Police Still Weighing Whether To Charge Man Who Allegedly Killed Burglar

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I saw a story where a high school kid went to a party and went back to his house late. But, he lived in a cookie-cutter neighborhood and all the houses looked the same. So, he went home to the wrong house. Instead of the owner asking what was going on, he shot the kid, in the back. The kid must have realized he was the wrong house and was leaving. Now that kid is dead.

Is this what people are for?

Breaking into a house is bad, but does this crime deserve death, just because?

Edited July 29, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[Darnell 8,478]

I expect everyone here to allow a home invader to do whatever they want and do nothing to defend themselves. The rights of the criminals always come before those of the victims.

Sorry Spookies - I ain't doing that. My wife and I are armed and dangerous (to folk trying to break in).

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I saw a story where a high school kid went to a party and went back to his house late. But, he lived in a cookie-cutter neighborhood and all the houses looked the same. So, he went home to the wrong house. Instead of the owner asking what was going on, he shot the kid, in the back. The kid must have realized he was the wrong house and was leaving. Now that kid is dead.

Is this what people are for?

Breaking into a house is bad, but does this crime deserve death, just because?

We talked about that story here. I hate the kid got killed but if i wake up and some is in my house they are dead. The kid was runk and crawled thru a window setting of the burglar alarm. The shooter was a model citizen and firefighter. Tragic indeed, but the homeowner was in the right

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

We talked about that story here. I hate the kid got killed but if i wake up and some is in my house they are dead. The kid was runk and crawled thru a window setting of the burglar alarm. The shooter was a model citizen and firefighter. Tragic indeed, but the homeowner was in the right

What, people are too cowardly to ask, "Hey, who is there?" before shooting?

Disgusting.

My grandfather loves to relish in telling his story, where he heard some burglars coming up the fire escape in his shitty apartment he got after he got married. He says, in his old man way, that he put his hand over my grandmother's mouth so she wouldn't scream, and yelled at the top of his lungs, "Let's get those sonsabitches!" He heard the burglars pause, and go back down the escape.

Words are powerful, it's a shame people can't use them and want a gun to speak for them instead.

That homeowner is not a model citizen, he is a pathetic coward, killing a scared kid because he can't ask a simple question.

Edited July 29, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

What, people are too cowardly to ask, "Hey, who is there?" before shooting?

Disgusting.

My grandfather loves to relish in telling his story, where he heard some burglars coming up the fire escape in his shitty apartment he got after he got married. He says, in his old man way, that he put his hand over my grandmother's mouth so she wouldn't scream, and yelled at the top of his lungs, "Let's get those sonsabitches!" He heard the burglars pause, and go back down the escape.

Words are powerful, it's a shame people can't use them and want a gun to speak for them instead.

That homeowner is not a model citizen, he is a pathetic coward, killing a scared kid because he can't ask a simple question.

Sorry if I wake up in the night and someone has entered my home, I am going to take cover and fire as soon as I get a clear shot. Defending your home is not being a coward or pathetic.

[lostinblue 1,989]

What, people are too cowardly to ask, "Hey, who is there?" before shooting?

Disgusting.

My grandfather loves to relish in telling his story, where he heard some burglars coming up the fire escape in his shitty apartment he got after he got married. He says, in his old man way, that he put his hand over my grandmother's mouth so she wouldn't scream, and yelled at the top of his lungs, "Let's get those sonsabitches!" He heard the burglars pause, and go back down the escape.

Words are powerful, it's a shame people can't use them and want a gun to speak for them instead.

That homeowner is not a model citizen, he is a pathetic coward, killing a scared kid because he can't ask a simple question.

The coward was the kid.... He could have rung the door bell and said ... Dad let me in. trying to sneak around his parents back. ... got him killed.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

I saw a story where a high school kid went to a party and went back to his house late. But, he lived in a cookie-cutter neighborhood and all the houses looked the same. So, he went home to the wrong house. Instead of the owner asking what was going on, he shot the kid, in the back. The kid must have realized he was the wrong house and was leaving. Now that kid is dead.

Is this what people are for?

Breaking into a house is bad, but does this crime deserve death, just because?

I think a lot of this has to do with making split second decisions. It's easy for all us of to say, I'd do this, or why didn't he do that, but in the adrenaline rush of the moment, who knows? In the case I posted here, the man is 80 years old. He was viciously assaulted in his own home. He fired shots in his home and as the intruders were running away. He reacted, he didn't sit down and think about it for 15 minutes. It's a tough spot and I hope I'm never put into it. But me and my family come first.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I think a lot of this has to do with making split second decisions. It's easy for all us of to say, I'd do this, or why didn't he do that, but in the adrenaline rush of the moment, who knows? In the case I posted here, the man is 80 years old. He was viciously assaulted in his own home. He fired shots in his home and as the intruders were running away. He reacted, he didn't sit down and think about it for 15 minutes. It's a tough spot and I hope I'm never put into it. But me and my family come first.

