Daughter defends San Pedro homicide suspect, says he was 'struggling with life'

First off, I get what she is saying, but when your father is accused of something, it is for a reason. My family has had the raids and harassment from LAPD, but it was all for a REASON. Nobody in life is perfect, and no matter what problems he had he must face the consequences. As a daughter of a looney father and I must say you only want to believe the good side in a human, but one must also accept their flaws. I am reading what she wrote, and am wondering..., "Hello, what if your father had been the one killed and the SUSPECT was held up somewhere?" I mean, how about that? Wouldn't you want justice? A man that sticks out in a house for most of the day trying to escape from the police does not ring innocent to me. I don't know about anybody else, but that is my opinion. Like I said before I come from not the greatest of families and we too have been slandered thru newspapers and media, but never once did I question why many of my cousins were all over the paper, I knew why and I knew the cousins I knew were the best and never missed a birthday or holiday, but that is what I KNEW. They were complete opposite outside. You can never know a person to much. So as for the cops not giving too much of a hoot about the hygiene of her father, I mean come on. He will eventually shower, but don't you think he is trying to get all the pity he can from his daughter and of course she is going to worry since that is her father! The police are doing their job to the best of their abilities, and they can't just bathe your father because he said so or she did. He is in custody so he doesn't get favors, and that is what us taxpayers pay for, justice. And if convicted, I hope she realizes her father is her father, her memories are her memories, her relationship with him is hers and nothing can change that. But she has to accept him for whatever mistakes he's made. And quit blaming everyone else.

Well let me start off by saying "MY UNCLE RUFUS IS INNOCENT " !!! and to that person alicia u dont my family and u especally dont know my uncle to call him crazy he is a loveing man who loves his family and would do "ANYTHING" for his family so don't judge a book by a cover. The police department treated our family with disrespect and this is our same police department that is suppose to protect us...what happend to "INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY"... I LOVE AND MISS MY UNCLE RUFUS!!! We are all here behind him 100%

He is guilty so deal with it. I hope for the sake of Robert’s family that Rufus has the same outcome. “NOT GUILTY” please!!!! Someone not guilty of something would not be hiding out in a house and trying to run from the cops. Justice needs to be done, plain and simple.

First I would like to say my Heart goes out to Rufus' 3 daughters and especially to the victims mother and family...Very Sorry!! I have known Rufus for a long time , especially way back from school. he was awesome! back then he was always funny and making jokes. I don't know what happened that day but something had to have triggered his anger. Because the last time I seen him he looked happy and he was smiling. I just can't believe he could do something like what people are saying.. Right now there are so many different stories going around. And it hurts when you hear people say oh well! if thats the life he wants to live. Then thats what gonna happen..(i only heard of one person saying that). Especially to his children this is the time for positive not negative. Please just give then your prayers and love. This is the time they need strength.. One thing i know is that he loves his daughters very very much! And he might be asking himself also what happened? He really is a good man inside and if he made that mistake I'm sure he's praying and asking for forgiveness to our Lord, his family and the victims family. Deep inside Rufus was a nice guy!! We all make mistakes..My condolences and deepest sympathy to Robert Banes family..I just hope this is all wrong.. and a mistake ...I would love to imagine Rufus taking his grandkids fishing.. Please! cast no stones.. if true it's something that he will have to live with for the rest of his life...

Yes justice will be done!! For the poor people that read and dont retain or understand what they read, nobody is blaming the police for what happend! What people dont see or realize is that an elderly man and women with health issues were treated like they were the suspects! for the SWAT team and police dept. to feel that it was nesessary to pull the elderly couple out at gun point, deny her of her heart med's, lock the dog in the house knowingly while they were shooting tear gas in the house is just flat out wrong and inhumaine!! Especially when it took the stellar work of LAPD to figure out that Rufus was not in the suspected house! If its ok for the LAPD that us tax paying citizens are empowering to use such force on the elderly and innocent, then guilty or not guilty i would have done the same thing rufus did!!

