I have little doubt that the dynamics above apply to some people in some situations. But as far as what we're currently seeing from ICE - and particularly the 2 murders - I think that it mostly doesn't apply. Quick thoughts:
- Again, the Good shooter had a lot of experience and training. The only counter to that might be that his military experience (especially) and ICE training/experience didn't prepare him terribly well for the policing situation that morning with Good.
- I don't think that either of the 2 murder situations are very well-described by your bolded words above. People around on sidewalks, but not a big, close, immediate crowd during the 2 incidents. In the Good situation, it was only immediately Good and her wife. With Pretti, it appeared to mostly just be him and the 2 women (who, at the end, could barely even stand up on the ice and snow and I don't think were making any agents terribly nervous). And in both situations, agents outnumbered the civilians.
- As I said, the dynamics you describe above no doubt apply SOME of the time. But between what I'm guessing is a fair number of experienced ICE agents who are enjoying being tough guys, a bunch of new, poorly-trained ICE agents enjoying being tough guys, and both of those groups being told very explicitly that they're immune from consequences, I think that right now, in Mpls, at least, they're mostly just enjoying being tough guys, and especially when they're not in significant crowds of protestors, as was obviously the case in the 2 murders.
- Lastly, it was not until later today that I realized that a number of the (up to 10?) shots were taken AFTER that group of agents had stood up and backed up from the victim. At least one of the agents appears to be standing in that line abreast group of agents pumping bullets into his isolated body lying 6-8 feet away. Virtually impossible for me to see that in anyway explained by agents being in a scrum and reacting poorly. It looks much more like a simple firing squad.