Claims that this was self-defense do not hold up. Watch the video closely. The ICE agent is no longer in front of the vehicle when he fires. He shoots through the driver-side window, which means his body is no longer in the vehicle’s path and he is not in immediate danger. You can clearly see this by the positioning of his feet.
Under real
law-enforcement standards, deadly force is only justified when there is an imminent, ongoing threat. Once an officer removes themselves from harm’s way, that justification ends. You cannot step out of danger and then continue firing and still claim self-defense.
Firing point-blank from the side of the vehicle, including three shots to the head, is not threat-stopping it demonstrates lethal intent after the threat had passed. No properly trained law enforcement officer or member of the military is taught to do this. Officers are trained to move away, create distance, seek cover, and de-escalate not surround a vehicle, provoke a situation, and then claim fear.
You can watch the videos for yourself. Trump’s response (don’t trust your own eyes) echoes George Orwell’s 1984: “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
Shooting through the driver-side window when you are no longer in front of the car is not self-defense. That is murder.