[Victor]

Where does a cop draw the line? They could have just shot the guy in the leg, or used mace. He AND the rake would have gone down.

On the other hand, maybe the guy was just a real scumbag and deserved to die. I sometimes wonder if cops, in certain situations, simply become judge jury& executioner....and nobody knows the difference.

[americafirst]

Good point. I never quite understand situations like this where the officer clearly has the firepower advantage yet shoots to kill. But then again, I've never been there. But it just doesn't seem right in a situation where a guy is swinging a rake to shoot to kill.

[Dudoight]

yeah, your inclination is to wonder why they didn't just shoot him in the arm or leg....but, there is not enough real info in the story to assess completely. If the girl had a protection order...we don't know why. Cops used to be hammered for ignoring protection orders, letting the guy go ahead and beat or kill the wife or girlfriend. They are damned if they do and damned if they don't stop these nuts.

[The Coopster]

Totally unrealistic. You can't plan to shoot to wound. That's for Hollywood. Think about trying to hit a moving arm or leg.

I don't know all the facts, so I can't say that the LEO's weren't a little hasty. But if it gets to that point - for police or private citizen - center mass is your friend....

[AppyPappy]

During the KKK-CWP battle in Greensboro, a man was killed by a single blow with a 2X4.

This was a suicide here.

[Ghengis]

Where does a cop draw the line? They could have just shot the guy in the leg, or used mace. He AND the rake would have gone down.

Police do not train to shoot to wound. A police officer is trained to stop force with the necessary amount of force. If someone is using deadly force, a police officer is trained to stop this force with his/her own deadly force.

It could be easily shown that a garden rake could likely cause serious injury or death to the police officer. If he shoots, he shoots at center mass in the chest. Shooting that target area is most likely to stop the attack. The officer will now be required to demonstrate that deadly force was a necessary option based on the assault.

[usadave]

I sometimes wonder if cops, in certain situations, simply become judge jury& executioner....and nobody knows the difference

...or even cares, as in this case.