Deputies said an argument began after the homeowner, described as 70 years old, told the 17-year-old to get off his yard. The homeowner found some items where the teen had been standing and took them inside, according to deputies.
Investigators said the teenager, identified as Vidal Herrera, then demanded his items back. The homeowner shot Herrera once in the stomach when Herrera began walking toward the homeowner, officials said.
"Our early indications are that he was in fear of the 17-year-old, shot one time. There's been reports that there's been some burglaries and some robberies and some criminal activities in this area by the complainant. That hasn't been substantiated, yet," said Sgt. Larry Davis with the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
My "early indications" are that what we've got here is a failure to communicate. I keep saying the lethal threat requirement must be more strictly enforced, but it seems a lot of people are not hearing me. When Ladon Jones shot and killed one of the thieves who were stealing his SUV, I seriously doubt if his life was in jeapordy. Rather he was outraged at the audacity of someone who would dare tresspass and steal from him.
In a similar way, this man in Houston, wasn't resonding to a lethal threat but rather to the outrage of living among young Hispanics who may have been responsible for "some burglaries and some robberies and some criminal activities in this area."
What's your opinion? I realize I don't know what really happened there, but what's your guess? What do you think happened? Do you find it a bit quick for the police to excuse this man's actions as those of someone frightened, as someone threatened? It sounds to me like he was more angry than scared.
Please leave a comment. By the way, I was expecting this to be a post about a legitimate defensive shooting. I was going to say it's an exception that proves the rule. The rule being tha many of these so-called defensive shootings are nothing of the sort.
Please leave a comment.
"I seriously doubt if his life was in jeapordy."
ReplyDeleteTake it you missed this part:
"Herrera began walking toward the homeowner"
He was going to give out free hugs, right?
But you, w/o 'knowing what really happened here' play the race card and claim to know what the homeowners biases are.
Or are you just projecting?
I saw that movie: "Get Off My Lawn".
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot left to the imagination in this news report but if the police believe the man was afraid for his life, he probably was. Perhaps the kid had even told him he would harm him. I don't know.
There is a huge generation gap, especially between WWII-Korea era senior citizens and these young punks that do not respect their elders or betters. A kid growing up in the same place 60 years ago would not have behaved this way and if he did the result would have probably been the same.
I saw a bumper sticker once that read: "Don't mess with old men, if they are too old to fight you they will just go ahead and kill you". Maybe that sticker needs released in Spanish.
Sounds like this old man just finished watching Grand Trino.
ReplyDeleteFat White Man said "hese young punks that do not respect their elders or betters."
ReplyDeleteTheir betters? Now there's a bigoted racist statement!
Granted, the kid shouldn't have been on the old man's property. In the same respect, the old man had no right to take the things that belonged to the kid.
"The rule being tha many of these so-called defensive shootings are nothing of the sort."
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm sure you'll provide the statistical evidence to proof this assertion any century now.
Police were called to the 500 block of Marconi to check on reports of shots fired about 10 p.m.
ReplyDeleteOfficers talked to a 44-year-old woman who said she was threatened by her live-in boyfriend. She said he was intoxicated and they were arguing in the bedroom.
Her 24-year-old daughter lives next door and came over when she heard the commotion. At about the same time, the victim’s 22-year-old son showed up.
The woman’s children arrived and found the suspect holding a knife to the woman’s throat.
Both children asked the suspect to put the knife down and tried to get him to leave. He threatened them, and said they would all be dead before he left.
The son left the room, came back with a handgun, and shot Warrior once in the left leg.
The suspect was taken to the emergency room in a private vehicle, where police took him into custody and then to jail. His injury was not considered life threatening.
The assault victim’s son does not face any charges for the incident because the shooting was considered self-defense.
A 77-year-old Princeton woman faced down a man armed with a sawed-off shotgun and sent him running after she pointed her own gun at him, according to court documents.
ReplyDeleteDoris Gatchell’s daughter, Eileen Newman, said Monday that family members had since nicknamed their mother “Annie Oakley.”
Suspect Dean T. Moore, who was arrested shortly after the Friday, June 12, incident, made his first appearance Monday in Washington County Superior Court. He faces up to 30 years in jail and fines of up to $50,000 on each of the two most serious charges of burglary with a firearm and robbery. He also has been charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, theft and criminal restraint. On Monday night, Moore remained in Washington County Jail unable to come up with the $15,000 bail set after his arrest.
Thirdpower, Those are great stories you shared with us. Your point is what though, that all defensive gun uses are legit? Until I can come up with statistics and proof, let's hear your best guess. Out of every 100 reported DGUs, how many are false positives? Those would be the ones that were unnecessary or actually criminal. How many?
ReplyDelete"Until I can come up with statistics and proof, "
ReplyDeleteYou know that will never happen.
So, you want to restrict the rights of all Americans based on your admittedly wild guesses, all because you can't find proof?
ReplyDeleteBoy, and I wonder why we ridicule the anti-freedom crowd.
"Those would be the ones that were unnecessary "
ReplyDeleteThere's a nice subjective term for you.
Legally define 'unnecessary'.