He had no idea that the guy was 70.

When he pulled out the cane it did look like a long gun.

When one is in a potentially deadly situation, if you see a "weapon" you protect your self. period.

Any one of us in a similar situation would have fired.

This "may" be a symptom of the cop culture where everyone is a potential threat, but really.....it's dark. Guy GETS OUT OF THE CAR, and reaches for a long black object. If it was a gun and the officer did not end the threat, he would be dead.rifle/shotty beats a pistol 100% of the time.