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Originally Posted by drakers
It is kinda soon to assume the shooting was justified when all the facts have not come out. It takes a little longer than a day to make a case, usually it takes about a few weeks before they can determiine justification. I know what I said earlier says that I'm completely against the cops, but if one of them were outside the car or their was a pedestrian near by, I might understand the shooting. Maybe not the 10 rounds (unless it was a life or death situation). But they still need to interview witnesses and get all sides of the story. I wouldn't pin an opinion on one news report.
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It has been much longer than a day, this happened 2/6/05--there have been many, many stories about it.
The kid backed up about 20 ft to hit the patrol car. At night, in a bad neighborhood, this could be construed as intent, especially since they didn't know anything about the driver, the car is only listed as stolen at this point.
Backing up 20 feet to hit me tells me you are doing it on purpose. Now, after the fact, we know it was a kid who probably had no control of the car. The officer in this case, couldn't have known it so most likely took the event as an attempt to hurt him or his partner.
Now, the next thing is key for me.
After backing up 20 or so feet to hit the patrol car, the car moves more and hits the back of the patrol car as well.
Here is where I probably would have fired as well....
The kid pulls up virtually side-by-side with the patrol car.
With 20/20 hindsight, we now that the kid probably had no control of the car, was panicking and didn't want to hurt anybody.
For the cop, in a bad neighborhood, at night, being hit twice by this car....then the car pulls up along side....he probably felt that the guy was lining up for a shot. Most people would have stopped after hitting the patrol car once, if it is an accident.
The kid didn't stop though, he kept going. If I was the cop, I would think that something crazy is going on, that this situation is going from bad to worse very fast and then begin to take steps to protect myself.
I've been in patrol cars in this area, you are a friggin' target.
That is why I think it is justified....not because of the story linked on the first post.