[JimRed]

The guy probably thought he was being held up and grabbed his cell phone to call the police.

Doesn't everyone keep a cell phone under the car seat? < /sarc >

Does a cop in this position actually have to give the subject the first shot, does he have to wait until he positively identifies a weapon, or, as in this case, make a tragic mistake?

Do criminals typically identify themselves as police to freeze their victims? Would it be reasonable for the subject to believe so?

So darned many questions, but we may never be certain of the truth!

[Travis McGee]

From OCcupied Georgia said it very well.

Off duty means out of uniform. Once more the police get away with shooting a guy.

[zeugma]

does he have to wait until he positively identifies a weapon

If we're still citizens, yes. If we're just subjects, no.

[from occupied ga]

Doesn't everyone keep a cell phone under the car seat? < /sarc >

In that part of Atlanta if you have anything of value in plain sight it's an invitation to get your window broken and the valuable thing removed.

[American_Centurion]

Does a cop in this position actually have to give the subject the first shot, does he have to wait until he positively identifies a weapon

Cops should be held to the exact same standard as a CCW holder when it comes to a shooting. Can a cop shoot because he "thought" a phone was a weapon? Sure, but his punishment should be the same as a CCWs would if he made the mistake.