After viewing the dashcam, I would like to up my reference to the son from idiot to to something more like homicidal sociopath. He completely ignored the likely death toll from his actions and utterly unconcerned with injuries and destruction. He turned himself from a son arguing with this dad into a seriously deranged criminal. And, of course, he had to know the police knew (or would immediately) who he was. Hence his whole behavior was without utility. Imagine the upholstery cleaning bill for the driver of the car going through the green light from the right when the truck blew through the red. Then the wrong way on a one way street. I don't know where the cars recommending "back off" were. But seeing the video, I also have the question in my mind if I would have stopped the chase or continued it with serious concern that the son was a serious threat to the public even if they stopped chasing.
Also note, the chase was started by the felon. He most likely was not going to be a felon at that point, but he quickly fixed that. It appears he ran as soon as he simply saw a police car behind him. There was clearly no siren; lights unknown. How would he react if after pursuit ended he suddenly saw anything resembling in his mind at this point, probably anything with flashing lights) a police car. These are trade-offs and decisions that could be discussed for hours, but had to be made by the man on the sharp end in minutes and seconds. We can not realistically expect an adrenaline pumped person, who had been directly attacked, to make only correct decisions. Or even ones that would get the popular vote by armchair evaluators. Those who believe that is not true are either supermen or deluded. A competent examination on the scene will be needed and maybe a jury.
Regarding the shooting, no audio of officer demanding to turn off the engine. I am not sure I heard the engine racing, although it was running. Rather like having a a 4000 lb bullet in the chamber (note to some - no Pizza involved in this). Danger to officers; we can't see if the truck could go forward at the end. Had he repeated his previous behavior of backing into police cars he could easily injured or killed the officer getting out of the car that had pulled in front of the truck earlier (ending to the left front of the shooters car).
The way the son had behaved would be very hard to ignore if there was any chance that he would resume his actions in that relatively small area. It is very hard to second guess the thought processes of the shooter after repeated attacks and the exposed position of fellow officers. It is a tough call made in fractions of a second. I am not attempting at this point to decide the validity of the shooting. I also fully agree that our new "militarized" police forces have made more and more incredibly wrong choices. But the event is just starting to be investigated. And, of course, my conclusion does not really matter at all.
The post directly above this one was made while I was typing. That was my guess.
Also note, the chase was started by the felon. He most likely was not going to be a felon at that point, but he quickly fixed that. It appears he ran as soon as he simply saw a police car behind him. There was clearly no siren; lights unknown. How would he react if after pursuit ended he suddenly saw anything resembling in his mind at this point, probably anything with flashing lights) a police car. These are trade-offs and decisions that could be discussed for hours, but had to be made by the man on the sharp end in minutes and seconds. We can not realistically expect an adrenaline pumped person, who had been directly attacked, to make only correct decisions. Or even ones that would get the popular vote by armchair evaluators. Those who believe that is not true are either supermen or deluded. A competent examination on the scene will be needed and maybe a jury.
Regarding the shooting, no audio of officer demanding to turn off the engine. I am not sure I heard the engine racing, although it was running. Rather like having a a 4000 lb bullet in the chamber (note to some - no Pizza involved in this). Danger to officers; we can't see if the truck could go forward at the end. Had he repeated his previous behavior of backing into police cars he could easily injured or killed the officer getting out of the car that had pulled in front of the truck earlier (ending to the left front of the shooters car).
The way the son had behaved would be very hard to ignore if there was any chance that he would resume his actions in that relatively small area. It is very hard to second guess the thought processes of the shooter after repeated attacks and the exposed position of fellow officers. It is a tough call made in fractions of a second. I am not attempting at this point to decide the validity of the shooting. I also fully agree that our new "militarized" police forces have made more and more incredibly wrong choices. But the event is just starting to be investigated. And, of course, my conclusion does not really matter at all.
The post directly above this one was made while I was typing. That was my guess.