Should the man's race have anything to do with this story? Maybe not - unless the members of law enforcement have a history of being more patient (and figuring out as they did in previous calls for this man how NOT to resort to using their guns)  with mentally ill who are white (and closer to middle class than homeless - and there have been articles about how homeless who are mentally ill are treated - and it's not good). If that is the case, then race (and economic status) may play into it. 

The real story is the treatment of the mentally ill - and it's a nationwide issue. I don't know what the answer is; however, it appears that at least Parker, CO is going to try something new. See "Mental illness calls on the rise in Parker, police start different approach to fight the problem" on Channel 7's site. I wish them well with the new approach and hope it can be a template for other law enforcement departments if it does.