The purpose is so that you can say "I feared for my life," and to avoid shooting him in the back. Back shots aren't a good look.We cannot play on h ypotheticals because that is what leads to people getting killed. The image shows the flashlight on the empty kids hands with his hands up. If the police said stop and put your hands up and shot him after he did it, then what is the purpose of asking the kid to stop and put his hands up if you were going to shoot him anyway.
Similar to the ole' jump in front of the fleeing vehicle,
fear for you life,
shoot the driver dead,
then jump out of the way of the fleeing vehicle, which is still moving.