I see your point. It looks to me that the deputy was spooked for some reason and simply unloaded into the kid at first movement, which apparently was the kid beginning to turn around.
However, in these days of drive-bys, gang wars, school-workplace-movie-mall shootings, home invasions, armed robbery, etc anyone is stupid to be walking around holding a gun, be it real or replica.
Gun range, ok. Paintball warfare area, ok. A known teen sporting area, maybe ok. Walking around on the street or otherwise in public? At least have it holstered or slung over your shoulder, not held at the ready. And at night, don’t do it at all.
It looks to me that the deputy was spooked for some reason and simply unloaded into the kid at first movement, which apparently was the kid beginning to turn around.
* * *
That was my initial take, that the deputy, who is a war veteran, might have some PTSD and be on the trigger-happy side because of it. His online stance of “take them out before they take you out” adds to my opinion that he was trigger-happy. (The other deputy, with several years’ experience although he was a trainee, did not shoot at all.) At a minimum, I’d like to see this guy off the street, and permanently at a desk job. I think he might honestly be guilty of manslaughter, though I doubt he’ll be convicted, if charged.
And I don't want to impugn the kid, but it's not like no one's ever been held up with a fake gun.
I'm as dismayed as anyone about the apparent trend with police shootings, but I can't get to the "every cop is a remorseless killer" mindset either.
If one is going to bitch about the way cops are acting, they also need to acknowledge the dramatic increase in the numbers of anti-social thug nutbags out there as well.
It sucks that good people are getting mixed up the predictable results.