Newcomer / Intro WANTED means what ?

[Tash]

So I'm at a Nv location...see a wanted ship...so I assume this means I can kill it without the federation authorities (cops) hating on me....WRONG....bout halfway through the battle...cops show up and kill me...I can't even run away successfully...no wanted warning...no "criminal violation" on my part...nothing ...so thats odd I think. I MUST have done something wrong...right ? So I fly back out...find another "Wanted" ship...all by itself for the most part..and I engage...and the SAME thing happens!! So what gives...What is the point of "wanted" criminals..if the "cops" are gonna come shoot ya for attacking them. I dont get it.

 

[Legionnaire]

If during your exchange of weapons fire with the wanted ship, you accidentally hit a police or security ship with one shot, even if it flies into you, you will become wanted, and the police/security ships will open fire on you. It is also possible that you had something illegal in your cargo hold, had you scooped anything from space, as that is classed as stolen, and if that was the case, scanning you would have revealed it.

 

[DMLeeroy]

The wanted guy you are shooting at is a member of the same faction as the cops, and they generally frown upon you melting one of their own.
You can tell the faction of the cops by looking at one of their ships in your contacts menu, it will tell you who they are aligned too, before you engage have a look at your target in the contacts section to see if they are in the same faction.

If they are, my suggestion is to leave them unless its a huge bounty, as its just not worth the hassle.