Shooting with intent to kill is a crime. Even when the cops do it. I would think the only time it's legal to shoot with the intent to kill is if you've been selected as a firing squad member after a guilty verdict and the resulting appeals.

Cops shoot with the intent to stop the threat. The fact that death often results after being shot twice in the chest and once in the head is strictly incidental to the intent. Even if he DID shoot someone in the arm or hand or hip girdle on purpose, it would be wise for an officer to still say he or she was aiming for their 5 ring. Wouldn't look good if they died and they testified that they were only trying to wound them.