Mr.Shaggnificent wrote...
i seriously doubt they identified themselves as police, or gave Guerena a chance to say anything or even raise his weapon before they started shooting.
You got bad info there. I live in Tucson, AZ (which is where this happened) And so I know the website for the local news. And on there they have a video taken from a helmet-cam. Of one of the SWAT officers that was covering the Officers that went in.
In the video, Before they swat officers start moving towards the door of the house. They blare the Siren of the SWAT vehicle parked on the street about 20 feet at most from the front door. After that they get into position around the front door. Then an officer knocks on the door and check to see if the door was locked. Once the Officer is back in position near the door. Then if you turn the volume up ( and listen to the voices over the nearby engine running) You can clearly hear them stat "Police, Open the door." Then a few seconds later they break open the door. Then they move into the house with an officer with a shield (with "Police" Written on the front) moves in first. 6 seconds after they enter they open fire.
Here is a link to where you should be able to get to the video:
http://www.kgun9.com/story/14736691/raw-video-pcsd-helmet-cam-clip-shows-swat-raid-and-firefight?redirected=true
Now do I think it was right for them to open fire first , NO.
Do I think that they did evrything correctly to give Guerena time to put his weapon down and not be shoot, Yes.
The cops did everything right (Except for firing first), They Identifiyed themselves before going in. They gave Guerena time before they went into the house to be ready and surrender, but instead he points a gun at them and says "I have something for you."
Truthfully this could have turned out differently. People are going to see it there own way. Some are going to say the police were to rash in there movements and did not do things they should have. Others are going to say that the police were right in how they did things.
And you know though it makes me kinda sad to say this about my own hometown. But your talking about a Sheriff's SWAT team in a County Whose Superior court system in it found the guy that shot Congresswoman Gabrille Giffords and killed 6 people "Mentally Incompetent to stand trail".