“It is clearly illegal for cops to shoot and kill fleeing suspects, without provocation.”
The provocation was a belief that the cops had been fired on. In addition, it is legal for cops to shoot at any fleeing felon, such as someone who flees at high speed. In some places, the reckless endangerment of fleeing at high speed is itself a felony.
I haven’t read the judge’s reasoning in this case, but there must be something to it for him to decide that the events, no matter how out-of-bounds they were, we’re not enough to convict the cop.
see post #58.
The first article analyzes the judges reasoning.
The provocation was a belief that the cops had been fired on.
This is going to seriously increase my options the next time a car backfires near me.
Or not.