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Man shoots would-be robber; is arrested on gun charges [MA]
Allston-Brighton Tab ^ | January 14, 2005 | Erin Smith/ Staff Writer

Posted on 01/15/2005 8:54:08 AM PST by Mr. Mojo

A would-be robber became a victim of his own crime last week after he was shot in the stomach by a Brighton man he was trying to rob, police said.

     Police arrested Sean E. Roisten, 29, of 833 Jette Court, and charged him with unlawful possession of a firearm and assault and battery with a deadly weapon on a robber who was holding Roisten's wife at gunpoint.

     The robbery suspect was transported to the hospital for a gunshot wound to the stomach. The suspect is expected to live. Police seized $59.25, three lighters, a set of keys, a box of Newport cigarettes, a tape cassette, a miniature toy gun, steel wool and a glass tube from the suspect. Police also seized a gun shell fragment with human tissue on it that was removed from the suspect.

     Police are trying to work through various witness accounts and the crime is currently under investigation.

     Roisten told police he was upstairs in his apartment with his wife and 5-year-old daughter waiting for his friend to return from the store with food when he heard a someone at the front door. Roisten called out, but was met with silence, and his wife went downstairs to see who was at the door, police said. When Roisten's wife opened the door, she was greeted by two men in ski masks and one man forced her back up the stairs at gunpoint, police said.

     "He's got a gun!" Roisten told police he heard his wife scream as she was pushed up the stairs. Roisten told police he ran up to the third floor, retrieved his silver Smith and Wesson .40 caliber handgun and took cover behind a kitchen wall. When Roisten peeked around the hallway corner, he saw the robber emerge from the stairs holding his wife in a choke hold and pointing a black handgun at her head, police said.

     The armed robber demanded money. Roisten said he had no money, but told the robber he could take anything from the house if he freed his wife, according to police.

     The second ski mask-clad man then called up to the gunman that it was time to leave. The gunman began descending the stairs with Roisten's wife, police said. Roisten told police he rushed the stairs, slid down the railing, bent the suspect's right wrist and took possession of the gun.

     Later, police received a call for a gunshot victim at 1505 Commonwealth Ave. Roisten then claimed he disarmed the suspect with his left hand and shot the suspect with his right as the suspect fled out of the front door, police said.

     In the rear of 1505 Commonwealth Ave., police found a Sony hand camcorder, a black ski mask and a white skull cap. All were held as evidence.

     A short while later, Roisten's friend returned to the apartment with a gash on the top of his head. The friend told police that while on his way to the store, he encountered a man in front of 32 Fidelis Way who claimed to have lost his keys. When the friend offered to help him find them, the man pulled out a handgun and forced him inside the hallway of 32 Fidelis Way, where they were joined by the second suspect, police said.

     The first suspect demanded, "Give me Sean's keys," but when the victim told the gunmen he did not know what they were talking about, they struck him over the head with the pistol numerous times, police said. The victim told police he eventually gave the suspects his own keys. The suspects then bound the victim's hands behind his back with a belt and his ankles with his shoelaces. The victim finally worked himself free and returned to his friend's apartment. After giving his account to the police, the victim was taken to St. Elizabeth's for medical treatment.

     Police found that Roisten's license to carry a gun expired last August and arrested him. Police took custody of Roisten's gun and the black Colt .45 handgun that Roisten claimed he took from the suspect.

     


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: banglist; donutwatch; mass
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1 posted on 01/15/2005 8:54:09 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: mhking

I'm always glad to be a red-stater, but some days more than others.


2 posted on 01/15/2005 8:57:41 AM PST by Slings and Arrows ("The Internet, where men are men, women are men, and little girls are FBI agents..." --Anon.)
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To: Mr. Mojo

Better to be judged by tweleve than carried by six.


3 posted on 01/15/2005 8:58:25 AM PST by need_a_screen_name
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To: Mr. Mojo

Only in the state that puts a traitor and a murderer in the Senate


4 posted on 01/15/2005 8:59:14 AM PST by snowman1
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To: Mr. Mojo

He needs a permit in his own home for what reason?


5 posted on 01/15/2005 8:59:42 AM PST by SALChamps03
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To: Mr. Mojo
"Roisten told police he rushed the stairs, slid down the railing, bent the suspect's right wrist and took possession of the gun."

Sheesh--who is this guy? Mannix?

6 posted on 01/15/2005 8:59:44 AM PST by silent_jonny (Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7))
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To: Mr. Mojo

I'm surprised they didn't charge him with stealing the thug's gun too.


7 posted on 01/15/2005 9:02:01 AM PST by Fresh Wind (Where does bandwidth go when it is wasted?)
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To: Mr. Mojo
Unless there's significantly more to this story than meets the eye (meaning unless the shooter is a well-known drug dealer, etc.) I am completely disgusted.

