Both cops should know where each is, basic teamwork, not presumption. As a member of a team, it's my job both to let my teammates know where I am, and to be aware of where they are. As a guy who has spent more than 30 years on weapon load teams and has spent over 4,000 hours as a crew member on military aircraft, I do speak with a little authority on how teams should work. No presumption on my part as to what the kid knew. He had no idea where he was going, if indeed he was actually trying to go anywhere or was just startled. Not part of a team, a squirrel, really, who should be counted on to do one thing, the unexpected, that's what civilians faced with unexpected stressors do, since they have no training.
I'm saying the officer were sure they were in a combat situation, active shooter training doesn't leave any other option. A or B. No C to allow for the stupidity of civilians. Should the officer let a shooter get away? Of course not. that presumes it was a shooter, of course. Its' that presumption I challenge. Not shots fired, no wounded people on scene. You say he had a second. Long enough to actually analyze what the "shooter" was doing. "Hmm, he's on a cell phone, lets see what happens, but if he raises the weapon, I'm firing" If the bad guy has his weapon pointed at the floor, and you have yours drawn, I would think you have the second. And yes, I've had training under stress, so I know it's hard to make those calls. But that's WHY we train under stress.
