[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Absolutely, in some circumstances. If, for example, you've just left a bank heist with a hostage at gunpoint and a police officer is behind you and has a clear shot and kills you, saving your hostage, that's justified. It's clearly an execution for something you may do - i.e., kill your hostage. But I doubt anyone would say that cop deserves to be tried for murder.

Obviously that's not the situation here. I'm just pointing out that there have to be some exceptions considered here. There are plenty of other examples of situations that might arise where you want the fleeing suspect shot because there's a reasonable chance he "may" hurt other people if you let him go.

That's kind of the point though.
I don't think people generally have an issue with cops using deadly force where there is an immediate, and real threat to themselves or another person. Sure that's something that "May" happen, but the real issue is the IMMEDIATE part.

Someone holding a gun to a hostage is an immediate threat. Go ahead and shoot him for what he may do.

Someone running away from a cop with a non-deadly weapon is not an immediate threat, nor is he any type of mortal threat at that point.