WELL, SHOOT... JUST SHOOT

[Duchess]

I can see how that could happen. Not defending him nor justifying what he did, simply saying I understand how it could happen. That man never dreamed it was his son, he had just dropped him off. This is just awful.

[HairOfTheDog]

I can easily see it happening in my mind as well, Duchess. And, it's truly heart-breaking.

But, in my opinion, it should not have happened. And, it would not have happened if Georta's dad had followed basic gun safety rules. Don't shoot when you're not clear about your target.

Why go down into the basement with a gun when you can call 911 and go outside your house, armed and waiting to see who's exiting? Dad's life was not being threatened and he had options that did not include subjecting himself to the very real possibility of killing or being killed? (Georta could also have been mistakenly killed by a responding officer, of course, but dad didn't know it was his son.)

Anyway, I suspect that dad won't be charged. He's absolutely devastated, as is clear from his 911 call after the shooting.
UPDATE: http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/201.../78672506/

Though it's a different state, this case remiinds me of the Florida grandma a few pages upthread who shot into the dark room when she heard a noise and ended up hitting her young grandson who'd gotten up to use the bathroom.

[Maggot]

I wonder what kind of neighborhood they live in. It makes a difference if you think its a bear or an intruder. Either way the guy had (a) no gun skills and (b) no common sense. His life will probably spiral down and suck in everyone around him now.

[HairOfTheDog]

Dad told 911 right after the shooting that he'd mistakenly assumed it was an intruder who'd startled him. He didn't think it was a bear in the basement.

But, it wouldn't make a difference to me anyway.

If you have other options but choose to confront an unknown/unseen target using lethal force, whether you 'assume' the target is most likely a bear or instead an intruder, you're putting yourself and others at unnecessary risk. Georta would be equally dead if dad had shot at what he assumed was a bear.

[blueberryhill]

I wonder what kind of neighborhood they live in. It makes a difference if you think its a bear or an intruder. Either way the guy had (a) no gun skills and (b) no common sense. His life will probably spiral down and suck in everyone around him now.

You just validate the case for restricting who gets to buy and or own a firearm....If you can't tell a bear from "intruder," then you are blind and need glasses. In my petition to tighten up gun laws, I would add an eye test. Thanks.....for highlighting another gun owner who is either (a) blind, (b) no gun skills, or © no common sense, (d) all of the above.

President Obama just made his speech and I thought he was brilliant....but he says we have to try to get along better so I will be nicer to you if you promise to do the same and not insult my political views.....

[Maggot]

My allegory seems to have missed the moon.

[Duchess]

He's absolutely devastated, as is clear from his 911 call after the shooting.
UPDATE: http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/201.../78672506/

Oh man.

[SIXFOOTERsez]

Man o man, that sux. Its a little hard to tell what to think, in the audio the dad stated that the kid jumped out at him and scared him. This would have been a very close range engagement and dad hit the target so that eliminated not being able to see, obviously he did see. Lights on or off or being able to correctly ID the target is another matter. Your responsible for the bullet from the time you squeeze the trigger until it stops. IMO it is a bad shoot at this point, lots of stupid decisions led up to it. Ultimately the blame will be on both I think, the kid for setting up a stupid situation and dad for shooting with identifying his target.
There are a lot of things you have to do right in a very short amount of time when you shoot
Bad one

[HairOfTheDog]

Georta Mack is the second person I've read about in less than two weeks who was mistaken for an intruder and shot to death by a parent in their own home.

A woman in Florida, who happens to be a 911 dispatcher for the Sheriff's office, thought there was a burglar in her home. She shot, only to discover she'd hit her 27-year-old daughter.

Dad is a police officer and former undercover narcotics detective; he called 911 but did not tell them their daughter had been shot. The couple only told the 911 operator that their daughter had breathing problems and a pacemaker as they tried to revive her.

Police aren't releasing the names of those involved, reportedly due to dad's previous undercover work.

You would think parents with their backgrounds would know full well about the consequences of shooting first and asking questions later.

Story: http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/30/us/florida...-daughter/

[Donovan]

The 14 yr old's dad is 73 years old. Not that it makes it any less a stupid tragedy, but it does explain some of the vision/fear questions in my mind. Old people tend to be a bit fearful and jumpy and their reactions a bit slower. It's possible he had fired before his mind registered it was his own kid. By most accounts they seem to have gotten along great and were close. Sucks.

[Blindgreed1]

My allegory seems to have missed the moon.

[HairOfTheDog]

The 14 yr old's dad is 73 years old. Not that it makes it any less a stupid tragedy, but it does explain some of the vision/fear questions in my mind. Old people tend to be a bit fearful and jumpy and their reactions a bit slower. It's possible he had fired before his mind registered it was his own kid. By most accounts they seem to have gotten along great and were close. Sucks.

Yeah, dad was pretty old to have a teen.

The story has changed a bit, with police confirmations.

Dad didn't drive Georta to the bus stop, he watched his son walk towards it and then Georta called him and said he was at the bus stop.

