Hughes suffered “non life threatening injuries” from the shots. So it appears that the cop shooter did not aim for the head or heart. Maybe a knee-cap would suffice. You don’t want to f*ck around when facing a knife.
She was behind a fence. If he was scared he could have sat in his car and locked the door .
This actually calls into question the officers judgment in deciding to shoot.
I don't know of any sound doctrine that teaches someone to “wing” an opponent with gunfire. If the officer was, in fact, shooting not to kill the officer apparently did not feel anyone’s life was endangered.
Shoot to kill, or don't shoot.
It sounds like in this case there were three frightened police officers that didn't know what to do; and the three didn't have the confidence they could overcome the woman who had whacked at a tree. One of them did something that turned out to be the wrong thing.
According to what is written, Hughes was:
Not threatening Chadwick. Was not threatening the cops. The cops had a physical barrier between them and she was not trying to climb it. According to their own report, she was “composed and content”. She just didn’t respond to the commands as quick as Kisela thought she should have. She was cutting into a tree with a knife which, last time I checked, isn’t a crime.
Shot her for no reason. I’d be curious to know, not that it would matter, if the cops had Taser’s. Even though, they would have had no legal reason to even use that on her.