[BitWielder1]

"I'm not sure he gave full thought about what he had to do. He just acted."

Did the cop say that? Sheesh!
Unlike policemen who always have everything under control. Yeah, right.
The kid was probably scared out of his mind and he still did all the right things. Better than most adults.
What should he have done if he had given "full thought"?
Yea, I know, dial 911 and wait for the police. Somehow that seems insufficient.

I hope the parents don't get hell for the gun being accessible to a minor.

[The Antiyuppie]

“I hope the parents don’t get hell for the gun being accessible to a minor.”

Are you kidding? The media/police/bedwetters wouldn’t dare touch that.

[egfowler3]

About that quote and your comment... "... but this young man did exactly what he should have done," he said. "I'm not sure he gave full thought about what he had to do. He just acted."

In the context of the officer's remarks, it actually looks like he is actually giving the young man praise. After all, a well trained firearm user will, indeed, "just act". Until the training takes hold, the trainee must think through whatever he/she must do to accomplish the goal. This young man obviously knew what he was doing and ...

... did it.

Under pressure

And from a position requiring a shot downhill

that almost killed the perp!

I couldn't ask for anything more than that. He took aim, squeezed the trigger, and hit the target, taking out the target with only one shot! A Marksman in my book.

[The Antiyuppie]

“I’m not sure he gave full thought about what he had to do. He just acted.”

Even better - he didn’t shoot any house pets. What an idiot.

“Yea, I know, dial 911 and wait for the police. “

...and call Crime Scene Cleanup while you are at it, because their services will be needed after the CSI team leaves.