Comment on California sheriff releases bodycam video of killing of boy, 15, holding gardening tool

tygerprints@kbin.social ⁨8⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

It is not possible to know when you are confronted with coming at you holding a tool in a threatening manner whether or not he's autistic or "having a mental health crisis." An officer cannot afford to sit and wait to see if the attacker strikes him in the skull first.

I'm not saying this couldn't have been handled better and it should have been - but I can understand how it happens. Taking a reasonable amount of risk has to be balanced with instantaneous assessment of whether this person who's on a rampage is about to strike you or a family member in a lethal way. This may not be the happiest outcome, but people need to stop instantly criticizing every move the police make.

If YOU were the officer standing there having to make a snap judgment, you very likely would do the same thing, even if you think you wouldn't.

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