J. Clarke wrote:

He stole.

Or so you think. It'd be nice to ask him his version, but,
unfortunately, he's dead.

Now contrast that with Leon walking out of the store with some tools on
accident. The guard follows. He mistakes that nice try square for a gun
and pops him with his six-shooter. Is this a proper outcome?

Remember, Leon has been caught red-handed, and therefore it's "on his head."

G