[Dismas]

I mean, the police aren't in the wrong here. When all you have to go off of on a call is 'a man was spotted pointing a gun at people', you expect an armed suspect. And when that suspect then starts aiming what you believe is a deadly weapon at you, there's no reason you should be risking your life anymore in that situation.

And anybody who claims that you could tell that it wasn't a real gun, there's no way the police could have known for sure. Makeshift firearms do exist, and the police aren't in a position to walk over to the suspect and take a hands-on look at the supposed gun.

It's sad that someone had to die, but when you play stupid games like that, you're going to win stupid prizes.

Police are limited to their perception as well. What might look like a knife or a lighter from a still image, could look very different from a distance when a crackhead is waving it around.