better way to handle these things, but I'm not sure they had much choice once the student advanced on a policeman (might have even been a policewoman). He said something like "you are done" and then made a pretty aggressive move. At that point the video was obscured by a tree.
One of the problems is that the student apparently called the police to start with reporting someone with a knife and "possibly a gun." So, police were on alert for an armed person when they arrived. The police kept yelling, "put the knife down" (it turned out to be a small pocket tool) and I even heard one of them say "it doesn't have to end like this," or something like that.
There has got to be a way to handle these things when someone doesn't have a gun and isn't trying to stab the policeman. Of course, the police don't know that when they arrive.
Heck, train them to lasso the person, stun guns, wax bullets, bean bags, loud sounds, calm talk (which I think they were trying in this case), dart gun, or something. But, since the police apparently didn't have those alternatives, I just don't think they had a lot of choice when the student moved aggressively. Now, if they had something else to use and didn't, it's a different story. Not sure a bullet to the chest was necessary, but darn that's a tough call from what I saw.
I found myself practically yelling at the TV, just put it down and put your hands up -- PLEASE.
Point is, I'm not sure a riot was justified. Apparently this student was a campus leader among LGBT students, and they were really upset the night of the shooting and I'm sure the next day.
These tragedies are just going to happen more often because so many people are armed today. You practically have to assume your pastor is wearing an ankle holster or has an AR15 under his robe, nowadays.
On the other hand, so many people are hurting.
Just Damn.
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