Federal troops in LA:
The Los Angeles (LA) riots were the most destructive civil disturbance in US history, causing the deaths of at least 54 people and more than $800 million in property damage throughout LA County.[6] More than 10,000 troops from the California National Guard (CANG), 2000 active component soldiers, and 1500 Marines were deployed to the area at the height of operations:
The 1992 Los Angeles Riots
Lessons in Command and Control from the Los Angeles Riots
Lieutenant Colonel Christopher M. Schnaubelt
1st Battalion, 185th Armor Regiment
“Police officers responded to a domestic dispute, accompanied by marines. They had just gone up to the door when two shotgun birdshot rounds were fired through the door, hitting the officers. One yelled `cover me!’ to the marines, who then laid down a heavy base of fire. . . . The police officer had not meant `shoot’ when he yelled `cover me’ to the marines. [He] meant . . . point your weapons and be prepared to respond if necessary. However, the marines responded instantly in the precise way they had been trained, where `cover me’ means provide me with cover using firepower. . . . over two hundred bullets [were] fired into that house.”
http://www.militarymuseum.org/LARiots1.html
Only if you know nothing of American history. The NYC draft riot was much worse, with somewhere between 120 and 2000 killed. Also much greater destruction of property, if you allow for inflation.
Then there was that little thing at the same time called the Civil War, which was quite a disturbance.
Your story is an excellent example of the difference between police and military. Which is why you should never bring military into a law enforcement role. Only use them when it is actually necessary to suppress rebellion, etc. which is a military role. And when you do, expect them to behave as they have been trained.
OTOH, many of the police are becoming increasingly militarized, which is why we have more and more examples of police overkill.