It would be unexpected to be shot by a cop when innocently trying to get home. The short story “Identities” by W.D. Valgardson is about a man who leaves his house without a plan and gets lost in a sketchy neighbourhood. The man decides to call his wife from a store to apologize for being late for dinner and get directions. As he exits his car in a nervous and intimidated fashion because of his surroundings, he is stopped by a cop pointing a gun who has been searching for a thief with the same description as the man. The cop shoots the man as he is reaching into his pocket after being told to stop. The cop’s choice to shoot the man is justified when taking the entire situation into consideration. For instance, the location is a sketchy neighbourhood and the man is dressed the same as a suspect “unshaven man in blue jeans.” Furthermore, when the cop orders him to stop, the man reaches into his pocket without being instructed to do so which seems very suspicious when an “officer advances with a pistol in his hand.” Moreover, it is very fair of the cop to assume the man would pull out a gun and kill him. Accordingly, the cop follows his instinct to defend himself against possibly getting hurt; that is what cops are taught to do. Even though the man’s intention is never wrong, the car was not stolen and he is innocently trying to find his way home. From the cop’s perspective it is very fair for him to assume the man is going to pull out a weapon. To sum up, the mans appearance paired with his expensive car, the location and his action of reaching into his jacket gives the cop a good reason to kill the man.