Colorado shooting sparks controversy..... (death, alcohol, Houston, Texas)

[NVplumber]

This story has been airing on all the news channels and I've been watching with interest and some trepidation as well. I'd post a link but I don't know how. My computer skills are somewhat sparser than I would like. However, what happened was a guy was out getting drunked up and apparently was trying to enter a home in the belief he was at his own house. (Thats pretty wasted) After trying to enter through the front door and not succeeding ( and apparently oblivious to the homeowners challenges) he went to the BACK door and broke out the glass then reaching in to unlock the door. The homeowners wife was on the phone to 911 relating events as they transpired to the operator, and had moved their child to another part of the house with her. When the guy broke the glass on the door and was coming in her husband shot him dead. Turns out, as mentioned previously, that the guy was drunker than an outhouse rat and was at the wrong house. Now there is debate as to whether or not to charge the homeowner with manslaughter. Under Colorado law he was within his purview to believe this guy was up to no good and defended his home and family from what he believed to be a potentially violent intruder. Sounds lke a reasonable rationale. My view is that the guy may have been mistaken as to what residence he was at but how was the homeowner to know that? At this point no charges are pending, which I believe to be proper. The guy was drunk out of his mind and the homeowner acted properly to defend his family from what he thought was a grave threat. The burden of guilt here lies with the guy who could not properly limit his alcohol consumption and even with his buddies or the bar tender that let the clown get behind the wheel and drive away blind drunk! Yea , he was certainly at the wrong house, and no blame can be attached to the homeowner for this incident, tragic though it may have ended. I would have done the same thing were I in the homeowners position. Bringing charges against him would be absolutely wrong. Bill O'Reilly is going to do a spot on this tonight...I will watch with interest. Until then...Anyone else have thoughts on this? I'm curious as to how other folks are looking at this

[Filet Mignon]

It's tragic yes, but also avoidable.

I kind of wonder how effective a baseball bat might have been...

[dubyanumberone]

Originally Posted by Filet Mignon

It's tragic yes, but also avoidable.

I kind of wonder how effective a baseball bat might have been...

Why should the homeowner take the guy on in a physical confrontation? Who knows if he's armed or hopped up on meth or angel dust. Why do you think Rodeny King wouldn't stay down even after that beating he took? He was HUGE and on PCP.

This is a sad case but I see no wrongdoing on the part of the homeowner. In fact I feel terrible for the homeowner. He's going to have to live with the fact that he shot someone. Even if you are defending yourself that has to be hard to accept.

[ovcatto]

I don't normally like to opine about about these scenarios, facts are sketchy, and initial reports are normally unreliable. But it seems that unlike many quick draw McGraws, this home owner didn't shoot the guy when he came to the front door, got his wife to call 911, took defensive actions by moving the family away from the threat and not using deadly force until the house was physically broken into. The guy being drunk isn't the issue, all that matter is a judicious belief that one's life is in imminent threat of death or bodily harm. It seems that those criteria were met.

[Filet Mignon]

Originally Posted by dubyanumberone

Why should the homeowner take the guy on in a physical confrontation? Who knows if he's armed or hopped up on meth or angel dust. Why do you think Rodeny King wouldn't stay down even after that beating he took? He was HUGE and on PCP.

This is a sad case but I see no wrongdoing on the part of the homeowner. In fact I feel terrible for the homeowner. He's going to have to live with the fact that he shot someone. Even if you are defending yourself that has to be hard to accept.

I'm not saying the homeowner shouldn't have shot the guy.

If what is reported is factually true, the fault lies completely with the drunk intruder.

Of course, on the other hand, had the homeowner bashed the guy over the head with a bat, the drunk would probably have ended up suing him and getting the guy's house in the settlement.

Maybe shooting him dead really was much better.

[JefferyLn]

It's tragic, but when I read about the intruder, drunk or not, breaking glass to get in, then it was over for me after that.

No criminal charges against the homeowner!!!

[dubyanumberone]

Originally Posted by Filet Mignon

I'm not saying the homeowner shouldn't have shot the guy.

If what is reported is factually true, the fault lies completely with the drunk intruder.

Of course, on the other hand, had the homeowner bashed the guy over the head with a bat, the drunk would probably have ended up suing him and getting the guy's house in the settlement.

Maybe shooting him dead really was much better.

Did the intruder die? I must have missed that. Terrible for all involved but again caused by the intruders recklessness.

[dubyanumberone]

Originally Posted by JefferyLn

It's tragic, but when I read about the intruder, drunk or not, breaking glass to get in, then it was over for me after that.

No criminal charges against the homeowner!!!

I hate to say this but if the homeowner is white and the intruder isn't there is going to be a sh**storm.

[the one]

Ditto!!!!

Originally Posted by ovcatto

i don't normally like to opine about about these scenarios, facts are sketchy, and initial reports are normally unreliable. But it seems that unlike many quick draw mcgraws, this home owner didn't shoot the guy when he came to the front door, got his wife to call 911, took defensive actions by moving the family away from the threat and not using deadly force until the house was physically broken into. The guy being drunk isn't the issue, all that matter is a judicious belief that one's life is in imminent threat of death or bodily harm. It seems that those criteria were met.

[th3vault]

Geez..... this is a controversy? Must be something about Colorado...

I rememeber that story in Houston a year ago or so, where the neighbor shot and killed two burglars in the back running from the house next door, killing both of them. Totally justified under Texas law....