If this is in the wrong forum I apologize. It was either here of the general discussion forum, but since this has some potential legal ramifications (or not) I thought it'd be appropriate here.
Strange story IMO. A local man shoots a teen would-be robber in broad daylight at his home.
Click Here to Read the Story and Watch the Video
Am I the only person who feels as though the homeowner could have done more to avoid having to shoot the kid?
Look don't get me wrong. I'm not an advocate for thug kids that break into homes, but let's look at a few things here, especially the text that I bolded.
First of all it's in the middle of the day when most people are not home.
Secondly the kid is beating on the door. Why? TO MAKE SURE NOBODY'S HOME!!! This seems pretty obvious that the kid wasn't looking for an armed confrontation. It's not like he chose a time in the middle of the night (when people are home) and simply went to kicking the door in.
Thirdly the home owner had time to grab his gun, rest against a wall in a defensive position, and watch through a GLASS door as the kid finally kicks it open, at which time he shoots the kid.
I know, I know the dumb kid shouldn't be breaking into houses. I'm not saying that the kid is not in the wrong at all. I know he assumes risk by simply being a burglar, but (this will sound like a criminals' rights activist statement) by him knocking on the door to make sure nobody's home one can assume he wasn't trying to confront a home owner while robbing the home.
It just looked overall like a shooting of opportunity for the homeowner. He probably got really angry from being woken up, and then super angrier when he realized some punk was trying to rob his house. He waited for the kid to kick the door in so he could shoot him. In his position I doubt very seriously he felt that his life was in danger, but who knows?
I'd be worried if I was the home owner because the way the news story was presented, and because of the way he described the events it screams for a civil lawsuit from the family.
In my opinion I feel that the home owner/shooter could have done more to prevent the shooting. I feel like it's our duty as gun owners to try to avoid having to shoot someone. I think had the home owner simply called out to the would-be robber the entire event would have been avoided. It's like he actually baited the kid by allowing him to think he was breaking into an unoccupied home. A simple "get out of here" probably would have sufficed before it even escalated to the kid kicking the back door.
What do you guys think?
Strange story IMO. A local man shoots a teen would-be robber in broad daylight at his home.
Click Here to Read the Story and Watch the Video
Fox 5 News said:Decatur Man Shoots Burglary Suspect
Reported By: George Franco | Edited By: Leigha Baugham
DECATUR, Ga. (MyFOX ATLANTA) - A Decatur homeowner will not be charged for shooting an intruder Wednesday morning. DeKalb County police said 40-year-old Dexter Tucker was justified in shooting a 17-year-old who broke into his home.
Tucker said he had run the scenario of an intruder in his mind many times before, but he never thought it would actually happen.
Tucker said he was asleep when he heard knocking at the front door. The Decatur man said he peered through the shades but didn't answer the door.
"Then he started beating on the door," Tucker recalled.
Tucker said he saw a young man run to the back door and that's when he grabbed his gun.
"I couldn't believe he was kicking in my door and it took him like four kicks to get in so by the time he got in I was ready for him," Tucker said.
Tucker said he shot the intruder three times, striking him once in the thigh. The homeowner said he then saw another young man running away.
Neighbor Vermail Harris said she saw someone running away and getting into a car down the road.
"He ended up hopping in a car so I gave [the police] a description of the vehicle he got in and they found him later.
Tucker said the teens left their car when they fled. Police later arrested a 17-year-old male and a 16-year-old girl in a stolen car not far away.
Police said they suspect the teens who were arrested might be responsible for other crimes in the area.
The three teens involved face burglary and other charges.
Police said Tucker rightfully defended his home.
Am I the only person who feels as though the homeowner could have done more to avoid having to shoot the kid?
Look don't get me wrong. I'm not an advocate for thug kids that break into homes, but let's look at a few things here, especially the text that I bolded.
First of all it's in the middle of the day when most people are not home.
Secondly the kid is beating on the door. Why? TO MAKE SURE NOBODY'S HOME!!! This seems pretty obvious that the kid wasn't looking for an armed confrontation. It's not like he chose a time in the middle of the night (when people are home) and simply went to kicking the door in.
Thirdly the home owner had time to grab his gun, rest against a wall in a defensive position, and watch through a GLASS door as the kid finally kicks it open, at which time he shoots the kid.
I know, I know the dumb kid shouldn't be breaking into houses. I'm not saying that the kid is not in the wrong at all. I know he assumes risk by simply being a burglar, but (this will sound like a criminals' rights activist statement) by him knocking on the door to make sure nobody's home one can assume he wasn't trying to confront a home owner while robbing the home.
It just looked overall like a shooting of opportunity for the homeowner. He probably got really angry from being woken up, and then super angrier when he realized some punk was trying to rob his house. He waited for the kid to kick the door in so he could shoot him. In his position I doubt very seriously he felt that his life was in danger, but who knows?
I'd be worried if I was the home owner because the way the news story was presented, and because of the way he described the events it screams for a civil lawsuit from the family.
In my opinion I feel that the home owner/shooter could have done more to prevent the shooting. I feel like it's our duty as gun owners to try to avoid having to shoot someone. I think had the home owner simply called out to the would-be robber the entire event would have been avoided. It's like he actually baited the kid by allowing him to think he was breaking into an unoccupied home. A simple "get out of here" probably would have sufficed before it even escalated to the kid kicking the back door.
What do you guys think?