Old Guard Dog, as you said, in some states this could have led to prosecution.
The caveat is: in some states.
In other states, it's lawful to pursue somebody whom the pursuer has witnessed commit a violent felony, particularly when the violent felon is still armed and poses a threat to the community.
I'm not sure what the law is in Minnesota, but apparently the DA decided no law was broken, as no charges will be filed.
I understand that instructors like to prepare for the lowest common denominator in their lesson plans, and that it's easiest (and possibly safest from a liability standpoint) to make blanket statements such as, "You are not a LEO," but the fact is that those blanket statements will usually have exceptions.
younggunz4life, "lawyer up and shut up" is perp talk. The shooter in this case seems to have followed the advice given by people like Massad Ayoob, and that seems to have worked out well in this case. Bear in mind that an affirmative defense (such as justifiable homicide) REQUIRES the defendant admit to the shooting itself. So, "lawyer up and shut up" is going to go out the window, sooner or later; I'm not advocating getting into an extended conversation with the arriving officers, but pointing out where corroborating evidence is (before the dead guy's buddies make it disappear) and pointing out the witnesses (before they make themselves scarce) could be critical, and may not be possible if one waits to "lawyer up" first.
The caveat is: in some states.
In other states, it's lawful to pursue somebody whom the pursuer has witnessed commit a violent felony, particularly when the violent felon is still armed and poses a threat to the community.
I'm not sure what the law is in Minnesota, but apparently the DA decided no law was broken, as no charges will be filed.
I understand that instructors like to prepare for the lowest common denominator in their lesson plans, and that it's easiest (and possibly safest from a liability standpoint) to make blanket statements such as, "You are not a LEO," but the fact is that those blanket statements will usually have exceptions.
younggunz4life, "lawyer up and shut up" is perp talk. The shooter in this case seems to have followed the advice given by people like Massad Ayoob, and that seems to have worked out well in this case. Bear in mind that an affirmative defense (such as justifiable homicide) REQUIRES the defendant admit to the shooting itself. So, "lawyer up and shut up" is going to go out the window, sooner or later; I'm not advocating getting into an extended conversation with the arriving officers, but pointing out where corroborating evidence is (before the dead guy's buddies make it disappear) and pointing out the witnesses (before they make themselves scarce) could be critical, and may not be possible if one waits to "lawyer up" first.