Toronto van attack: How is the suspect not dead?

[oberliner]

The calm actions of a police officer who arrested the Toronto van suspect without firing a shot have prompted praise and, in some quarters, astonishment.

Video from the scene shows suspect Alek Minassian pointing an object at the officer and shouting: "Kill me!"

The officer tells the man to "get down" and when the suspect says he has a gun, the officer repeats: "I don't care. Get down."

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43876772

[Exotica]

1. because Canada

Oh, and him being not black helps.

[Heartstrings]

2. Sad, but true......nt

[Sherman A1]

3. Agreed

I’m sure that had much to do with his survival.

[True Dough]

4. I wonder what that object was?

I saw the clip and immediately thought the suspect was holding a gun. Did the police officer immediately discern that it wasn't a firearm?

[kedrys]

5. According to reports, the suspect was holding a cell phone. n/t

[True Dough]

8. Interesting

Satisfies my curiosity on that front. But it is remarkable that the cop showed such restraint.

[Orange Free State]

6. The symbol of the American frontier is the cowboy, a symbol of disorder.

The symbol of the Canadian frontier is the Mountie, a symbol of order. That’s about as much as you need to know about a big fundamental difference between the two countries.

[Blue_Adept]

7. De-escalation isn't taught in law enforcement in the US anymore

It's all about the militarizing of it for years with the gear and just the sheer amount of weapons out in the street that ratchets up that fear.