As the officers get out of the cruiser, Sassafras is lying on his side, on the ground facing them. Tuggle said investigators weren’t sure why he was on the ground, but that he had not been injured. Lippe points at Sassafras with his left hand and orders Sassafras to drop the gun in his right hand. When Sassafras fires his weapon at the officers, Foster and Lippe return gunfire. Tuggle said Sassafras fired the first shot.