Sure. I didn’t say they shouldn’t fire at a charging car’s driver. I was just contemplating that getting out of the way seems the more sensible choice. Different from a knife wielding perp who can stick and move and slice many times the car can’t turn on a dime. Shooting the driver is not likely going to stop the path of the car the way it would stop the person. Their own safety would require them to move a few steps aside even if they shot him. Though interestingly I met a guy many years ago who was shot several times by police in a case of mistaken identity. He was just leaving a restaurant parking lot with his girlfriend when the police arrived on scene and thought he was attempting to run them down. He had several bullet holes in his arms, legs and torso. I’m surprised he lived. Got a fat settlement from the city.
I read what was posted, article said one of the cops was hit by the car. I don’t know if they shot first or during or after. I don’t think we disagree, I just question the wisdom of firing at a car that is already passed by. Give chase perhaps. Was he a continuing threat any more than one of those chase scene guys the local news likes to put on the air? They don’t generally shoot those guys during the chase.
But I don’t know all the facts and adrenaline happens. Same time, we don’t know the suspect’s frame of mind either. Seems he wasn’t fleeing the scene of a crime he was just a suspect in a previous crime so did he know these plainclothes men were cops? A case for the training manuals for cops and robbers and lawyers I guess.
Thanks for the additional comments.
I can’t really address much of it with authority.
Interesting thoughts.