Honestly it really depends on the system used, as some are designed to be fired directly up to contact distances, and with those only the head would be considered a red zone strike.
There are several CA laws the officer has broken, and due to the way it was done, he should not be immune to any prosecution for it. as one cannot argue that randomly shooting a reporter in the ass is in anyway part of doing ones duty.
I am generally on the side of the Blue, but incidents like this are impossible to defend, and for betterment of the profession should not be defended but rigorously stamped out.
Strongly agreed and largely for the same reasons, save that I’m not familiar with California’s applicable use of force law.