TheRiov wrote:
For the record I said "I question the decision" not "It was wrong"
I'm not certain either way. 14 shots fired in what is (by all accounts) a crowded McDonalds seems like a good place for a lot of innocent bystanders to be hurt. Wouldn't it have made more sense to let him get away and be caught later?
No, not really. Why are you bringing up the number of shots fired? It could be 1400 shots, what matters is control over the weapon. 14 shots is not a lot; that's less than one full magazine for some pistols.
Just because the McDonalds is "crowded" doesn't mean much either. Yes, if someone is spraying shots wildly, there's obviously a greater chance for someone to get hurt, but there were no automatic weapons that would encourage that kind of lack of fire discipline, the former cop obviously did not hit anyone but the criminal and probably because he knew he could make the shot, and the criminal, undisciplined as he might be is not likely to shoot at anyone but the guy shooting at him. I can't recall anyone who has blasted away randomply at bystanders while being shot at by someone else.
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I assume that both sides had the chance to fire a couple of shots (I'm sure we'll never know) I wonder if the former officer got a killshot right off the bat, and the gunman was shooting for a while before he lost consciousness and died-- Is that typically the case DE? That the fatal shot is exchange early but someone 'goes down shooting'?
That's possible, but it's hardly "Typcially the case". It depends what you mean by "kill shot". A shot instantly fatal? In that case a single, reflex action shot is possible, but unlikely. A shot that will prove fatal almost instantly? Again, a shot or two is possible, but the fatal wound will present rapidly. A wound that will prove fatal if untreated, or fatal beyond the time frame of a gun fight? (more than 15 seconds or so) Again, he might blast away, but if he does it will be at the guy that shot him, not all over the place, and people instinctively get down and take cover when guns get fired.
People get slaughtered by unopposed gunmen. Stray bullet killings are simply not that common.