession of firearms even though police say he was prohibited from owning guns. It isn’t clear as to why Lemp was prohibited from possessing firearms. A search for a criminal history record for Lemp only returned traffic tickets.
Lemp was active on social media. He was an active Three Percenter and libertarian who frequented Reddit and the infamous image message board 4Chan. He was a strong proponent of the Second Amendment and Cryptocurrency. Friends described him as fiercely pro-American with a deep respect for the US Constitution.
Police say that Lemp confronted them and forced an officer to open fire, killing him. Local law enforcement representatives would not give details anymore on the raid or how Lemp confronted officers. The family disputes police claims.
“Lemp was prohibited from possessing firearms and detectives were following up on a complaint from the public that Lemp, though prohibited, was in possession of firearms,” police said in a statement released to the press. “Detectives recovered three rifles and two handguns from the residence.”
Among the guns recovered by police were a Glock 26 and an IWI Tavor X95. Police did not release the other makes and models of the firearms that they claim that Lemp had in his possession.
The family insists that the police shot Lemp as he was sleeping in bed. They say that the bullet that struck Lemp came through the window from outside of the house. Lemp shared the house with his 19-year-old brother and parents. They insist that the police did not give any warnings to the family.
Rene Sandler, an attorney for the Lemp family, says that the family is sure the shots came from outside. She states that it was not a flashbang that penetrated the window, as some have speculated.
Sandler said that the family had been traumatized by the police action led to the death of Duncan Lemp. She said that the family wants to see everyone involved in the killing be brought to justice.
“We believe that the body camera footage and other forensic evidence from this event will support what Duncan’s family already knows, that he was murdered,” the lawyer’s statement said.
Howard County, which neighbors Montgomery County will be investigating the shooting to determine whether it was justified or not. The Howard County attorney’s office did not respond to our request for comment.
About John Crump
John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. He is the former CEO of Veritas Firearms, LLC and is the co-host of The Patriot News Podcast which can be found at www.blogtalkradio.com/patriotnews. John has written extensively on the patriot movement including 3%’ers, Oath Keepers, and Militias. In addition to the Patriot movement, John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and is currently working on a book on leftist deplatforming methods and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, on Facebook at realjohncrump, or at www.crumpy.com.
Article states that some are concerned homeowners could mistake police for home invaders in a no knock raid. No mistake needed, they are violent home invaders. As such they deserve whatever homeowner, neighbors and legal system are able to inflict upon them. They deserve to be scorned by their wifes/girlfriends/families and whatever hell one believes awards the wicked.
I support my local law enforcement, but not when they are in the wrong.
Beautifully said.
They are not in the wrong until PROVEN to be in the wrong. Just like you would demand FACTS if YOU were accused of wrongdoing.
Sup, so when you eat sh-t and die, do we need to prove it was sh-t or just assume it based on the smell, looks, and consistency?
@Heed – I’d make that assumption based merely upon it being @SM. No need to get close enough to smell or see, certainly not going to determine consistency.
@SM – If police force homeowner into position of making split second decisions, who’s fault is that? Police claim to have feared for their lives in many situations where a dispassionate outside observer can see that fear was not justified, yet the dead are just as dead and usually shooting is considered justified. How is the described situation different, other than that police have inserted themselves into both situations, usually at a time and place of their choosing, with opportunity to mentally prepare themselves, and police really are armed and willing to shoot – in contrast to kid holding cell… Read more »
@Clark, that is why one should call their friends and neighbors if the police come to one’s house… to provide the facts.
Isn’t this the second very recent incident in which Maryland police killed a resident in his own home? It seems like the police are out of control and need to be reigned in. Just because someone wears a badge, it doesn’t give him the right to kill citizens on sight.
So long as the police think that they have a license to kill people, look out.
Stripe: It is the ruling public “servants” who are responsible for issuing the authority to their enforcers to murder those they are to serve.
As long as you think you think, look out.
After you, putz.
GREAT! Because the TRUTH HURTS. Now grow up.
JF: It is our governing public “servants”, that hire and direct enforcers, who are out of our control.
Why don’t you quit making assumptions before all the FACTS are in? You DO remember ‘innocent until PROVEN guilty’, correct?
@Superman 1, Umm, don’t ERPO’s bypass your ‘Innocent until PROVEN guilty’ quote too?
