How good are you at differentiating makes, models and colors of similar vehicles under poor lighting conditions? Look at the back window of the truck in daylight. It is shaded to the point you can't make out anything in the cab. Where was the sun at the time of the shooting?
You're right. They should have just shot everyone in every pickup truck.
That excuses why they couldn’t tell who was in the truck. Now, what excuses the fact that they opened up with their firearms while they were unable to tell who was in the truck.
If they could not identify the suspect, they should never have fired. That’s the bottom line - if they can’t identify they sure as hell can’t shoot.
LA got off cheap.