I watched his testimony after the fact on youtube so could rewind and his detailed and measured account of every single movement and word spoken around the shooting, to me, seemed way too rehearsed and deliberate. In moments like that I don't think people retain that kind of frame by frame detailed memory of every movement they made and sequence of words spoken etc. Unless they are trying to create a story that lines up with a particular defense I mean. It rang very choreographed to me.
I found that being in a situation similar to that, everything went in slow motion and I was more detailed in my first account. Trauma and/or shock can black it out in some cases, like car accident victims, but what I saw in MD's first interrogation was probably about as close to the truth in this situation as he was going to get..........he was not at all phased until the "imagined weapon" turned into a myth.
I also don't know how he passed and received his CCW:
When you have reason to shoot at a human being or human occupied object, and you DO fire, you must:
1. Notify LE
2. Stay at the scene if it is safe
3. Secure your weapon
4. When questioned by LE, responses of all the following:
a. I was in fear for my life (or 3rd party)
b. I am too traumatized to make a statement
c. I want a lawyer
*Note:
IF you draw your weapon, you shoot to kill. No warning shots, once your weapon is out of it's holster your intention is to kill.
Standard Operating Procedure. Most CCW classes are taught by working or retired LE, and they drill this into you.
"This s**t is going down" or whatever variant Jordan supposedly said did not include "I am going to beat you up", "I am going to kill you", or anything else specifically to bodily harm. Whether it was truly said, or just an embellishment on MD's part on the stand, it did NOT rise to the need for deadly force. Take into consideration that it was in the parking lot of a busy convenience store, it even seems more absurd.
JMO.