75 yr old man chases and kills one after home invasion.

[Danno 1,228]

15-year-old robbery suspect shot dead

Police question man, 76, who chased down four teens and fired after he and his wife were robbed at gunpoint.

A 76-year-old who was robbed inside his home Saturday afternoon chased down and fatally shot a 15-year-old suspect, according to his family.

Now, the District Attorney will determine if C.L. McClure, a retired building fireproofer who spends most of his days gardening and fishing, according to his family, will face criminal charges in the shooting death of Marcus Antonio Steven Fluker.

Police didn't identify McClure, but his son, Larry, who lives next door, said the older McClure fired the shots from inside his van as he was chasing the suspects on a nearby street.

According to police, four men broke into the house, on Grier Road in north Charlotte, about 12:45 p.m. Saturday. Fluker was the youngest.

C.L. McClure was in his basement hobby shop eating ice cream when the attackers entered, his son said. The robbers, one of whom had a handgun, tied him up with duct tape and held his wife at gunpoint as they ransacked the house, making off with some jewelry and McClure's wallet.

After they left, McClure broke free.

“He checked on my mother,” Larry McClure said, “and he assumed he knew their route. He thought they might have been driving, and he wanted to get a tag number.”

“In his mind,” Larry McClure said, “he was worried they'd be back.”

His son said he grabbed his gun, got into his dark, green van and guessed the thieves would head toward nearby Ginger Lane.

Police say the robbery victim caught up with the suspects on Ginger Lane and fired the gun, striking Fluker at least once. Larry McClure said his father told him that he was in his van when he saw one of the robbers, who he thought was armed.

C.L. McClure said he fired his pistol when the robber turned toward him, Larry McClure said.

Fluker was lying on the ground when police got there. He died later at Carolinas Medical Center. Police said they did not recover a gun from near the 15-year-old.

Officers took C.L. McClure to police headquarters uptown for questioning, but he was released Saturday without being charged. In North Carolina, it's legal to kill someone in defense of yourself or another. N.C. law also protects homeowners who shoot to defend their property. The police department's investigation is ongoing.

No one else was physically injured, though Larry McClure said his mother went to the hospital to be checked out.

Three men were arrested and charged with second degree burglary, robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery. Police identified them as Joseph Graves 17; Matthew Everett Morgan, 17; and Tahjaue Wiley, 18. Morgan has a previous conviction for having a weapon on school property and is awaiting trial for armed robbery.

Homicide detectives are still investigating and encourage anyone with information to call 704-432-TIPS (8477).

The McClures have lived on Grier Road since the late 1960s. When C.L. McClure approached retirement age, he built a bigger house next door and sold the family home to his son. The new house's big yard became his retirement project – when he wasn't fixing an old mower, he was growing tomatoes, okra and hot peppers in the backyard, Larry McClure said.

Larry McClure said he was outside spraying for wasps Saturday afternoon when he saw a teenager in his father's backyard. He has teenage nephews who often visit their grandparents, and he assumed it was one of them.

He thought nothing of it until his mother came running into his yard a few minutes later, screaming and saying her husband had been involved in a shooting.

Larry McClure talked with his father briefly after the shooting, before the police took him in for questioning. The older man's pockets were still turned inside out from when the robbers searched him.

Although his father wasn't injured, Larry McClure said he still has fears – fears that his father could face charges, fears of retribution and lingering fears of what could have happened.

“The guys had weapons,” he said. “It could have easily gone the other way.”

[Ban Hammer 13,658]

yes, he should face charges. he chased them down after they were not a threat.

[_Simpson_ 250]

Well yes chasing after him probably wasnt the smartest move, should of called the cops. If they can make a case that when the kid turned around that because of prior events he had every reason to think he might of been in danger and in some sense it was defense, probably not but I hope they make that case.

I really feel for this guy, hes 75 and to have somebody come into his home and violate him like this is fvcked up!

[alienlovechild 75]

C.L. McClure was in his basement hobby shop eating ice cream when the attackers entered, his son said. The robbers, one of whom had a handgun, tied him up with duct tape and held his wife at gunpoint as they ransacked the house, making off with some jewelry and McClure's wallet.

I'll bet he was pretty angry with those cowardly punks but chasing them down in the van and shooting won't considered defensive. The best thing for him is to argue heat of passion that drove him to do what he did. He'll probably lose but it it won't be a heavy sentence based on the circumstances.

Reminded me of the movie, Gran Torino.

[HAL 9000 96]

C.L. McClure was in his basement hobby shop eating ice cream when the attackers entered, his son said. The robbers, one of whom had a handgun, tied him up with duct tape and held his wife at gunpoint as they ransacked the house, making off with some jewelry and McClure's wallet.

I'll bet he was pretty angry with those cowardly punks but chasing them down in the van and shooting won't considered defensive. The best thing for him is to argue heat of passion that drove him to do what he did. He'll probably lose but it it won't be a heavy sentence based on the circumstances.

Reminded me of the movie, Gran Torino.

agreed on all accounts.

[Danno 1,228]

yes, he should face charges. he chased them down after they were not a threat.

I understand your reasoning but on the other hand: Why should anyone have to watch their elderly wife get tied up and terrorized, watch these animals pilfer through his house taking all things precious ... even the wedding ring he put on his wifes hand.

And are we to tell this guy to call 911 and wait for police to arrive?

Why don't people have a right to follow and either gather identifying info for the police or even to stop them.

I would bet my money that this guy WILL NOT be charged.

He will claim he followed to get a license plate and they brandished a weapon when he pulled along side to verify it was them.

No I don't want people getting killed over TV sets but laws have to reflect the society which live under them.

We use to hang horse thieves when horse thievery was both out of control and often meant death for the horseless person.

We are perhaps soon at such desperate times in some areas of our cities.

These type of criminals are literally terrorizing the whole community where they are not safe in their own homes.

[Nagishkaw 510]

I agree with Charles.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I think the punk got what was coming to him. If more people fought back, crime would drop considerably. Kill them all, let God be the judge.

[Dakine 26]

The kids destroyed his feeling of having a secure home. I'd feel my space was violated.

Kids deserve whatever happened.

Edited August 25, 2009 by Haole

[Sofiyya 1,687]

I'd shoot 'em, too.

[dalegg 143]

Wouldn't it be kind of ironic to see one 75 year old guy who killed one guy that tied him up and robbed him at gunpoint in prison, while another 57 year old guy who killed 270 innocent people he never knew is freed on grounds of compassion?

[_Simpson_ 250]

Wouldn't it be kind of ironic to see one 75 year old guy who killed one guy that tied him up and robbed him at gunpoint in prison, while another 57 year old guy who killed 270 innocent people he never knew is freed on grounds of compassion?

Thats different though there doing it out of compassion.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

No, it wouldn't be ironic.

[almaty 19]

yes, he should face charges. he chased them down after they were not a threat.

i agree..most towns if the criminal is in the house...and shot...defending yourself.

.chase him down putside and shoot him....felony charges

[Danno 1,228]

yes, he should face charges. he chased them down after they were not a threat.

i agree..most towns if the criminal is in the house...and shot...defending yourself.

.chase him down putside and shoot him....felony charges

..... Unless you can show that "at that point" you feared for your life.

Clearly these little thugs had at least one gun.

There is no crime in going after someone to get your "stuff" back or to get a license plate no.

If you are in fear for your life at that point, perhaps one does have the right of self defense.