The police were only doing their job. All they knew was a murder suspect was held up at the location and they had to treat everyone inside the location as such until they determined otherwise. This was done not only for their protection but the public. And their surely not going to let anyone go back in the house to retrieve anything until it was determined to be safe. It's not their fault these elderly people had to go through this. Their son put them in this situation and he didn't think or care what kind of situation he would be putting his parents through when he went to hide at their home. And as far as he cant shower....well, incarceration is nothing new to him so it shouldn't be too much of a culture shock. At least he will get to shower eventually unlike the victim whose last shower is at the morgue when the coroner is rinsing his body.

Wow...When I first heard it was very hard to believe....I went to school with Rufus, and played softball with his ex-wife and sister. Unfortunately years ago myself, I got caught up in the drug scene and even hung out with him here and there...BUT....he was still that funny, happy and caring guy that I always remembered him as. A few years ago when I decided to get my life together, I even saw him in 12-step meetings, we were only a few months apart with our clean time. Sadly, I havent seen him around for quit awhile and its very sad to think that he slipped back into addiction as recovering addicts do alot.
We all dont make it...its always one day at a time.
My heart goes out to his family as well as the victim's. I have a 26 yr old son myself and pray everyday for his safety.
In the end, this is a huge tragedy in our close knit community and brings alot of sadness to my heart, but we all have to be responsible and accountable for our actions, this a loss for the parents, sons, daughters, brothers,sisters family and friends for sure.
May you all stay strong and have faith in a higher power....

I just want to say that I completely agree with Alicia on this. I think that he, Rufus, is the one that put his family in danger when he decided to shoot someone and flee and barricade himself in a house. Were the cops supposed to think that he will surrender and walk himself to the station? To Carrie, she did not call Rufus crazy, read the whole thing again! She said that no matter what, people always want to believe the good side of people but that is not always the case when it come to actions. In your eyes he may be innocent, but for everyone else, it's up to the LAPD and the juries to decide if he is innocent or not & what about Robert's family? It's a shame that things like this can happen a block away from your house! 2 murders in 2 years on the same block? Come on! But then again, maybe I am just seeing the good in people living in San Pedro and everywhere else.

It is very unfortunate that these events have unfolded in such a manner. I can only imagine how his daughter Krystal is feeling at this moment. I don't know the facts of the case, but I knew her in high school, and if she says her father is a good man, then I believe her.

The most important thing that I have written up until this point that I believe is most critical is that, "I don't know the facts of the case." For that matter neither does anyone else who was not present, so pre-judgments are not served well. As it was well said by Krystal, in this country, the presumption of innocence is the standard, and the burden of proof is now upon the prosecutor. He or she must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Rufus committed a crime. When all is said and done, it is the trier of fact (the jury, or judge) that determines whether or not a person is guilty or not. I repeat; it is the jury; not the police, the media, or online bloggers that determines guilt.

Furthermore, although charges have been filed, it isn't until a grand jury, or preliminary hearing occurs that it is decided whether or not there is enough evidence to go forward to trial, especially if an arrest warrant was not issued. This could be a case of mistaken identity or in the case that the two parties were in conflict, an act of self defense, or perhaps even an accident. No one knows but Rufus or anyone who may have been at the scene of the death.

I write this in hopes that people will avoid jumping to conclusions.

As far as the claims of no warrant being issued for an arrest, the police may enter a premises without a warrant of there are exigent circumstances, as in if they were in hot pursuit, but in any other case, a warrant must most definitely apply. These issues will surely be brought up after an arraignment.

I cannot offer legal advice, as I am not an attorney, but if it was my family and the events took place as Krystal has said they have, I would go down to the police department, pick up a form for a personnel complaint, which is readily available in the lobby, and file it.

My heart goes out to Krystal, her family and the family of the man that has lost his life; I pray that they receive the support that they need.

I remember RUFUS as a looser, not the loving, caring man you guys are saying. He was a drug addict all the way back to Dana Junior High. They got the right guy. Good work LAPD!

My Uncle Rufus is a LOVING, CARING, and GIVING man. He has a HUGE heart and would NEVER intentionally hurt anyone. Everyone who knows him, knows this to be true. I have lost faith in our legal system for reasons beyond what you can imagine, but I believe in GOD and I have FAITH that GOD will get my Uncle Rufus through this.

As for the LAPD...well their reputation is no SECRET. I know there are still some good POLICE OFFICERS on the force but too many are just THUGS protected by a badge and in the end we ALL have to be judged when we finally meet or CREATOR.