This is life in a blue utopia. Get used to it. Tactics once reserved for DEA raids on pot smokers are now being directed at thought criminals. Interesting to note they do not source the reason Lemp was a prohibited person.
“The right of the people to keep and bear arms SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.” That is simplistic enough that a 7 year old kid has a clear understanding of it. Anyone who is of age and is not in jail or the loony farm not only has the right but is mandated to keep and bear arms. The roots of this are found in Scripture and it is found in the constitution, the bill of rights, the amendments, even in the declaration of independence. ANYONE who legislates, judges, lawyers, enforces laws that are contrary to the constitution are criminal to… Read more »
Oldvet, I believe that was Mass. Ayanna Presley is the name.
Hoax pic, train cars are not marked with their contents, and if it actually contained the virus, you believe it would be marked as such?
I’m with you. Sounds like someone’s idea of a scare tactic to me. As an ex-firefighter, I know no such signs exist. Instead, they are labeled with placards that aid the responding crews on how best to deal with the contents, such a toxins, explosives, radioactivity and such.
All US rolling stock is assigned alpha-numeric reporting marks issued by the Association of American Railroads.
https://www.railserve.com/aar_railroad_reporting_marks.html
The reporting marks identify the ownership. They don’t identify the contents. Your pic is a fake just as one labeled “Influenza H1N1” would be.
You are either completely gullible or just a dumb fuck who posts stupid shit. My guess is both.
If an action like this is meant to intimidate, then it’s having the opposite effect: it steels my resolve. Like 1776 says, within house distance, my shots are all head shots hope you like your new photo shoot. America has reached a tipping point, and we are witness to power protecting power, as defined by the left. Any and all LE out there that have sold their souls against the inalienable rights of the U.S.Constitution, is no longer an American but a whoreish travesty hiding being the color of the law. I have said this many times, but you have… Read more »
@StWayne – Another unintended side effect is that if I am called to serve on a jury involving murder of a police officer, I will be quite sympathetic to the defense. Conversely if I am on a jury against police for excess use of force, I will be quite sympathetic to the plaintiff. Of course if defense for use of force is fear of civil asset forfeiture, that could cover a multitude of situations. In most states law frowns upon deadly force in protection of insured property – however I have never heard of insurance covering theft by government agents,… Read more »
That’s the thing: you DON’T know. You can never know until it’s too late and your are either on your way to take up space in their house of detention, or you are dead. Things can go to Hell in hand basket within a heartbeat. It’s incumbent on the police to announce their intentions so there can be no misunderstanding. This is where a “no-knock” warrant can go sideways in the same amount of time it takes someone to panic. Everything they are and do is designed to develop exponentially so that you are overcome by sheer will of force.… Read more »
and this is why there should be no qualified immunity for law enforcement officers, if they screw up they should pay, just like we would have to.
What’s this? Accountability in law enforcement? Then all the real criminals would have to go get real jobs.
There is PLENTY of accountability in law enforcement. You are talking out of your fat azz.
Now THAT will encourage people to become law enforcement officers! NOT!
@wjd – absolutely. Just saying I will not be prejudiced in favor of LEO as so many jurors are.
Too late for you….
This entire incident stinks. Sounds like someone wanted him dead. Wonder how much crypto currency he has and if they confiscated it?
My dog will raise a ruckus if a mouse farts in the bushes outside our home. His ruckus always awakens me and my EDC gun is staged a foot away on the nightstand. I also carry 24/7 when I’m awake and we and our neighbors across the street have driveway alarms, cameras and auto-on lights. (And yes, we’d have Claymores if they were legal.) Anyone comes busting through our door ANYTIME will be met with 10 rounds of .40 S&W. At house distances, I will automatically assume home invaders have some sort of body armor and go for head shots;… Read more »
@Pat, That early warning that the family dog gives us is the key! Dogs negate all surprise that these wretches base their attack on. Dogs give us the time necessary to make a meaningful defense.
@WB – Have heard from a retired swat officer that he loved when drug dealers depended upon pit bull warning systems. He’d just show up with steak and lead them off before the raid. I’m guessing his system depends upon the dog being outside. Mine live inside and go nuts for people on the street in front or alley in the back. A man bearing steak would propel them to the next level. Unfortunately we’ve suffered alarm fatigue due to continuous barking. They bark at squirrels, rabbits, coyotes, and blowing leaves. A 3am raid would succeed because they wake me… Read more »
@Finnky, Mine live indoors, too. That way they can not be picked off or bribed, but they can help me make a meaningful defense, if someone would try to come through the door.
