Final-Fan said:
Yeah, he was aware once the dad shows up with the gun. Unless he was keeping it in the same room the kid was in at the time, I doubt he was aware of what the dad was doing until he showed up with it. If he was in the same room and watched his dad rummage around and get out his gun and load it, why wait before trying to run?
Now the next part is pure speculation, but think about the scenario: drunk angry father enters room with gun. Running may provoke him to shoot, so the kid waits until he has an opportunity to knock the gun out of his hands and then runs. He fails.
Versus: drunk angry father enters room with knife. Kid runs. Maybe dad throws knife, if he does it probably misses, even if it hits it may not be with the blade and even if the blade hits the wound is probably superficial and almost guaranteed not immediately life-threatening. (I don't know much about throwing knives but this sounds the most likely to me.)
I doubt the father was able to get close enough to invade the kid's personal space before the kid was aware he had a gun. So a knife would be the same (doesn't sound like the guy was making any attempt to conceal the weapon, if anything the opposite is likely) and the kid could run away with minimal risk. No way the guy has such awareness and reaction time while drunk to see the kid about to bolt and lunge for him.
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No way someone drunk enough to use lethal force on their own child could aim well enough to hit the broad side of the barn. It was horrific luck on the part of everyone involved that he hit anything with a gun, let alone a lethal shot.
Your scenarios are not all encompassing, nor do they account for more than a few other scenarios. Dad positions himself between door and kid so he can get his vengeance before the kid bolts. Even a drunk can work this one out.
Really though this is the kind of conversation I was hoping to avoid. At least it is somewhat more relevant to the point I am making I suppose.
