The reason those laws are in place is to disuade and punish wreckless and negligent behavior in whatever form it takes. This guy's action injured someone, could have killed them, and was unjustified. It was a materialization of that "wild west" display the grabbers predicted. It really shouldn't be encouraged, or dismissed.
Chasing down and shooting at a perp is one thing. Shooting with others in the fore, or background is another thing entirely.
I've watched you argue that on this thread, and it's a compelling argument for any civil case, and I am a person who downright ~loathes~ the state of the civil case in this country. We are too sue-happy when anything bad that happens makes us see $$$$ immediately.
We don't have ~all~ the facts the jury did, but my philosophy is to not jail people as criminals for accidents. I have to make the leap to criminal intent before I want to take up jail space with a man like this.