Not only that but dogs:
1) cannot be hacked
2) never run out of batteries
3) never need repair
4) don’t need to be turned off and on
5) a snarling, barking dog throwing himself at the door from inside gives all intruders (even those with badges) food for thought
6) no false alarms
Well, OK… maybe not #6. Mine does go off occasionally for no reason just like electronics do. But not as often. 🙂
@Knute Knute, all excellent reasons to give a dog a home and job to do! Except 6, of course!
WB, yes, man`s best friend indeed!
@ras, Yes, and more intelligent conversation than the local Organization of Socialist Libtards, too.
Sadly, this incident will become the norm as more and more red flag laws go into effect.
So which member of the ‘public’ was threatened by the victim causing the entire incident? And, 4:30 AM? Anyone roused by a home invasion at that hour would respond in kind. So much for Red flag Laws saving lives.
In progressive America the law is whatever they need it to be to fit ex post facto challenges. The law says the what it says until our lords say it does not.
The leave the USA! Problem solved! Buh-bye; you won’t be missed!
Body camera video “accidentally” deleted in 3, 2, 1….
Stick to predicting lottery numbers, you will have better luck.
@Superman 1, Do a google search and you’ll find that LEO’s turn their cameras off all to often all of the time to cover up what they’re doing.
Article I saw said he was reported as a felon with a gun by a neighbor or someone and when they knocked the door down he came running ( naturally) toward them with a gun in hand.(tavor). I disagree with these no knock intrusions. It’s only natural to defend yourself and home,especially when sound asleep and all of a sudden someone is busting in your door. Your home is your home and meant to be defended. Another article said he was “prohibited ” which could simply mean he had a medical marijuana card. Also said he was a gun enthusiast… Read more »
DEFENSE ATTORNEY said the same thing. And we know how truthful THEY are…
Why is PG County investigating? Hey, this is maryland, those cops, part of the wonderful 99% I’m sure, are sleeping like babies at night, they know they’re scott free. They’ll never release the bc footage and if they do it will be corrupted somehow. The cops will all get Corona and cease to breath. Some janitor at the station will be put on leave. There will be a multitude of excuses. Or, OR, maybe they will just do what liberals in maryland and all throughout this country do, pick their lie, no matter how ridiculous, and just stick to it… Read more »
Just watch how many body camera’s won’t be working, just like the last one that the guy was killed in MD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Too bad he didn’t get one of the higher ups that push this POOR TRAINING mentality, of coarse the would get involved in the actual hands on raid!!!!!!!!!!!!
So now YOU are the expert in police training? Nice try, no cigar.
@Superman 1, Here’s some help to google search, “police officers turn cameras off”.
Some NYPD officers tip each other off when body cameras are on: watchdog report.
Can’t find any drugs until cameras are turned off. Baltimore Cops Caught Turning Off Body Cameras Before ‘Finding’ Drugs.
Cops Caught on Body Cam Saying “Turn it Off” Before Stomping on Handcuffed Man’s Face.
I don’t need your paycheck from McDonalds. But thanks for playing.
The body count needs to start stacking the other way on these unConstitutional raids.
if it doesn’t begin with us, then who?
This isn’t the first time a Blue Line Death Squad murdered someone to take away lawfully owned firearms. Moreover, Mr. Lemp was a computer programmer working on a new kind of encryption that would be impossible for the government to crack, a technology that the government would gladly and without hesitation commit murder to keep people from obtaining to protect their Right to privacy.
QUICK! RUN, don’t walk to Montgomery County and let them know what happened since YOU were obviously at the scene as a witness! HURRY!
STFU Clark. What I posted is public knowledge, mainly the statement of the family themselves. So go take a sugar frosted F off the end of my D.
I’m curious. Assuming that the police were going after this guy because he was not allowed to have weapons, under what circumstances do you believe a no-knock “high risk” warrant execution would be morally proper? I have racked my brain thoroughly, and as a member of society, usually we talk with others when there is an issue. I dont see how things can turn out positive if the sole presence of firearms (actual or alleged) means the individual possessing them is a threat, and law enforcement immediately reverts to force. There is no room for error at that point. A… Read more »
@DY, If I were family of the slain, I would expect to be treated very cordially by a line of attorneys specializing in tort cases that formed outside my door. Very cordially, indeed.
