[kirklancaster]

This is a very sad day for the American Justice system, and it is a decision which does nothing to repair the severe distrust which Black Americans - rightfully - have for the forces of Law and Order, and one which will have grave repercussions in years to come.

In an age where the increasing phenomenon; 'Death By Cop', is recognised by all US Police Authorities, ALL professional policemen are thoroughly trained to 'Shoot To Stop' or 'Shoot To Wound' in order to disarm or incapacitate, and there can be NO excuses, no reasons, to 'Shoot To Kill' when the 'perpetrator' is a 12 year old child, especially one who - toy gun or not - did not actually attempt to shoot the 'weapon' he was holding.

Whether the actual time which had elapsed from the time the police arrived on scene to when they started shooting at this child, was 10 seconds, 20 seconds, or a minute is irrelevant to the facts that:

1) They immediately opted to 'Shoot To Kill' - not to 'Disarm' or to 'Incapacitate'.
2) The 'armed' child did NOT opt to shoot at the police. (Not that he could).

The above two facts are all that are REALLY relevant in this case.

Any mitigating arguments, that it was dark, and that the police did not know the weapon was a toy, have no substance when the child was CLEARLY dentifiable as a child, and that the child CLEARLY did not attempt to fire his 'weapon' at the police first, and when PATENTLY, no other measures but 'Shoot To Kill' were employed by the police.