05-15-2009, 06:22 AM
I support the many pro-shooter points above.
Until we have all the facts, including how dark it was, night-vision equipment if any, pellet size, deepness of penetration, barrel length, bore, body location, blood trail if any, what parts of the body were hit etc., we shouldn't rule out the possibility that the criminal's death by shotgun at night could have been the result of a close encounter. In addition, "at least" two shots fired COULD mean "just" two shots fired from a double-barrel, both of which could be squeezed off in rapid succession.
We do not know if the criminal was there just to steal. Nor do we know if there was an exchange of words, terroristic threatening, or if there were any gestures or hand movements or running charge by the criminal towards the non-criminal citizen.
I also find it hard to accept the notion that any self-respecting criminal wouldn't carry some type of weapon.
Since the non-criminal citizen is out on bail, we should assume the cops have at least some information in favor of a justifiable homicide. I'm projecting a bit here, but if 2 empty shells were recovered at the scene, it can be a strong indicator of the number of shots fired, and if 2 spent shells did turn up, it would burn my butt that the cops didn't say "it appears" that 2 shots were fired instead of "at least" 2 shots were fired. Typical cop mealy-mouth weasel words.
Until we have all the facts, including how dark it was, night-vision equipment if any, pellet size, deepness of penetration, barrel length, bore, body location, blood trail if any, what parts of the body were hit etc., we shouldn't rule out the possibility that the criminal's death by shotgun at night could have been the result of a close encounter. In addition, "at least" two shots fired COULD mean "just" two shots fired from a double-barrel, both of which could be squeezed off in rapid succession.
We do not know if the criminal was there just to steal. Nor do we know if there was an exchange of words, terroristic threatening, or if there were any gestures or hand movements or running charge by the criminal towards the non-criminal citizen.
I also find it hard to accept the notion that any self-respecting criminal wouldn't carry some type of weapon.
Since the non-criminal citizen is out on bail, we should assume the cops have at least some information in favor of a justifiable homicide. I'm projecting a bit here, but if 2 empty shells were recovered at the scene, it can be a strong indicator of the number of shots fired, and if 2 spent shells did turn up, it would burn my butt that the cops didn't say "it appears" that 2 shots were fired instead of "at least" 2 shots were fired. Typical cop mealy-mouth weasel words.