My statement is accurate, though incomplete. Self-defense is "lawful" if you are reasonably in fear of an imminent threat that would cause severe or fatal injury. Cop's actions are "lawful" if they have a legal reason to be going after you and they use appropriate force in the arrest. A person can conceivably legally resist arrest if the cop is using force that is likely to cause severe injury or death, but that's obviously a very rare situation.
One, the cops used over 12 men at 3 in the morning or some other night time hour with flash-bang grenades and battering rams to surprise the people with no prior announcement of who they were. Because we live in the USA, have a constitution with a 4th amendment we don't expect cops to come charging into our homes at 3 in the morning without telling us.
Two, the no-knock was not reasonable. With two people on regular time the man could have been stopped at a traffic stop, then the house searched without having to worry about armed resistance.
Three, no attempt was made to see who was in the house before indiscriminate gunfire at the house was made by the cops. Total irresponsibility by the cops who are responsible for one of their own getting killed.
No-Knock warrants are used by police forces often just because they are fun to do. They are used to display force because being a cop is such a boring job usually that a little excitement seems like a good thing for morale.
The guy growing the weed, which is legal in some states, did not create anything like a situation that needed a no-knock raid. He was doing something illegal but it is also illegal to drive 80mph in a 70mph zone, I would not expect to be shot at for doing that. I believe that all illicit drugs are stupid and the drug laws should be enforced, but I don't condone killing for small time infractions of the law. The excuse for the raid was that he had guns. He probably had other legal substances in the house too. When cops start tearing down doors because someone owns a gun, legally I might add, then we are in a serious police state situation.
This was a simply senseless death, it is a wonder more didn't die. The perp in this case could have conceivably gotten off with a fine after a court appearance, nobody needed to die, this is outrageous. This whole senseless, stupid raid was not the fault of the weed grower. Cops need to use some common sense.