“I understand your point, but I can’t say I agree with it. I believe that all those bullet wounds in the back just wouldn’t fly. Even if the guy had the officer’s taser, there was no guarantee he would harm someone, especially in a deadly manner.
And I’m not one to make excuses for thugs, believe me.”
Oh, I agree 100% that, video or not, the officer should not have gotten away with it. I just happen to think that, in light of the police department’s statement before the video came out (which was made with the knowledge that the shots were in the victim’s back), he likely would have.
“no guarantee” isn’t the standard cops act by. Fighting with a cop, then taking his service weapon (and a taser is a service weapon) and running away with it means the guy is an immediate clear and present danger to the public, and justifies use of lethal force. Even if it means shooting the guy in the back.
Now imagine a scenario where the motorist takes the taser and runs away with it where the cop doesn’t shoot. Suspect steals a little old lady’s car, tasing her to do so. Which puts her into cardiac arrest and kills her.
Since the guy had already engaged in a violent physical confrontation with the cop, and was fleeing the scene, THAT’S the assumed scenario. IF the motorist still had the taser.
Which the video clearly shows he didn’t. And which the video shows the cop move to close proximity to the prone motorist.