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“I read the article and it is another case of the police shooting and killing someone who was not a threat. So what’s your point?

And in this case, sure I’d approach him as an “unarmed police officer”. The worst he could do would be to run again.”
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Your “logic” works fine with you sitting in front of your computer AFTER THE FACT...KNOWING that there was no weapon in his back seat. So it’s EASY for you to imagine yourself as a valiant, fearless “unarmed police officer” approaching the guy to reason with him.

The cops, on the other hand, did not have YOUR luxury of KNOWING he was unarmed. What do you IMAGINE they were thinking the perp was rapidly reaching for? Perhaps a snickers bar or some popcorn? They had less that a handful of seconds to make a decision and they made the proper one, INHO. These officers have families to go home to after their shift.

Your “logic” works fine with you sitting in front of your computer AFTER THE FACT...KNOWING that there was no weapon in his back seat. So it’s EASY for you to imagine yourself as a valiant, fearless “unarmed police officer” approaching the guy to reason with him.

Shouldn't police know there was a threat before killing someone?

They had less that a handful of seconds to make a decision and they made the proper one, INHO. These officers have families to go home to after their shift.

And the unarmed suspect's family?

As with my previous point, my own personal opinion based on what I read is that the police reacted too quickly. I have seen the comments about how if they waited to see the gun it would be too late. First, in a situation the police would have taken defensive positions, probably behind the engine block of their vehicle. So the likelihood of him pulling a weapon out and shooting anyone before the cops took him down would be very, very remote.

I have been in these situations and we were even actually able to not kill a guy that did have a weapon. We never shot first and then asked the questions.

The philosophy of law enforcement has changed. Like someone else said, they were peace officers. Now the training is more aggressive and some innocents are dying.

Maybe I am a dinosaur but these types of shootings seem wrong to me. I am all for law and order, and I know the job is tough. But the citizens safety should come first.