Man arrested for firing warning shots into his lawn while trying to deter an MS-13 attack on his home

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UNIONDALE, N.Y. (CBS 2) — He was arrested for protecting his property and family.

But it’s how the Long Island man did it that police say crossed the line.

He got an AK-47 assault rifle, pulled the trigger and he ended up in jail, reports CBS 2’s Pablo Guzman.

George Grier said he had to use his rifle on Sunday night to stop what he thought was going to be an invasion of his Uniondale home by a gang he thought might have been the vicious “MS-13.” He said the whole deal happened as he was about to drive his cousin home.

“I went around and went into the house, ran upstairs and told my wife to call the police. I get the gun and I go outside and I come into the doorway and now, by this time, they are in the driveway, back here near the house. I tell them, you know, ‘Can you please leave?’ Grier said.

Grier said the five men dared him to use the gun; and that their shouts brought another larger group of gang members in front of his house.

“He starts threatening my family, my life. ‘Oh you’re dead. I’m gonna kill your family and your babies. You’re dead.’ So when he says that, 20 others guys come rushing around the corner. And so I fired four warning shots into the grass,” Grier said.

Grier was later arrested. John Lewis is Grier’s attorney.

“What he’s initially charged with – A D felony reckless endangerment — requires a depraved indifference to human life, creating a risk that someone’s going to die. Shooting into a lawn doesn’t create a risk of anybody dying,” Lewis said.

Grier said he knew Nassau County Police employ the hi-tech “ShotSpotter” technology in his area and that the shooting would bring police in minutes. Cops told Guzman he was very cooperative.

Grier also said he was afraid the gang outside his house was the dreaded MS-13. And Nassau County Police Lt. Andrew Mulraine, head of the gang unit, said MS-13 has 2,000 members in the county.

“They’re probably the most organized. They almost have a military hierarchy within the gang, so they are the most organized gang we encounter on a daily basis,” Mulraine said.

You may think a person has the right to defend their home. But the law says you can only use physical force to deter physical force. Grier said he never saw anyone pull out a gun, so a court would have to decide on firing the gun.

Police determined Grier had the gun legally. He has no criminal record. And so he was not charged for the weapon.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/09/07/long-island-man-arrested-for-defending-home-with-ak-47/

[_Simpson_ 250]

No court of law in their right mind is going to charge him with anything.

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No court of law in their right mind is going to charge him with anything.

Do you mean convict?

He has already been charged. Felony reckless endangerment.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Do you mean convict?

He has already been charged. Felony reckless endangerment.

The judge still has to accept the charges and case. I doubt he will. Sadly, if this was MS-13, this guy, and his family are in more trouble than a reckless endangerment case.

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The judge still has to accept the charges and case.

Oh, I see. I didn't realize that. Thanks.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Oh, I see. I didn't realize that. Thanks.

It is very rare that it happens though. More than likely, this guy will either get off, or eventually charged with a lesser crime like illegal discharge of a firearm. This is an untenable charge that no jury would convict the guy. But then again, all the facts aren't in yet, so who knows.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

next time, fire the "warning shots" into the heads and chests of the gang members. KILL them all. Then tell the grand jury they threatened you. If the jury doesn;t believe you, they can ask the dead guys.

This is why I do not subscribe to the "shoot and release" theory and use a large caliber handgun with hollow point bullets (except when my light summer clothes make it difficult). If you must shoot, do not stop until you are the only one left to testify to the grand jury.

[The_Dude 1,142]

do not stop until you are the only one left to testify to the grand jury.

That is actually murder in most circumstances. For someone who purports to have a great understanding of firearms, you show a callous ignorance to self-defense laws.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

That is actually murder in most circumstances. For someone who purports to have a great understanding of firearms, you show a callous ignorance to self-defense laws.

The good news is...what you think doesn't matter.

[The_Dude 1,142]

The good news is...what you think doesn't matter.

Keep plodding along corky. You clearly are ignorant as to self-defense laws. Or maybe as I suspect (as in just about everything you post), you are just exaggerating.

[justashooter 430]

Keep plodding along corky. You clearly are ignorant as to self-defense laws. Or maybe as I suspect (as in just about everything you post), you are just exaggerating.

rarely do we agree, but this is one of those circumstances. most states acknowledge a right to "shoot to end the threat". few states allow more. NY is on the other end of the spectrum.

the most important thing to remember is that you do generally have a right to shoot to end an immediate threat of "heinous crimes against the body", and that after shooting and stabilising the situation you should call for ambulance and police and tell the dispatcher "they were going to kill/rape/knife/beat me to death, so i had to shoot". at that point you shut your mouth and keep it shut, calling for a lawyer. your lawyer arranges for a written statement to be presented within 2 days. verbal statements almost never end well.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Why don'the police arrest the gang members instead of the homeowner?

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Why don'the police arrest the gang members instead of the homeowner?

What I hear from friends who live in areas with MS-13 is that the cops are afraid of them. So basically, if you live in an MS-13 area, you move out or you carry heat.

[Heracles 417]

What I hear from friends who live in areas with MS-13 is that the cops are afraid of them. So basically, if you live in an MS-13 area, you move out or you carry heat.

Never heard of such an area in AUS.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

What I hear from friends who live in areas with MS-13 is that the cops are afraid of them. So basically, if you live in an MS-13 area, you move out or you carry heat.

Even if you carry and end up shooting them, the others will come after you.