[erkelly]

I agree. This was inexcusable. In fact, it was murder. They should have disarmed her. There were plenty of things they could have done short of shooting her dead with a barrage of bullets. Had she been in a hospital setting, and gotten hold of a knife, hospital security and hospital personnel would have gotten the knife away from her, restrained her, and likely without any injuries. Part of a police officer's job and training should be dealing with people with mental health issues who may sometimes in their psychosis be brandishing a weapon. Further, it should be a matter of policy that no one is allowed to commit suicide by cop unless circumstances are such that it is completely unavoidable; a 17-year-old girl with a knife is not that situation, a terrorist with automatic weapons and plenty of ammunition is.

[MortMan]

So you flatly reject self-defense?

That is the position you have outlined.

[pleasenotcalifornia]

Thanks for writing me back, It is upsetting to me to think police who are sworn to protect and serve are so ready to pull the trigger. I’ve have plenty of friends who were cops and I’m sure they would not have shot to kill, and in a group of three they would have been more than capable of disarming the girl.