Police in Utah gun down black cosplayer

[Shadowy Man]

But the cop didn't know it didn't work until after he tried to fire it. Now compare this to the guy who was shot in the store with a "toy" gun that wasn't loaded and never tried to shoot at the police.

No. The cop saw the guy try to fire it and fail.

The cop should have shot him before he had a chance to try to fire. That would be consistent with some of the police actions that people here are complaining about. And consistent with the attitude you have been projecting that a cop should not wait until he actually gets assaulted to dole out deadly force.

 

[fromderinside]

... a cop should not wait until he actually gets assaulted to dole out deadly force.

I recommend the pee test. As soon as a cop pees he can open fire.

 

[laughing dog]

... a cop should not wait until he actually gets assaulted to dole out deadly force.

I recommend the pee test. As soon as a cop pees he can open fire.

Um, if he pees, he has already opened fire.

 

[Wiploc]

http://www.sltrib.com/news/1758399-155/hunt-sword-schauerhamer-affidavit-officers-darrien

One woman said that from her vehicle, she saw Hunt swing the sword "very hard" at the officer before the two officers pulled their weapons and began firing. Another man gave a similar account.

It can't have happened that way. There isn't time to draw and shoot after a hard swing begins.

 

[Crazy Eddie]

I would think that there are pictures of him smiling and talking with the two officers is not particularly consistent with the theory the officers just decided to up and shoot him because he was black.

Or do you think they didn't realize it at first, but as they were talking to him they gradually realized he was black and decided to shoot him?

I'm pretty sure that the pictures of him smiling while talking to the officers and also the eye witness testimony that he was not swinging the fake sword are pretty inconsistent with the police officer version of events.

I am pretty sure that somehow, the police version of events will be accepted anyhow.

My biggest questions are:

a) How did things go from him smiling while talking to the police officers go to him being shot multiple times in the back?
b) How much did the fact that he was black influence the initial call to police and later, the police behavior?

It's not that hard, dude.

Police arrive. See black guy in the store with a sword.
Hunt: "Oh. Hey, officers! What's up?" ^_^
Cop: "Son, you wanna explain what you're doing here?"
Hunt: "On my way to a cosplay convention." ^_^
Cop: "A what?"
Hunt: "Cosplay. You ever heard of that?"
Cop: "I don't think I like your tone, Son. What are you doing in this store?"
Hunt: "I... uh..." <nervous laughter> "I just came in to buy some skittles..." ^_^'
Cop: "Do you always carry a samurai sword with you when you go shopping for skittles?"
Hunt: "It's not real," <pulls sword> it's just a To--"
Cop: <pulls gun> "DROP THAT SWORD! DROP IT! DROP THAT MOTHERFUCKING SWORD!" >_<
Hunt: "Oh shit!" O_O <runs>
Gun: <BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM CLICK CLICK CLICK>
Loren Pechtel: Clearly he was out of control and had it coming.