Ya know, sometimes i'm starting to wonder if i'm just totally out of touch nowadays. First of all, i absolutely love those who have never, whatsoever faced a dangerous situation saying "this is how this scenario should have played out." Don't even start about the "it was just a rake" sh!t. I don't give a damn if the dude was waving a toothpick at him, the cop has the authority (granted by we, the citizens of the state) to use deadly force. That is the down payment we give him, for the consideration of putting his life on the line in turn. Period, end of discussion.
Deciding whether using deadly force was appropriate, is for no one on this board to even speculate upon. That's the job now for a shooting review board, and almost certainly a jury. And quite a few who have posted have made it pretty clear that they would be disqualified from serving on that jury, for having passed judgement already. I have news for you, you do not have the full knowledge of the facts of this case, in order to be able to make that judgement.
It's real easy to say that from the comfort of a relatively stress-free modern day life, and even easier that you have all the information laid out in front of you, to think through the situation at your leisure. That officer didn't have that luxury. That doesn't necessarilygive him any justification or immunity for his actions. If, following (what will (hopefully be) a fair trial, our judicial system will take corrective actions, if the jury finds them warranted.
The potential of an honest discussion on racism, i feel, has already been poisoned by both sides. Those believing (correctly in some cases) that racism plays a role in how cops treat those in minority groups, have done their part... by choosing at times to defend some of the filthiest, undeserving, most evil scum of the earth, as "victims of racism." No, they are just guilty, face reality.
The other side is sometimes just as guilty... in their case, it is by saying that "how does race play into this story?" Well, often they are correct in asking that, but sometimes, it DOES matter.
I think we all can agree that this was a tragic story. Perhaps the outcome could have been a happier one. But, i'm curious if some of the posters honestly believe some of the things that they have said. I got the impression from some posts, they believe that an officer should intentially put his own life at potential risk, should a uncertain threat arise. As if there were some sort of cosmic scale, where the life of the cop doesn't quite equal the life of the accosted. This is totally fusked up. People of your mindset don't celebrate a cop who shows restraint in a situation, and ends up dead because of it, but cry bitter tears for the victim in a tragedy like this.
And i know you won't admit it here, but that's the reality of how some of you feel. And you are sh!t that don't deserve the protection that those same cops provide you. Maybe someday the cop that simply "backs away" from someone with a weapon, rather than confronting the perp, will be the one rescuing you from being harmed. Sort of cosmic justice...