There are two things that amaze me about this story.
First, that the FBI wants you to believe the latest version of their story about how Ibragim Todashev presented a threat, after the story has changed 2 times already.
FBI sources say Ibragim Todashev, a friend of accused Boston Marathon bomber Tamarlen Tsarnaev, was unarmed when he was shot and killed by an FBI agent during questioning at an Orlando apartment last week.
Sources said Todashev might have been lunging toward a sword, but he was not in possession of it.
[snip]
Sources said a sword was inside the apartment, but the weapon was moved to the corner of the room before questioning began.
And we’re to believe FBI protocol suggests you move the swords to the corner of the room, but no further, while questioning a dangerous witness.
The other thing that amazes me is that reporters still parrot FBI claims that Todashev was confessing to the 2011 Waltham triple murder — was in the process of writing up his confession, in fact! — when he suddenly turned violent and not just refused to keep confessing but lunged for the sword place in the corner of the room.
But really, he really was confessing. He just reached for the sword because it was the Waltham murder weapon and thought it better to sign the “confession” with that weapon.
Or something like that.
Update: I’m guessing this detail comes from Massachusetts cops who are unwilling to be dragged into FBI’s stuff.
An official said that according to one account of the shooting, the other law enforcement officials had just stepped out of the room, leaving the FBI agent alone with Todashev, when the confrontation occurred.