Jack Booted THUGS 100%. They could have easily arrested the man as he got into his car or on his way to the Metro station if he was such a violent individual LEO feared for their lives.
This is a preview of what the RED FLAG Laws will bring you your home one day.
Then why don’t YOU become a police officer and show us all how it SHOULD be done? Put up or shut up.
We simply need more information in this case. HOWEVER, “No Knock” warrants are the bane of American society. They seem to almost always result in the Jack Booted Thug Police shooting/murdering someone.
The only reason for these type of raids is to frighten the population into submitting all of their freedoms and rights to the psychopathic control freaks in power. Think about it…David Koresh would go out jogging and yet the ATF found it more exciting to attack the Waco Texas church complex to capture him rather then just grab him up while out jogging. The end result? 17 small children burned to death and numerous bodies all over the place as the Federal government flexed it’s control freak muscles. Randy Weaver had placed himself in confinement for committing the nefarious act… Read more »
My, my what interesting pictures you have.
Arm up, carry on.
The government, at almost all levels now, seems to be asking for an in-kind response to these “Red Flag” gun seizure unconstitutional laws. Dying doesn’t seem to me to be the appropriate response. To paraphrase Patton, No bastard ever kept his freedom by dying for the cause. He kept it by making the other dumb bastard die trying to take it away.
Amen.
Arm up, carry on.
all we can hope for is that people get the jump on LE and they are ready and waiting with the firepower to take out anyone who comes through their front door. unfortunately that’s hard to do when you’re completely asleep at 0430. but just keep your weapon by your side in bed with you and hopefully you can set up before they breach. then take them all out one by one.
The best I can hope for, even despite all my planning, is to at least let them know that they were in a fight.
Well these particular jack booted thugs were skulking around the exterior of the house and were able to see him through a window, whereupon they fired on him through that window. If one is concerned about being assaulted, I would start with making sure the windows are fully blocked with blackout curtains, or something else fully opaque. If your home is brick, maybe have your bed against the exterior wall so you have cover while you’re sleeping in case they fire bullets into the room from the window. My bedroom window is up very high so an intruder/JBT would have… Read more »
Make sure to have Dark Goggles and Howard Leights or similar, for flash bangs, and loss of NV, set up 4-6 rifles ,separate parts of house,with 6-10 fulls mags,extra mags one in rifle, empty chamber.Throw on ceramic B A and ear protect/eyes first.Or have alarms set for knowledge of on stoop,before breach occurs.
Or for better work same set up use 300 WM or 338 Lap.
@DZ – How well do 300WM and 338 Lap work on L4 armor?
A tree is known by it’s fruit. You get dressed up like a terrorist commando squad, you break down doors before daylight (or any other time) and you will get what any normal person would give you; a sudden few ounces of added weight. ANY free American citizen has the RIGHT to keep and bear arms. The cops MURDERED this man for defending his home. How would YOU answer someone who has just broken down your door and is armed to the teeth? How would a cop answer in the same situation? There is/was a group of home invaders in… Read more »
Well, I read it. Sounds devastating. It seems too unwieldy for my taste for home protection, and there are many laws out there against using traps in the home that you may have to contend with where you live as a result that might invite a raid. My fear would be the lack of absolute control over the device, in that it can put you down through an unseen reflection just as fast as your intended target. I didn’t like the author talking about nuking someone else’s house, as there could be too many unwanted consequences. It did wake me… Read more »
S.W. They work good on cows. Took about 27 seconds. Using house wired 110. Use a 1 X 2, about 4′ of metal drainage pipe with a back plate on it. That keeps flying in one direction. Be careful with that condenser. The book will give you ideas and instructions. As long as the unit is surrounded by a metal barrel of some type everything goes out the tube hole. Probably as safe or safer than running the nuker at home.
Arm up, carry on.
Were YOU at the scene as a witness? If not, SHUT UP until all the FACTS are in.
I think you are right on the money.
Anyone, I DO NOT CARE WHO IT IS Breaks my DOOR DOWN, they will be immediately catching 100’s of rounds of lead very quickly.Also Yes I know TL4 B A is the Norm I also know where to shoot where there ISN’T ANY.
It’s always humorous that the statement is always made: “HE was PROHIBITED from owning Firearms”.Ok, WHY?. TELL J Q Public WHY he was not allowed?.
They never say to JUSTIFY MURDER.
