[JusPasenThru]

This doesn’t sound funny to me, either. The police were aiming center mass and shot too low. This does not imply Japanese soldier-style torture. It reflects human behavior in a scary, lethal situation.

Having said that, there’s something wonderfully karmic about the whole thing.

[AnAmericanMother]

I'm sure it wasn't deliberate. It's pretty common to overcompensate for shooting high in a stress situation, you're thinking "keep the muzzle down. keep the muzzle down." I've shot low many a time in combat pistol and cowboy action, where the targets don't shoot back (barring the occasional ricochet).

If the fellow was in a crouching position over his rifle, still more likely.

But I profoundly disagree with any idea that the sheriff should be in the business of making nicey-nice after a criminal threatens his deputies. This is not Miss Manners, and you need to stop feeling sorry for people who threaten law enforcement.

If I recall, this particular sheriff is known for his tell-it-like-it-is press conferences.