It makes total sense in America. Here we would have shot him before he was dead though.

If a headline can be interpreted in multiple ways because the word choice makes it vague it is the headline that is the problem, not the reader.

This is solved by choosing more precise language. "Cop who fatally shot unarmed black man" is just as concise but is also unambiguous.

Let's not let our desire to make fun of Americans get in the way of doing things properly.