I agree that the best thing to do would have been to subdue the kid without killing him. However, that takes a cool head, lots of skill, and a lot of luck to manage it so that neither the officer nor the kid gets hurt. Are there people who could and would have disarmed him without anyone getting hurt? Yes. Is it reasonable to expect every police officer to be able to do so in that situation? No. Police have been known to use excessive force, but this isn't an example. If you attack a police officer, there's a decent chance you'll get shot. I hate that, but I'd probably shoot him too. I wouldn't want my kid to grow up without a dad because I got brained with an iron. Or worse, for my family to have to support a brain-damaged ex-cop for the next 50 years.

Think about this, Fu. If a clearly out of control policeman came after you with a night stick, and you were armed, would you shoot him? I bet you would. And if you did, I'd be on your side.