This is a very unfortunate and sad situation for everyone involved. The prayers and support are sooo deeply appreciated.

When I heard the news about Rufus my heart fell to my stomach. The first thing I said was this cannot be true. I know Rufus loves his daughters and would give his life for them, not take someones life. It does not matter about the meetings of recovery that people saw him at, because that is a whole different issue. Society will label us as relapsers and that is unfair to Rufus and his family. I know Rufus's two oldest daughters very well and they are very fine young women. What really sticks out here is the awful way the police treated his parents and youngest daughter. That is alright though, NOT! My prayers go out to Rufus's family. The last time I saw Rufus was about a year ago and he was on his way to take his youngest daughter to softball practice. He always brought laughter into our conversations and that is one thing most people do not have and you can not buy it. There is only one judge and that is God. So shame on the police for their ugly treatment they gave to his family. To Rufus and his family keep your faith and stay united. You are in my prayers.

It's taken me a while to read this. It seems that everyone is sad about

It is disheartening to read about most people trying to protect Rufus or defend him in writing. Did any of you bury Rob and have to clean his apartment? There are other things that will prevail in Rob's memory so he can rest in peace. Please, he has family and good friends that are mourning,

Oh, please! It is a very simple answer. Did he (Rufus) or did he not shoot Robby? If he is innocent, then did someone else shoot Robby? Whose gun was it? Was it an accident? Robby accidently shot himself twice in the back of the head. He was so innocent that he(Rufus) held the Police at bay from his Grandmothers house for twelve hours. There are things that the police collect to prove that it was Rufus that did the shooting. Wittnesses, gun, GSR, time, placement, oppuntunity, and others. He (Rufus)has already been arraigned on a millon dollar bond. So does that sound like an innocent person. No matter, He can't bring Robby back. That is really what Robby's friends and family want. Robby's friends and family say, "Who ever did it must pay." Whoever shot Robby is a violent person and needs to be locked up. As far ss the police department, they did what they had to do. I praise the police for appreneding Robby's "alleged" shooter so quickly. Good work and Good reporting. Thanks

My heart goes out to both families.I have had three children pass away.And my oldest was a friend of Rufus.When i heard what happen my heart fell to my feet! I know Rufus he use to come to my house when he was a teenager,I always new him as a good person. I still believe he is.I don't know what went wrong, and i don't know him as a violent person. God bless him and Robert's family

I Do think that was excessive and lately we have been giving the cops to much respect. i have always respected them especially having many cops in the family. however there has been a shift especially in certain areas more so then others. i have ben driving throught that area and i have had a cop give me a bogus ticket . He simply said sorry today is our ticket day. the cop totally lied and he new it by his smile. Im loosing respect for them. and i am worried what is to happen to our justice system as it is falling apart this state is falling apart.. they need money for the state and they these cops in pertiular have a we can do what ever we want mentality. this can only evolve into something bad. and innocent men are arrested all the time. that is y we have the law set up for innocent Until proven guilty.

