Santa Maria Police Department officers responded to an armed car-jacking. An officer located the vehicle and a short vehicle pursuit ensued. The suspect crashed and climbed out of the vehicle, holding a gun to his own head. An officer involved shooting occurred. The suspect was injured but fled on foot and ran into a nearby business. The suspect tried to take a citizen hostage, but the citizen disarmed the suspect. The suspect was taken into custody.
Training Points:
Officers need to recognize the difference between a suicidal person and a person holding a gun to their own head for the purposes of delaying apprehension.
A gun in hand is a gun in use. Understand the science behind action vs re-action times and information processing times.