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In Stockton, California, in December 2008, police chased a teenage male who had fled from a traffic stop at 2 a.m., crashed his car, and ran away on foot. They cornered the suspect in the back yard of a house in what police describe as a tough neighborhood.

A resident, one Melecio Arquines, came to his back door with a 9-mm pistol equipped with a laser sight. He reportedly aimed the laser at the struggling police officers, and was fatally shot.

The deceased was 30 years old, had a clean record, and was employed and married.

Investigations cleared the police of any wrongdoing.

In July, the widow of the deceased filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the police.

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I have three comments on this episode:

1. Opening a door at night with lights on inside makes one a perfect target. I don't know if that is what happened in this case, but it is what most people do if they're acting on habit.

2. Laser sights are not flashlights.

3. Outdoor lights are your friends.

- Jim