What happens when you shoot a thug in self-defense?

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progunner1957

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What happens when you shoot a thug in self-defense?

First of all, I am aware that this varies from state to state. I'm hoping some LE officers, attorneys or anyone else can shed some light on what happens when a person is forced to shoot a thug in self-defense.

I have read that the police impound your weapon/ammo for testing, and that some jurisdictions will actually come to your home and impound ALL your weapons. Is that true?

I can see the need to impound the weapon used in the shooting, but what in h*ll's half-acre justifies the police taking ALL of your weapons and leaving you defensless at the hands of the friends/family of the thug you shot??

Also, what happesn as far as giving a statement to the police about what happened and how it happened? Is the shooter forced to be interroated endlessly for hours on end, or can the shooter give a statement once and then be left alone?

What do the police do if you are threatened, confronted, shot at or attacked by friends/family of the thug?

Do the police routinely put the shooter in jail? Is he/she able to tell them what happened and then go home? Is the shooter charged immediately with murder or attempted murder (depending on the thug's surviving or not) or do the police wait till they have all the facts before they charge the shooter?

Any one who has knowledge of this type of situation who will be willing to share their experience/knowledge with the rest of us will be greatly appreciated for doing so.
 
What happens when you shoot a thug in self defense

In Texas it depends on whether its a big city or a small one or rural, it depends on the political leaning of the prosecuter, whether he hates guns, considers any shooting a crime and etc.

Worst case is being arrested, calling a bail bondsman, getting out of jail, hiring a lawyer to defend you. Best case you are questioned, the law considers the shooting justifiable and you go home.

It is much better to go before the Grand Jury, have the shooting declared justifiable and go home. Without the Grand Jury you can and probably will be sued, maybe years later after the lying of friends and family of the victim you may even be indicted for some other crime like
depriving him of his rights (by killing him).

There are a loy of people that need killing but in our civilized society the Government handles that and we are
only allowed to use deadly force under certain statutes.
 
I'm a criminal defense lawyer in New Mexico.

You're almost certainly going to get grand-juried hereabouts.

I don't know why the police would test your ammo. They would almost certainly take the weapon as evidence. I have never seen a case here in which the police methodically seized all weapons owned by a shooter (except in a murder case in which they did not know which gun was used).

The shooter may be taken to the cop shop and detained in jail and charged, or he may not. It depends on the cops and how the situation looks to them (speculation beyond this is pointless). The shooter should ask for a lawyer and should not make any statement to anyone beyond the basics ("My name is __________. I am an American citizen. I want to cooperate, but I need to talk to my lawyer first.") until he talks to the lawyer. The lawyer will help the shooter (who is certain to be distraught from such an horrific event) to be sure that he accurately relates what happened to the police. Once the shooter askes for the lawyer, the shooter should then shut his mouth until his lawyer arrives, regardless of how long that takes.

Rather then veer into sheer speculation, I'd just say the shooter should contact his lawyer and his lawyer should contact the police if the "thug's" friends threaten the shooter.
 
progunner1957, as far as I know, it depends mostly on the situation. For example, did you empty a 12-round mag into the criminal? Did you shoot him in the back as he was running away? Was he armed? These details especially matter in a liberal, anti-gun state, like NJ (where I live).

Even if the shooting was clearly in self-defense, in some places you may be charged with murder anyway.

Or in a city, charged with violating some wacky ordinance (firing a weapon within 2 miles of City Hall for example)

In most places, especially sensible gun-friendly states, if you shoot a criminal in self-defense, you wont be charged with any crime.

like everyone else said, it matters mostly where you live.

I'm no expert, but these are the things i've heard/read.
 
Actually, what really matters is IF you CALLED THE POLICE OR NOT.

If you did not, then you have no problems. IF YOU DID, then your problems could go on for years.

And if you are going to shoot an intruder, make sure you keep shooting until there is ONLY YOU to tell the story of what happened (assuming you ARE going to call the police).
 
Wallew, but if you dont call the police, and they find out, wouldnt you be charged with murder?

In my state its a crime if you dont report an injury caused by a discharged firearm, not to mention a death.

And how would you dispose of the body? It seems to me that not calling the police could land you in a lot of trouble.
 
Yeah I'd have to agree. I was really confused by that post at first. I was initially reading it as "If you call the police, and are on the phone and not shooting, the assumption is you're not in immediate danger and if you decide to get up and cap the guy then you're in trouble." But after reading it again, I'm pretty sure you meant "Kill the bugger and forget about it." That's really behaving more like a murderer than a defender. Even if I loathed the person with all my being and was risking jail time for finishing them off when I might not have needed to or something, I'd still probably call in the law. Dealing with bodies and unreported shootings on an individual level is just asking to get thrown away for life if you're caught.
I've never heard of having all your guns confiscated but it wouldn't surprise me, especially in the Chicago area. If I knew of any such thing I think I'd have to report about half of my arsenal "stolen." I don't mean to operate outside the law but the point about possibly increasing your odds of needing to defend yourself certainly rings true, not to mention I just don't feel like having to wait a year to get back a bunch of guns that have been beaten up, had evidence numbers carved into them and left to rust in a back room somewhere.
 
Actually, what really matters is IF you CALLED THE POLICE OR NOT.

If you did not, then you have no problems. IF YOU DID, then your problems could go on for years.

There are some people who believe that the recently deceased Mr. Thug won't be any deader if found behind a dumpster at the local Walmart than if he were found on one's living room floor. Those same people also believe that the person who defended himself in good conscience would have fewer problems were that to be the case.

Naturally, I would call the POPO and have them deal with it so some local prosecutor could screw me over to make his bones. Then again, I'm just a Nazi Jersey sheeple.
 
What happens when you shoot a BG?

The lawyer from New Mexico answered in a greatly helpful way and we definitely should take his advice and not go rattling our jaws without the presence and assistance of a lawyer. This may make the LOEs upset but.........

Now back to the original question, what happend is if you are not shooting a little mouse and cockroach gun, and your aim is sure and you do a headshot or heart shot, he/it will likely get limp all over pdq and fall to the deck. Go call the Police and your attorney, put your firearm down and sit down and wait for the sirens.
 
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