True, but that information will only serve to spread the blame more broadly. How in the world could any LEO use a service weapon in a demonstration? This isn't a “oops,” like you get from the cops when then “inadvertently” shoot the family pet. As has been pointed out by other posters, there are a number of ways to insure that a “real gun” can't harm anyone. But for me, I would never allow any one to point a serviceable gun at me no matter what had been done to it. Familiarity breeds contempt.
If you do not think that grey-whiskers had provided a snarky remark, then read it again. We are all humans, even police and yes they do make mistakes, and deadly ones at times. But I still think facts are needed before we get to the kind of remark he made. That is just my opinion, in response to his opinion, and mine was just as snarky as his was. In fact it was meant as such.
This is so far beyond a pet that even mentioning a pet shooting is irrelevant. Some dogs can do real damage, just for the record. They can kill you in an instant with a lunge to your neck. Now that does not mean that every pet shooting is justifiable and I am not saying that either. I'm saying facts need to be ascertained to make informed conclusions, and not just snap judgments.
Right now this is a tragedy of epic proportions, and I want to know why it happened as it did. It sounds like stupidity, but before I actually go there I want to hear their explanations.