Heroic vets like Chris Mintz share a long history. Note the roles a former Marine and an armed citizen took in this infamous tragedy.

"As this was occurring, former Marine, Gary Dean Kness, entered the scene, saw what was happening, and courageously moved in to assist. He picked up [CHP Officer] Alleyn’s dropped shotgun, pulled the trigger, and realized the gun wasn’t firing. He pumped the action and was returned with a measly empty “click.” Realizing now the 870 was empty; he picked up Alleyn’s dropped revolver, carefully aimed at Bobby Davis, and fired. However, the .357 Magnum bullet from Alleyn’s S&W apparently encountered the Pontiac first, because all that hit Davis was a bullet fragment that caused a superficial chest wound. Kness triggered the dying state patrolman’s .357 again, but it clicked on a spent casing. Knowing he now had no way to fight back, Kness sprinted to cover."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh95SWjziBA
https://americanhandgunner.com/new-info-on-newhall/