First off, this has absolutely nothing to do with race -- anyone who says so is an idiot and just trying to drum up the "race card" with the LAPD. I am quite positive that the entire LAPD is not racist, and I would bet especially that the black officers are not. So STFU about that already.
Second, perhaps the officers went to the front door, but no one answered? Also, since they received a noise complaint, they were probably trying to assess the extent of it by looking around the house. It's difficult to say without more information.
<< he was standing looking through a window. it is his DUTY to make sure of the circumstances before unloading on someone. >>
WTF? Someone pulls a gun on a cop, and it's his duty to assess the situation calmly and collectedly while his life is about to end (potentially)? Bullsh|t. The cop has the right to defend his life if he feels it's threatened. The guy who was killed was apparently NOT in a costume, at least not one that would lend itself to having a gun (black shirt, tan pants) so it wasn't like he was dressed as a soldier and was carrying a plastic M-16.
What I love about this discussion is that people sit their fat asses in their office chairs and critisize a cop for defending himself when he puts his life on the line every day when he goes to work. Dying is a very real possibility for a police officer, much more so than an IT worker or an office worker. It's fine and dandy to say, "Oh, I would have done X instead of Y." Well, you weren't out there, and since the LAPD is completely villified right now, it's quite easy to imagine this officer as being painted in the worst possible light by the reporting press since that maintains their witch hunt and sells more papers. Keep in mind that the allegations against the LAPD involve setting up convictions, not killing people. We can leave that to psychopaths like OJ -- oh, wait, the LAPD, the Sheriff's office, and the DA are all racist so he's innocent.
DAM: Read the article you cite a little better. Here's the relevant portion:
<< Lee saw Hopper outside and allegedly pointed the toy gun in his direction, she added. >>