That's what you're supposed to do when taking on that kind level of responsibility. Not pushing your weight around and being a traffic or parking lot cop.
That being said, if I were the guy who was pushed to the ground, the second I saw the assault suspect back off, I would not have fired. Not too many people would continue an attack over something as insignificant as a parking lot squabble when you have a gun pointed right at you. And from my perspective, it's very likely that exactly what the assault suspect was thinking and why he started backing off.
Btw, I appreciate your honest response.
“That being said, if I were the guy who was pushed to the ground, the second I saw the assault suspect back off, I would not have fired.”
I agree. However, I recall reading an article where having video of these situations (well - it was an argument against having police video on all the time) - was that the video doesn’t capture what the shooter was thinking or seeing or experiencing. It may have just been an excuse so the police wouldn’t have to have cameras, but I think that there is something to it.
Having a jury (or us!) be able to watch a video in comfort multiple times - and/or slow it down is pretty unrealistic. It sure seems to me that the pusher was backing off, and just by producing the weapon it got rid of the threat.
But - I’m also not the guy with his head still wobbling from getting knocked on his butt, and who knows what part of the guy he was focusing on - or if he was focused at all?
As I’ve posted before - every action taken by all parties wasn’t the best one imho.
I would still like to hear more about the argument that man was having with the lady. From the looks from other people it was obviously a pretty loud one.
Sorry for the slow reply — have been away tending to my elderly Mom (more problems, some of ‘em “crazy stuff”, than I have time or inclination to list!!)
I also appreciate the discussion, and actually agree with you on many points:
The shooter indeed should have minded his own business in the first place. Or at most, call police and report the violation - maybe sneak in a pic from a cell phone as “evidence” and scamper away? That said, the physical assault by the deceased was also completely uncalled for.
I also agree that if in that situation (as the shooter) the second I realized the attacker is backing off, I’d not fire. I agree the assaulter was indeed in “discretion the better part of valor” mode once he saw the gun. His response (at that point) was very quick and correct, except that it was based on fear and instinct: “Back up and get out of the line of fire.” The problems are: 1) It happened very fast and the assaulter did not think or have time to think to get his hands up. 2) In that circumstance, as the “assaulted” I’m not so sure that I’d “process” quickly enough the attacker’s change of heart. The decision to shoot was already made, most likely when the attacker initially moved toward the shooter after the push. That is, the decision to “defend” is instinctive, strong, and quick. UNDOING that lacking a strong signal like hands going up, is not so instinctive, and requires some processing, analysis, whatever one wants to call it, while in a state of fear / surprise / shock / maybe even some “dazed and confused” (from hitting the pavement if naught else) and evidently took longer than there was before the initial decision was executed.
(I recall being blindsided, hard, in a couple different situations, years ago, and I don’t think I was “processing” clearly for SEVERAL seconds...)
Something else occurred to me: The assaulter’s move to the side could also be interpreted consciously or unconsciously by the defender as an attempt to flank.
I don’t think (but could be wrong) that the shot was “retribution”, as I’d expect such to involve multiple shots. The shooter seems almost... “stunned”, perhaps, after the shot.
Who knows — my main point is that expecting a clear, quick and correct response from a civilian (like myself?) in such a situation is expecting a LOT. That said, I certainly don’t regard this as a “good shoot”, other than that the shooter sure was accurate in a high stress situation: It was tragic and unnecessary, caused by stupidity on all fronts up to and including the “push”.
Anyway, I think I’m talked out on this one :-)
— have a great rest of the week.