You have gotten back to the crux of this case.
The debate of what happened is still raging. Facts are slowly being distributed and confirmed. It may not be as the media first portrayed it, and is not likely to be exactly the way the witness (a collaborator in the robbery) stated.
I think most rational people would agree with what you just said. Which incidence will be true remains to be seen.
The crux of the issue I brought up was justification for use of deadly force and the seeming pass that the agents of the state get versus what we citizens would be arrested and charged for had we done similarly. I'm addressing the mindset among we the people specifically. Cops get a pass - a citizen will not, and that is okay and celebrated even.
I'm still curious as to WHY the cop had to shoot the kid dead if indeed he fired at him multiple times. He did not call for backup, chase the perp down to affect an arrest using a baton, mace or a taser .
If we have arrived at the point that agents of the state are given latitude to use deadly force whenever they feel 'threatened' - what threatens them will continually be redefined, until such time that a wayward look could earn an execution by the hands of the state, and it will be justified. Look at how many pet executions have occurred in the last few years.
It's a greased Toboggan to hell if that is what we are content with.