Visible crew/equipment: While Sid is interrogated at the Victory, there are only four men in the room - Sid, Bud, Dudley, and Michael Breuning. After Bud finds the photos in Sid's trunk he drives off, leaving Sid alone in the room with Dudley and Michael Breuning. When Sid is lying on the floor and says, "You can uncuff me now, fellas," we can see a crew member's right hand holding something, at the right side of the screen. (01:45:10)
Visible crew/equipment: When Ed Exley and Jack Vincennes are driving around looking for the alleged Nite Owl murder suspects, spotlights can be seen in the reflection of Vincennes' sunglasses.
Chosen answer: A 12g shotgun blast at that range would cause an incredibly bloody death, especially as there is a good chance it hit the man in the face. Exley has killed a person in the line of duty before this, but not in such a spectacular way. And while he may not have meant to kill him he chose to shoot over letting the man escape.
Grumpy Scot