Laquan McDonald shot by Chicago police officer in October 2014. Viewer discretion is advised.

Before the pundits begin exhaustively twisting this event up for ratings/political purposes and to generate more outrage against the police for the soundbites, let's take a look at this event.

I am no apologist for anyone, but I prefer to let my mind analyze what I see and hear rather than let my emotions direct my thoughts. I also have experience analyzing these types of events and will offer an opinion below, again based solely on the evidence of the video. Naturally, additional evidence will more fully inform my opinion, but since so many others feel no need to restrain their thoughts/opinions until all the evidence is presented, I figure my opinion at this point will have as much validity as anyone else's.

Be advised, this is the first time I have looked at the video. I have no further information about this case, so my observations are based solely upon the video tape. There is also no audio provided, so we are missing another important piece of evidence, as well as other contributing facts that may have influenced the officers' perceptions/state of mind.

Upon first look, a number of things appear to happen and, as usual in these types of events, they happen very quickly.

At around 5:15, the suspect is seen running with his hands in pockets or near belt line, possibly pulling up pants or retrieving something.

5:20-- Suspect's right hand visible with object apparently in his hand.

5:21--Officer stops cruiser and opens his door.

5:25--Two officers are on street, pistols drawn. Suspect keeps moving; it appears as though a shiny object is in his right hand (it reflects the light), held away from officers' line of sight.

05:27--suspect quickly turns toward officer, object still in right hand. First shot/s fired (evident by suspect's physical response).

05:30--Suspect is down, lying on right side, facing toward officers, still moving. His arms are extended in the direction of the officers.

05:42--Suspect still moving, appears to be doing something with object in his hand, shots fired (evident by puffs of smoke, possibly rounds hitting pavement).

05:46--Officer kicks the object out of suspect's hand.

06:25--Suspect still moving on ground.

Based on the video and reports that the suspect was armed with a knife, it appears one of two things happened.

1) The officer who shot the suspect decided that he was going to murder the suspect, executing him on a well-lit, public way with numerous witnesses and video cameras running. For a first degree murder charge, the officer would have had to have made that decision knowingly and with intent, and been acting without lawful justification.

OR

2) The officer perceived that the suspect was armed with something that presented an immediate deadly threat to him and others and employed deadly force as he was trained to. A knife at 10 feet is absolutely deadly as anyone with any real world experience understands. However, once the suspect was down on the ground, the knife would present no reasonable, continuing threat. A handgun would, however. If the suspect was armed with a handgun, the officer's actions would be absolutely justified. Once the suspect was on the ground, his furtive movement with the object in his hand could be perceived as a threat, if the suspect was trying to fire the gun at the officers in front of him. In that case, the shooting of the downed suspect would be justifiable. Was it a handgun? Apparently not. Could the officer have perceived it to be a handgun? Absolutely. There is much evidence and research that documents "MISTAKE OF FACT" shootings.

So of the two possibilities, which makes more sense? Cold blooded murder in front of witnesses and cameras, or a mistake of fact shooting with no criminal intent upon the part of the officer?

As more evidence is provided on this matter, it would be a nice change if we could let our minds decide, and keep our baser emotions under control.

Or we can follow the recently established National protocol of rushing to judgment, condemning the officer and all police officers, and nodding in sympathy as the mobs burn and loot.