There are too many people, including some on FR, who love to second guess what cops do in such situations. It was dark, the dope disobeyed repeated commands, and had an object in his hand. How many who criticize cops would just stand there waiting to figure out what the guy was holding and what he intended to do with it? Apparently they are happier if it is a cop who ends up dead. No riots then, eh?
Let’s face it, the guy was on probation for robbery, ran and hid in the dark, was 22 arrested multiple times already, and God only knows what he did as a juvenile. He was on his way to being a lifetime criminal.