Cops always go on Snatch and Grab with intent to Murder home owners if they see a weapon.
Esp SWAT.
90% of all SWAT teams need to be DISBANDED.
No-knock raids should be reserved for dangerous felons and emergency situations.
Rules of Engagement needs to change.
@Stripe, There are no rules of engagement in American law enforcement doctrine. Confused notions like that are why law enforcement should not train with the military. Police, like the rest of us, must rely on the law of self defense.
‘No rules of engagement’? Don’t make asinine statements with ZERO knowledge of the subject. It just makes you look like a putz.
The police claimed it was an emergency, hence the “no knock” raid. At least this time the person killed was the intended target, right or wrong.
The family needs to hire an independent forensics firm to look at the scene. Remember the no-knock raid in Houston where Tuttle and his wife were killed?
https://abcnews.go.com/US/houston-police-embroiled-scandal-lies-found-knock-warrant/story?id=60991293
Houston police embroiled in scandal after ‘lies’ found in no-knock warrant that led to fatal raid on alleged drug house.
fear is the enemy! the cops are scared, sounds like a lot of you are scared. you shouldn’t let fear dictate your actions.
to say cops are leftist is ridiculous and absurd. did any of you say they were leftist when they kill unarmed people during traffic stops or just answering their door.
RELAX! WE DO NOT NEED A CIVIL WAR! we need better police training and they need better screening when they enter the academy to see if they are even capable of handling the “fear factor” of their potential new job.
Who really wants to sign up to be the first one thrown under the bus.
Anyone smart enough to do the job is finding better work elsewhere with out the political knife in the back for doing one’s job.
About all that’s left are the Pee Wee Hermans and Barney Fifes to police America.
And then there is the FBI, don’t get me started!
I agree. My son in law is a police officer that serves these kind of warrants.mainly on drug warrants. He is a good young man who loves guns and shooting same as me. He’s doing it this way because he is taught and trained to do it this way. I agree a different training or method might be better. Perhaps this is that very very small % of mistake? when a deranged shooter (small%) goes on a rampage and we all get attacked for being pro gun? I don’t know if I said it correctly but you should understand my… Read more »
@ wil, Why don’t you go say RELAX! to the Lemp family.
how many families like the lemps do you think exist? how about families that just get their door kicked in cause its the wrong house? you can’t pick and choose which wrongs are actually wrong. they need better training. you get that by voting. the whole system is corrupted and they all need to go. so vote and shoot on the weekends we don’t need to kill each other
Why don’t you make it easy for everyone and YOU go away?
@wil – Training may help a little, but solution should be to ban no knock raids in all but extremely limited circumstances. Only times I consider a no knock raid justified would be in case of an active shooter or a hostage situation where victim’s death is otherwise eminent and entry is highly likely to save the victim(s). First situation in not likely to really qualify as warrantless entry as it is most likely to occur in schools, malls or other locations open to the public. For second situation consider when terrorists took over a school in Russia – military… Read more »
Then why don’t YOU become a police officer and show us all how it SHOULD be done? Put up or shut up.
“Butt hurt status”? No, but I will respond to you, Mr. Butthead. The FACTS are not in yet in order to PROVE murder. Take a civics 101 class or LEAVE THE USA PRONTO.
@SM – See constitution, raid was illegal. Whoever ordered the raid as well as all participants engaged in illegal activity resulting in an entirely foreseeable death. That makes it murder regardless of details of what actually happened inside the house. Just as someone who drove home invaders to a house are often charged with murder if the homeowner shoots the actual invading accomplices.
Do y’all just sit around looking for the boogie man in everything?
@Matt in OK – In a word, No. Just recognize him when he comes banging on the door – or in cases like this breaking the door down. I’d guess that the majority of cops just go alone – with their training, with their bosses & co-workers, and with whatever the legislature says. Some are like the Houston cops who murdered the tuttles, many are like the ?geiger? chick who killed that ?DeJohn? when he was sitting in his living room in Dallas or the other one near Ft Worth who shot an innocent woman in her kitchen. Our biggest… Read more »
I thought the same thing when first I watched this show only weeks ago. They skirt the law and the Constitution like it was meant for it. Once they get you behind their doors and into their basement, any and everything is fair game. If there’s one thing I have noticed about Holyweird when it comes to these kinds of things, is that they are ahead of the curve. Remember when “Hill Street Blues” first debuted?