I think he did take time to think about it because he apparently had time to talk to the woman and for her to make up a lie that she was pregnant.

I do have some sympathy for the man, if he was beaten. But she was running away. He should have remembered what she looked like for a good police sketch. He killed her for revenge, not because he was in danger.

I agree that split-second decisions are made, but I think people are too quick to think "Gun time!" instead of "What is really happening here?"

[spookyturtle 9,465]

I think he did take time to think about it because he apparently had time to talk to the woman and for her to make up a lie that she was pregnant.

I do have some sympathy for the man, if he was beaten. But she was running away. He should have remembered what she looked like for a good police sketch. He killed her for revenge, not because he was in danger.

I agree that split-second decisions are made, but I think people are too quick to think "Gun time!" instead of "What is really happening here?"

He was assaulted and beaten before he got to his gun. He got his gun and started firing inside his house. The girl yelled that she was pregnant as she was fleeing, hardly a conversation. And in many of these situations, one needs to react, not wait and see how far it goes before doing something. You might actually feel the same way if it was your child or a family member.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

He was assaulted and beaten before he got to his gun. He got his gun and started firing inside his house. The girl yelled that she was pregnant as she was fleeing, hardly a conversation. And in many of these situations, one needs to react, not wait and see how far it goes before doing something. You might actually feel the same way if it was your child or a family member.

When we are having a decent discussion, why do you have to splash in some snide remarks about how I don't care about my family?

Of course people make quick decisions in scary situations, and no one can plan how they would react, but I think we can try to change the conversation when we are not in danger. Instead of thinking of guns first no matter what, I think cooler heads should prevail.

I don't think the vast majority of burglars plan for people to be in the house when they do it, and I think most would leave when they realized. If someone is attacking you, of course you can defend yourself. But most home invasions are not about murder, that it not the goal, the goal is stealing stuff. If someone is walking or running away, it is not a free pass to kill them because they used to be in your house.

Edited July 29, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[spookyturtle 9,465]

When we are having a decent discussion, why do you have to splash in some snide remarks about how I don't care about my family?

Of course people make quick decisions in scary situations, and no one can plan how they would react, but I think we can try to change the conversation when we are not in danger. Instead of thinking of guns first no matter what, I think cooler heads should prevail.

I don't think the vast majority of burglars plan for people to be in the house when they do it, and I think most would leave when they realized. If someone is attacking you, of course you can defend yourself. But most home invasions are not about murder, that it not the goal, the goal is stealing stuff. If someone is walking or running away, it is not a free pass to kill them because they used to be in your house.

It wasn't a snide remark, it was food for thought, that's all. I apologize if you were offended as that was not my intent. It's easy to sit here and say this and that, but if was my family, your family, etc, and we were in that type of situation, we may react the exact same way that this man did.

[eieio 1,594]

It is just a shame this elderly man was not able to kill both of them. At least he got one

[unsmiley 111]

When we are having a decent discussion, why do you have to splash in some snide remarks about how I don't care about my family?

Of course people make quick decisions in scary situations, and no one can plan how they would react, but I think we can try to change the conversation when we are not in danger. Instead of thinking of guns first no matter what, I think cooler heads should prevail.

I don't think the vast majority of burglars plan for people to be in the house when they do it, and I think most would leave when they realized. If someone is attacking you, of course you can defend yourself. But most home invasions are not about murder, that it not the goal, the goal is stealing stuff. If someone is walking or running away, it is not a free pass to kill them because they used to be in your house.

Unfortunately there is no time to determine the intentions of an intruder. Hesitate for a second and you or your loved ones could be killed.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Unfortunately there is no time to determine the intentions of an intruder. Hesitate for a second and you or your loved ones could be killed.

That's usually a myth.

If I am in the back bedroom and someone is coming in the front of the house, I don't have a split second to take stock of everything? Of course I do.

[unsmiley 111]

That's usually a myth.

If I am in the back bedroom and someone is coming in the front of the house, I don't have a split second to take stock of everything? Of course I do.

If you are able to read the mind of a complete stranger breaking into your abode, more power to you.

But I, unfortunately, lack that skill and would not hesitate to protect myself and property. I am comfortable with sorting out the intruder's intentions later.

Edited July 29, 2014 by unsmiley