People who are manic-depressive can still distinguish reality from fantasy, and respond appropriately to orders to stop, put their hands up, etc. Nobody shot this guy because he was "mentally ill", but because he was threatening to explode a bomb.
"People who are manic-depressive can still distinguish reality from fantasy, and respond appropriately to orders to stop, put their hands up, etc."
Depends, in some cases of bi-polar (type II) an untreated person can become quite irrational, have auditory and visual halucinations etc. etc.
I know this because I know someone like that. On their meds they are as normal as can be, but without them they would act very much like that guy.