Case v. Montana · ¶9

Once the chief came, the officers conferred and decided to enter the house “to render emergency aid.” Id., at 198. In the best-case scenario, they hoped to “talk [Case] down” and prevent any injury. Id., at 174. But given J. H.'s account, the officers considered as well another possibility—that Case had already shot himself and might be “in there bleeding.” Id., at 85. At the same time, they worried that if Case remained unharmed, their entry could spark a confrontation. See id., at 174, 192–193. So they equipped themselves with long-barrel guns and a ballistic shield before going in.

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