I've known about RUFUS ATCHLEY BY FRIENDS OF HIS IN PEDRO AND AT WORK, BUT DONT KNOW THE MAN, AND DID NOT DESIRE TO KNOW HIM. HE'S BEEN HOOKED ON DRUGS FOREVER.(JUST ASK WHY DONT HE HAVE COUSTODY OF HIS YOUNGEST DAUGHTER)THE OTHER 2 WERE IN AND OUT OF HIS LIFE,THEY WERE ALWAYS BUMPING HEAD OVER THEIR CHOICE'S OF MEN AT A VERY (UNDER AGE) YOUNG AGE, AND THERE NO SAINTS JUST LIKE HIM THEY HAVE ALSO HAVE OR HAD THERE DRUG USE PROBLEMS, DOWN TO RUFUS'S WHOLE FAMILY..SISTER,DAUGHTERS,NIECES,NEPHEWS,BROTHERS NOT JUST FRIENDS FROM WORK!!IF YOUR INTENSIONS ARE TO TALK GOOD FOR HIM OPEN UP THE CLOSET,"LET THE SCKELETENS LOOSE" FOR WHAT I KNOW HIS DAUGHTERS DID NOT WANT NOTTHING TO DO WITH HIM SEVERAL TIMES. GOD ONLY KNOW HOW MANY TIMES HE WENT TO REHAB FOR TREATMENT,BUT DID NOT TAKE HIM MORE THAN ONE WEEK AND HE WAS ON A ROLL AGAIN.HIS TIME WAS RUNNING OUT BECAUSE HE HAS STRIKES ON HIM ALREADY FROM BEING IN PRISON BEFORE AND IF U KNOW ABOUT STRICKS THEN U KNOW WHY HE GOT THAT RAPP. SO STOP MAKING HIM LOOK LIKE A NICE GUY,WHY DID HE DO WHAT HE DID WELL HE WAS DEFENDING HIS DAUGHTER OVER A STUPID GOSSIP HE HAD JUST HEARD,,,AND HE RUNS INTO ROB OUT AND ABOUT..THE GOOD GUY IT SEAMS TO BE ROB. HIS DAUGHTERS ARE OLD ENOUGH TO GET INVOLVED WITH DIFFERENT MEN, WELL THANK UR SELF FOR WHERE YOUR FATHER IS AT, AND STOP BLIAMING THE LAPD. AND YES JUSTICE IS NOT GIVING TO YOU WHEN YOU DON'T DESERVE IT.MY ONLY SINCERLY REGRETS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO ROB'S FAMILY..TO U THAT DONT WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT "ONLY YOU KNOW WHAT TRIGGER RUFUS "THE MURDERER" TO DO WHAT HE DID. HE COULD HAVE JUST FAGHT LIKE A REAL MAN OR JUST WALK AWAY!!!!!!!NOW HE KNOW IT WAS NOT WORTH IT.AND TO YOU, YOU WILL LIVE WITH THIS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE..COM ON LETS BE HONEST YOU KNOW HE MAIGHT NOT COME HOME. NOT JUST FOR KILLNG "ROB" BUT FOR HIS RAPP SHEET, HE HAS TO STRUGLE IN PRISON WITH PRISONERS HE DID WRONG.THATS WHY HE WAS AFFRAID TO GO BACK TO PRISON..ROB REST IN PEACE DID'NT KNOW YOU, BUT YOUR LIFE WS CUT SHORT OVER A DADDY'S GIRL,IF SHES OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE CHILDREN AND DO DRUGS ALONG WITH THE ATCHLEY FAMILY SHE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF HERE MISTAKES AND NOT GO TO DADDY KNOWING THAT IF HIS ON DRUGS, DRUGS CAN MAKE U DO ANYTHING YOUR NOT ON YOUR RIGHT MIND AND I THINK HE CANT EVEN REMEMBER THE LAST TIME HE WAS ON HIS RIGHT MIND ...LIFE CUT SHORT....

