Bad shot cops

I don't understand much about this story of cops and robbers.

Houston police participating in a sting operation Tuesday afternoon opened fire on a vehicle that rammed their car, officials said.

No one was hurt in the shooting, which took place about 3 p.m. in the 5700 block of South Loop East. Officers with the auto theft division were conducting a sting operation using a "bait" car loaded with tires and rims when at least two people took the property from the vehicle and tried to flee, said Houston Police Department spokesman Sgt. Nate McDuell.

"They were attempting their getaway when confronted by officers," McDuell said.

At that point, the suspects drove toward the officers' car and rammed it, he said.

Fearing for their lives, two officers opened fire with a shotgun and pistol, McDuell said.

Two men were taken into custody and could face charges from assault with a deadly weapon to attempted capital murder, he said.

1. What kind of stakeout is it where the bad guys can take a bunch of tires out of one car, put them into another car, and start driving away before the cops on the stakeout intervene?
2. How far away are these guys that the cop with the shotgun missed? Far enough away to miss, but close enough that they think the bad guys tried to run over them?