Woman cleared in self-defense shooting

Prosecutor clears woman in killing
`Clear case of self-defense' in holdup

By GARY L. WRIGHT
Ruth Robinson watched in fear as the gunman, demanding money, cocked the handgun and threatened to kill her husband.

Robinson, who was working with her husband, James, at the Busy Mini-Mart on South Hoskins Road in northwest Charlotte, reached under the counter and grabbed a handgun.

She fired once, striking 17-year-old Marquis Sanchez Vinson in the chest.

The teen-ager died five days later.

Robinson, 67, won't be prosecuted in connection with the June 10 fatal shooting.

Mecklenburg Assistant District Attorney Bob Gleason reviewed the evidence and decided that no charges will be brought.

"It was a clear case of self-defense," the prosecutor said Wednesday. "Mrs. Robinson's actions were lawful. She was honestly in fear of her life and the life of her husband. She believed that she needed to defend herself and her husband."

The attempted robbery occurred around midnight on June10.

Gleason said Vinson pointed a .32-caliber handgun at James Robinson and told him to "give up the money."

"When Mr. Robinson did not give him the money, Mr. Vinson cocked the gun and told Mr. Robinson to give him the money or he would blow his brains out," the prosecutor said.

Ruth Robinson reached under the counter and pulled out a .38-caliber handgun and shot Vinson once in the upper left chest.

"Mr. Vinson was knocked down by the shot," Gleason said, "neutralizing his threat to the Robinsons at their place of business."

Vinson was transported to Carolinas Medical Center. He died June 15.

Gleason said Robinson's belief that her life and the life of her 60-year-old husband were in danger was reasonable.

"Mr. Vinson was the aggressor in the incident," the prosecutor said. "Mrs. Robinson was in her place of business and had no duty to retreat. Mrs. Robinson did not use excessive force, firing only once, which was sufficient to neutralize the threat to her life and that of her husband."

Vinson was the second person killed this year while trying to rob a Charlotte business.

On New Year's Day, Judus Lewis Caudle was shot and killed while trying to steal office equipment from Absolute Bail Bonding Co. on North Kings Drive. Juliet Williams, co-owner of the bonding company and a former Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer, fired one shot, hitting Caudle in the chest.

The DA's office did not press charges against Williams. Police said Caudle, 38, tried to attack Williams with a crowbar before she shot him.


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Gary L. Wright covers criminal justice. Contact him at (704) 358-5052 or gwright@charlotteobserver.com.
 
Now for the follow up stories how Vinson was a honor student, was trying to get (or had gotten) his life turned around, was a good father, had treated his mother well, did not kick dogs or small children and all teh other bull from his family, friends and idiots trying to place the blame for his demise on anyone except Vinson.

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Ne Conjuge Nobiscum
"If there be treachery, let there be jehad!"
 
Is this not how it is supposed to work... one shot.... Thanks for the post Robert.



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Richard

The debate is not about guns,
but rather who has the ultimate power to rule,
the People or Government.
RKBA!
 
"Mr. Vinson was knocked down by the shot," Gleason said, "neutralizing his threat to the Robinsons at their place of business."

This is how they all should end.

Thanks, it started my day out with a grin. One less POS to worry about.
 
Great news! Anybody know what happened in the Alabaster, Alabama shooting over a year ago? A woman was arrested in a "road rage" shooting but the story vanished.
 
I love it when a plan comes together.. (from the A-Team). I admire this lady and I am TRULY impressed. The BG (which will be used in the hci stats as a "child") had the gun cocked and pointd at her husband and she took him (the BG) out with one shot without the BG pulling the trigger on it's gun! She and her husband must have practiced allot; which should be a lesson to us all.

I'm glad this lady isn't going to be railroaded but still I would wait to see what the feds do if they get involved.

USP45usp
 
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