I've known about RUFUS ATCHLEY BY FRIENDS OF HIS IN PEDRO AND AT WORK, BUT DONT KNOW THE MAN, AND DID NOT DESIRE TO KNOW HIM. HE'S BEEN HOOKED ON DRUGS FOREVER.(JUST ASK WHY DONT HE HAVE COUSTODY OF HIS YOUNGEST DAUGHTER)THE OTHER 2 WERE IN AND OUT OF HIS LIFE,THEY WERE ALWAYS BUMPING HEAD OVER THEIR CHOICE'S OF MEN AT A VERY (UNDER AGE) YOUNG AGE, AND THERE NO SAINTS JUST LIKE HIM THEY HAVE ALSO HAVE OR HAD THERE DRUG USE PROBLEMS, DOWN TO RUFUS'S WHOLE FAMILY..SISTER,DAUGHTERS,NIECES,NEPHEWS,BROTHERS NOT JUST FRIENDS FROM WORK!!IF YOUR INTENSIONS ARE TO TALK GOOD FOR HIM OPEN UP THE CLOSET,"LET THE SCKELETENS LOOSE" FOR WHAT I KNOW HIS DAUGHTERS DID NOT WANT NOTTHING TO DO WITH HIM SEVERAL TIMES. GOD ONLY KNOW HOW MANY TIMES HE WENT TO REHAB FOR TREATMENT,BUT DID NOT TAKE HIM MORE THAN ONE WEEK AND HE WAS ON A ROLL AGAIN.HIS TIME WAS RUNNING OUT BECAUSE HE HAS STRIKES ON HIM ALREADY FROM BEING IN PRISON BEFORE AND IF U KNOW ABOUT STRICKS THEN U KNOW WHY HE GOT THAT RAPP. SO STOP MAKING HIM LOOK LIKE A NICE GUY,WHY DID HE DO WHAT HE DID WELL HE WAS DEFENDING HIS DAUGHTER OVER A STUPID GOSSIP HE HAD JUST HEARD,,,AND HE RUNS INTO ROB OUT AND ABOUT..THE GOOD GUY IT SEAMS TO BE ROB. HIS DAUGHTERS ARE OLD ENOUGH TO GET INVOLVED WITH DIFFERENT MEN, WELL THANK UR SELF FOR WHERE YOUR FATHER IS AT, AND STOP BLIAMING THE LAPD. AND YES JUSTICE IS NOT GIVING TO YOU WHEN YOU DON'T DESERVE IT.MY ONLY SINCERLY REGRETS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO ROB'S FAMILY..TO U THAT DONT WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT "ONLY YOU KNOW WHAT TRIGGER RUFUS "THE MURDERER" TO DO WHAT HE DID. HE COULD HAVE JUST FAGHT LIKE A REAL MAN OR JUST WALK AWAY!!!!!!!NOW HE KNOW IT WAS NOT WORTH IT.AND TO YOU, YOU WILL LIVE WITH THIS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE..COM ON LETS BE HONEST YOU KNOW HE MAIGHT NOT COME HOME. NOT JUST FOR KILLNG "ROB" BUT FOR HIS RAPP SHEET, HE HAS TO STRUGLE IN PRISON WITH PRISONERS HE DID WRONG.THATS WHY HE WAS AFFRAID TO GO BACK TO PRISON..ROB REST IN PEACE DID'NT KNOW YOU, BUT YOUR LIFE WS CUT SHORT OVER A DADDY'S GIRL,IF SHES OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE CHILDREN AND DO DRUGS ALONG WITH THE ATCHLEY FAMILY SHE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF HERE MISTAKES AND NOT GO TO DADDY KNOWING THAT IF HIS ON DRUGS, DRUGS CAN MAKE U DO ANYTHING YOUR NOT ON YOUR RIGHT MIND AND I THINK HE CANT EVEN REMEMBER THE LAST TIME HE WAS ON HIS RIGHT MIND ...LIFE CUT SHORT....

Another sad drug story in San Pedro. It amazes me that so many people question the professionalism of a special weapons and tactics team. As a military member performing patrols in enemy countries we feel the edge of danger - responding to a shots fired - homicide call with armed suspect? You go on high alert - safety first - we all come home alive - god forbid granny is 95 and in a wheel chair - her felon drug infused son is armed, suspected of killing a man and refuses to come out peacefully - now the swat team are the bad guys because they have to RISK THEIR LIVES to secure the neighborhood which they are sworn to PROTECT from wackos on drugs.

War isnt pretty and neither is police work. When lives are on the line SAFETY comes first - the safety of the public - of the officers and those innocent folks caught up in the mess - those in the house can be just as guilty until the police question them - thus for SAFETY they go in guns drawn and ready to PROTECT. Risk your life for someone else sometime - then see how it feels when people say you were too "rough" going into an armed gunmans LAIR. Think of something beyond yourself for a moment and you might understand why the officers didnt hand you roses and ask you "pretty please" to step out side on a red carpet. There is no do over button if the officer catches a bullet from anyone in the house - this is for real. Your feelings do not have priority over the safety of the officers or neighborhood - they have a JOB to do. Its not personal - its for the safety of your father as well - being armed, a corrupt dept could have just shot him and been done - being taken alive shows the officers put the law in front of their feelings about his guilt.

My prayers to the victims family

Rufus is a great man he would help anyone in need and nobody talks about how the dead man laId in the street for an hour before leaving in an ambulance don't most folks make it to the hospital? There were cops there the whole time but the ambulance took him away usually coroners come but lapd had a thing out for rufus for a while..ever think tht maybe Rufus isn't a snitch but he knows what really happened at the drug house where the shootig occured? Anyone who knows him wld know it wld take something horrible to make a caring nice guy like him snap and do this..sometimes even the convicted are innocent