Stabbed, Then Shot

[Ben]

Man, this was an off-duty cop, but this could happen to anybody. The victim's wife, possibly because she was a cop's wife, seemed to know what to say on the phone with 911, but to no avail, apparently. The victim was first stabbed by the criminal, then shot by the responding cop.

https://idahonews.com/news/local/deputy-shoots-kills-off-duty-vancouver-pd-officer-who-fought-robbery-suspect-at-his-home

[WLJ]

Literally Blue on Blue 

[MechAg94]

Lots of stuff to take apart on that one.  I hate to criticize the dead, but he was in his driveway with a gun trying to detain the guy.  The guy managed to stab him without being shot.  Then he was trying to get into the home and he still hadn't shot the guy.  Was his gun unloaded?  A taser would have been better if he had been willing to use it.  The cop who does use his pistol ends up shooting the wrong guy.   

[charby]

Then he was trying to get into the home and he still hadn't shot the guy. 

I don't know the laws of Washington state, but there may not be a castle doctrine law there.

[MechAg94]

I don't know the laws of Washington state, but there may not be a castle doctrine law there.

He had been stabbed and the guy was trying to get into the house where his family was.  I would call that a credible threat of deadly force.  No castle doctrine needed. 

[Ben]

Lots of stuff to take apart on that one.  I hate to criticize the dead, but he was in his driveway with a gun trying to detain the guy.  The guy managed to stab him without being shot.  Then he was trying to get into the home and he still hadn't shot the guy.  Was his gun unloaded?  A taser would have been better if he had been willing to use it.  The cop who does use his pistol ends up shooting the wrong guy.   

Certainly there is a lot to deconstruct regarding why the criminal wasn't down, one way or another, before the on-duty cop showed up.

[MechAg94]

Certainly there is a lot to deconstruct regarding why the criminal wasn't down, one way or another, before the on-duty cop showed up.

I agree that there is a lot we don't know.  The knife may not have been visible until he stabbed the guy.  He also may have only just gotten to the front door when the police showed up.

Just thinking about the "What would I do in that situation" type analysis.  What is the best course of action?  What are the consequences for taking action, not taking action, or doing it early/late?

[charby]

He had been stabbed and the guy was trying to get into the house where his family was.  I would call that a credible threat of deadly force.  No castle doctrine needed.

He was also a cop, perhaps he was trying to avoid shooting someone and the media circus to follow.

[MechAg94]

He was also a cop, perhaps he was trying to avoid shooting someone and the media circus to follow.

That occurred to me.  If that is the case, it didn't work out.  Hope his family can get through it ok. 

[charby]

That occurred to me.  If that is the case, it didn't work out.  Hope his family can get through it ok.

I concur