anyone else think the kid Roger shot was his son?

That would have runied the comedy vibe to the film.

@bozo_500 I suppose they all look alike to you, right Costanza?

Nah, just kidding. I had the same thought, then later it clicked that it was the guy wearing the "pretty gang colors."

I thought that too, being the son's friend was too weak compared with the "shock scenes" from the previous movies.

alt scene:

Murtaugh turns the dead boy over. Its his son Nick.

Murtaugh: *gasps as if someone had punched him in the gut and drops his piece* Nick?..N-N-Nick?!..

Riggs: Oh jesus

Murtaugh: no..oh no NO! NO!

Riggs holsters his berretta and raises both his hands to his head as he watches his friend cradle his sons body

Murtaugh: he-hey ca-call an ambulance! R-Riggs call an ambulance!!.. nick! breathe! breathe!!

Murtaugh begins to frantically pound his sons chest and performs CPR.

Murtaugh: CALL AN AMBULANCE RIGGS! you gonna be ok! You gonna be ok! daddys here son! d-daddys here..

Riggs dosnt move. he watches Roger continue with the CPR in vain.. hes seen enough shot up bodies in his time to know its obvious Nick is dead.

Murtaugh: cmon nick! show me a sign here..cmon boy staywithme!..Riggs call 911!

Riggs: Roger..

Murtaugh: *crying getting more frantic* cmon workwithme nick!..come back to me boy!.. come back!..come back to me son!..NICK! NIIICCCK!!

Riggs: Roger.. Roger!.. hes gone..

Murtaugh stops the CPR. He looks straight ahead tears streaming down his agonized face. he knows Riggs is right. then grabs his gun and lunges at Riggs grabbing him by the throat and puts his revolver to his head

Murtaugh: DONT YOU SAY THAT RIGGS! DONT YOU *beep* ING SAY THAT!

Riggs: *weakly not putting up any fight* ro-ger..

Murtaugh suddenly stops, steps back slowly and looks at Riggs in shock. then the revolver in his shaking hand. then at Riggs again. Their eyes lock. Riggs knows what hes about to do.

Riggs: no roger..no

Murtaugh raises the gun to his own head, but Riggs uses a lightening fast jujutsu move and rips the gun out of his hand just as he pulls the trigger, the .357 bullet missing Murtaughs head by a fraction.

Murtaugh lunges at Riggs trying to get his gun back but Riggs puts him in a lockdown hold. Roger shakes violently screaming and wailing in anger and grief..eventually exhausted going limp. Riggs slowly lets him go and Roger gradually falls to his knees in a crumpled sobbing heap. Riggs throws Murtaghs gun away in anger and falls to his knees in grief for his friend. he puts his arm around Murtaugh who embraces him crying uncontrollably..

Gentle Clapton music starts to play as the camera slowly retracts from the scene.. the two men holding each other in the dusty worksite, as the dead boy lays still close by..

A little embarrassing to admit since race did play a factor but, yeah, I did think it was him, up until the shaving scene prior to the funeral. The way Murtaugh acted was as if he did accidentally kill his son.

Watching it again as an adult, it should have been pretty clear Nick most likely wouldn't have dealt with illegal weaponry (cop killers) that could potentially put his own father's life at risk, even Riggs who he also considered family.

Though, I do see how some people were initially confused. Other than being black, Nick was associated with a bad crowd of people. It's easy enough to assume he could have been present in that meeting behind the fence near the concession stand.