A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A POLICE SHARPSHOOTER

Special weapons and tactics, these are the police officers cops call, when they need help. And many times the calls play out without a shooting. But that was not the case on the night of Febuary 1, 2005. Murder suspect, Bobbie Miles is cornered by Tampa police. Sandra Soley, a mother of four, is being held hostage at gunpoint. Negotiators tried talking the suspect in to surrendering, but he would hear none of it. At the same time two snipers, Bennett and his partner, were taking position, waiting. But after two hours, things begin to deteriorate, a dangerous situation gets worse. Then the unthinkable happens.

John Bennet, Tampa Police sniper Captain:
"He chose to start a countdown to taking her life right in front of her family."

Reginald Roundtree, 10 News Anchor:
"How far did the countdown get?"

John Bennet, Tampa Police sniper Captain:
"Close enough for us to intercede."

For the first time Capt John Bennett talks publicly about having to take a life, to save a life.

"When I got on the gun I couldn't think about my family or about being in church. I had to think about what was happening right now. I can call it on or call it off in a matter of seconds, because I'm in control of the trigger."

Swat officers are a special breed. They are the best of the best. And they must endure hours of specialized training for that defining moment like Captain Bennett faced.

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Texas: Shooting a case of mistaken identity: "Around 5:30 a.m., a group of men riding in a late-model GMC Denali stopped in front of the tan wooden home and opened fire. In self-defense, the sole occupant inside the home rushed out armed with a shotgun and a 9 mm handgun and returned fire. It is unclear whether anyone was wounded in the shooting, the sheriff said. However, during the shootout, the man managed to shatter the vehicle's windshield and puncture its radiator, which left a visible trail of fluid as the SUV sped away, headed northbound on Stewart Road. ... Preliminary investigations showed insufficient evidence to prove the ranch home was a stash house or place where drugs were sold, the sheriff said. 'Usually there is a relationship between the occupant and the invaders, but there are times, the wrong place is identified and there are innocent victims,' Trevi�o said. 'This time, we believe there was a mistake.'"