Quote from Lucrum:
Obviously I wasn't there. So we only have the LEO's word on whether they actually told him to put down the rifle.
My main problems with this:
* Unless maybe the kid was 5'11" and 180 lbs, a 13 year old kid looks like a 13 year old kid. Why would armed cops probably wearing vests need to be in such a hurry to shoot a 13 year old kid, regardless of what they thought he was carrying?
* Simply carrying a rifle, even a real AK47 that's illegal in that locale, is not in and of itself a deadly threat. A threat justifying the use of deadly force. Unless the kid actually pointed the pellet rifle at them as if intending to shoot. They had no cause to open fire. If LEO's aren't willing to accept at least some risk of harm to protect the public. In this case a 13 yo kid. They're in the wrong profession.
Can you imagine if someone like me with a CCW permit had shot this kid instead?
The media would be screaming for my crucifixion and a ban on CCW permits to boot. What ya wanna bet these cops get a free pass? Like they almost always do.
I think the biggest factor in this tragedy (that was only mentioned in passing) was that a 12 year old kid shot and killed his teacher THE DAY BEFORE in the same town.
I can see how the cops would be a little quicker on the trigger with a kid carrying an assault rifle the very next day after that murder.
I think it comes down to this- did the cops "repeatedly" tell the boy to put down the weapon, or did they jump out of their vehicles and start shooting? I hope the truth comes out.