When dad heard noises, grabbed his gun, and headed into the basement shortly thereafter, Georta reportedly jumped out at him and yelled "Boo!" That's when dad shot him in the neck.

Anyway, the prosecutor has announced that no charges will be filed against dad.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/no-charges-f...-intruder/

[blueberryhill]

My allegory seems to have missed the moon.

Your quick wit astounds me and I wish I could achieve your brilliance....maybe one of these days.....
Your unremarkable analogies will continue to miss the moon until the cows come home.....May I suggest "Clever Anecdotes for Dummies?"

[sally]

Ultimately the blame will be on both I think, the kid for setting up a stupid situation and dad for shooting with identifying his target.

What? What stupid situation did the kid set up? Coming home from school and entering his own home? I don't know about you, but I'd like to come and go from my own home without a family member mistaking me for a bear or an intruder and shooting me dead. I'd like to think that anyone who does own a gun in my house wouldn't be that careless with it.

[Maggot]

My allegory seems to have missed the moon.

Your quick wit astounds me and I wish I could achieve your brilliance....maybe one of these days.....
Your unremarkable analogies will continue to miss the moon until the cows come home.....May I suggest "Clever Anecdotes for Dummies?"

I will try and use less words next time sugar.

[HairOfTheDog]

NORTH CAROLINA, AGAIN...



Chad Copley, 39, (right) shot and killed 20-year-old Touren Thomas (left) on Monday morning in Raleigh, NC.

According to Copley, Thomas was one of several 'black hoodlums' with 'some devil in them'. He said they had firearms and were racing in the neighborhood at 1:00 a.m. and shouting profanities.

Copley called 911 and told the operator that he was part of Neighborhood Watch; he said he and a neighbor were going to "secure the neighborhood" and "if I were you, I'd send PD quickly." He hung up without providing the address.

Minutes later, a woman from Copley's residence called 911 and gave the address. Copley got on the phone and said he'd fired a warning shot into the street to protect his family. He had fired his shotgun from inside his garage window.

Copley appeared in court today; he is charged with first degree murder and incarcerated until his next appearance in a month. He could face the death penalty if convicted.

Ref (includes 911 calls and transcripts):
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post...3788afe1a5

[HairOfTheDog]

(continued)

Neighbors have disputed Copley’s claims that he was part of a neighborhood watch group, saying the area where he lived, the Neuse Crossing Homeowners Association, didn’t have a group of that kind.

“The association is mainly concerned with covenant enforcement and social functions, like mowing the front entrance and fixing things,” Mike Ellis, a spokesman for the association, told the Raleigh News & Observer. “We do not give residents police powers at all. The homeowners association has certain responsibilities and obligations, and none of that can be construed as law enforcement. We can make you mow your lawn but not law enforcement.”

A 59-year-old resident of Singleleaf Lane, David Parker, told the newspaper he ha lived there since 1996. Parker said they tried to start a community watch several years ago, but it never got off the ground.

Raleigh Police spokesman Laura Hourigan told the News & Observer that watch groups are organized by communities, but said the police work “with neighborhoods with and without community watch groups in the same ways, largely by sharing crime prevention information … and by encouraging all community members to call 911 to report any suspicious people, vehicles or activities.”

Kouran's mother, sister, and girlfriend called him a bit of a comedian who was always smiling. He worked two jobs, at the Waffle House and McDonald's. His mother has hired a civil rights attorney.

Ref: http://heavy.com/news/2016/08/chad-camer...eo-photos/

[HairOfTheDog]

St. Louis, Missouri

I hope the shooter doesn't claim to have been standing his ground or acting in self-defense.

You don't get to shoot people to death because you're pissed off. But that's what appears to have happened in this case...............over an effin' dollar's worth of candy.


Taleb Rebhi Ali Jawher - 39 (pictured left) was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of Christopher Simmons -34 (pictured right).

The shooting reportedly occurred at a gas station in St. Louis, on Sept. 26, after the victim was accused of stealing a bag of candy, worth $1.10, from the gas station.

Court documents said Jawher, a clerk at the gas station, confronted Simmons and the two men argued. Jawher pointed a gun at him and Simmons left the store.

The store clerk then reportedly followed Simmons outside and confronted him again, before shooting him in the back of the head.

When police arrived on the scene, Simmons was found dead outside the store. Simmons reportedly “did not steal or leave the store with candy,” according to the police report. Police arrested Jawher at the time of the incident.

Dorothy Simmons, the victim’s mother, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the family is trying to “find some peace” after the loss of her son. "He was a wonderful young man who was taken from us too soon," she said.

Refs:
http://amp.kansascity.com/news/local/cri...89381.html
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/10/19/gas...y-bag.html

[Duchess]

Sometimes it seems that with each passing day those who value life are fewer and fewer.

[SIXFOOTERsez]

Fry this guy. If it happened as printed above, the asshole shot that guy in cold blood, he was no threat, had left the store and the shooter persued and killed him. Fuck him