I'll keep an eye out in the Boston rags for additional info. If this is as straight up as presented in the story, then something really needs to be done in this Communist Commonwealth...
8 posted on 01/15/2005 9:03:15 AM PST by islander-11 (Save Nantucket - Vote Republican!!!)
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To: Mr. Mojo

How dare this man try to defend his family! This outrage must immediately cease! Quick, call Rep. Carolyn McCarthy-D New York, to make sure next time this burgulars right to kill someones family is protected.


9 posted on 01/15/2005 9:04:06 AM PST by Imaverygooddriver (I`m a very good driver and I approve this message.)
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To: Mr. Mojo

There is a lot more to this story.


10 posted on 01/15/2005 9:04:16 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Drug prohibition laws help fund terrorism.)
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To: silent_jonny

Ya, too much theatrics here.

Head shot at the top of the stairs, instead so much yak yak.
Similar to story from a week ago.
Negotiating with a guy holding a weapon on your wife?
Shoot the bastard while you have a target.
Let him negotiate with God.


11 posted on 01/15/2005 9:07:13 AM PST by G Larry (Admiral James Woolsey as National Intelligence Director)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Agreed. Something doesn't pass the sniff test.


12 posted on 01/15/2005 9:08:59 AM PST by Labyrinthos
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To: Mr. Mojo

As a very strong supporter of the Second Amendment, I have to say there is something very wrong with this story. Either there is a lot more to this story than we have heard or these guys are complete idiots.


13 posted on 01/15/2005 9:09:54 AM PST by ORECON (Condi Rice/Ann Coulter 2008)
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To: Mr. Mojo
Later, police received a call for a gunshot victim at 1505 Commonwealth Ave. Roisten then claimed he disarmed the suspect with his left hand and shot the suspect with his right as the suspect fled out of the front door, police said.

Shooting the guy as he fled, now here's where he went wrong in almost any jurisdiction. If the guy is fleeing and you shoot him you are then the aggressor. Not that he didn't need shooting, it's just unlawful.

14 posted on 01/15/2005 9:11:24 AM PST by OldPossum
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To: G Larry
Eli Wallach from The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: "If you're gonna shoot, SHOOT. Don't talk."
15 posted on 01/15/2005 9:13:36 AM PST by silent_jonny (Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7))
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To: OldPossum

"Shooting the guy as he fled, now here's where he went wrong in almost any jurisdiction..."
Exactly. If the bad guy is fleeing, he is no longer a threat and therefore you can't use deadly force upon him. Although I agree that the bad guy got what he deserved, there are very few states that would allow a shot in the back of a fleeing felon.


16 posted on 01/15/2005 9:16:02 AM PST by Widows Son (Semper Fi!)
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To: Mr. Mojo

Criminals dont like it when you shoot one of their own...so why would the State not protect one of it's own....

An armed robber hostage taker...

A government not of , by, or for The People....


17 posted on 01/15/2005 9:16:51 AM PST by joesnuffy (Moderate Islam Is For Dilettantes)
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To: silent_jonny

Here's a tip if you're ever in a similar situation; NEVER EVER tell the police you shot the bad guy after he started trying to get away. NEVER.

"We struggled, and the gun went off" will do much better.

"He aimed at my wife/me/the kid and I dropped him first" will also be good.

It would be even better if you lived in a Red State, too.

And in the country, rather than the city.

But then...

There's fewer crimes out there because...

The bad guys know everyone has one in the country...


18 posted on 01/15/2005 9:17:17 AM PST by Al Simmons
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To: OldPossum
Shooting the guy as he fled, now here's where he went wrong in almost any jurisdiction. If the guy is fleeing and you shoot him you are then the aggressor. Not that he didn't need shooting, it's just unlawful.

Not in Texas! Yee-ha; we can blow a robbers head off as he retreats, armed or not, without warning. It's called 'Defending your property'. Just toss a salad fork in his pocket; and it's an open and shut case.

If someone comes in an unlocked door, it's justifiable homocide, if you see someone breaking into your truck, same thing. If he runs; well, he'd better run a zig-zag pattern faster than my rifle can track. God Bless Texas.

19 posted on 01/15/2005 9:17:54 AM PST by Hodar (With Rights, comes Responsibilities. Don't assume one, without assuming the other.)
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To: snowman1
Only in the state that puts a traitor and a murderer in the Senate

Dunno, Washington, California and New York are doing pretty well in the traitor race. BTW, the story doesn't add up, but this is my county, so I sure would like to be on the jury.

20 posted on 01/15/2005 9:18:03 AM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets (Deadcheck the embeds first.)
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