Police: Victim Shot, Killed Garage Intruder

Local6.com ^ | 7/23/07 | Staff

[highimpact]

TITUSVILLE, Fla. -- Titusville resident William Herring acted in self-defense when he grabbed a gun and shot two intruders who attacked him in his garage early Sunday morning, killing one of them, police investigators said.

It's the third fatal shooting in Titusville in three weeks, but unlike the other two, police are not looking at it as a criminal offense, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported. Herring, 46, has not been charged. Herring was working in his garage at 908 S. Washington Ave. in downtown Titusville when he spotted two men on his property "in an area they didn't belong," Assistant Police Chief John Lau said. The two men attacked Herring with a pipe and tire iron, and he grabbed a handgun that he kept in the garage and shot at them three times, Lau said.

Herring then called 911 to report the shooting, officials said. When officers arrived at 12:30 a.m., they found 44-year-old William Wade Hose, of Mims, dead.

Christopher J. Zagorski, 47, also of Mims, was taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne with serious injuries. He was listed in critical condition on Sunday.

"Both shooting victims knew the (resident), and there appears to have been some type of feud between them," Lt. Todd Hutchinson said in a release.

Investigators were still trying to determine the nature of their relationship, Lau said.

"We've had nothing in the past to make us think that this would happen," Lau said.

A pipe and tire iron were found at the scene, according to officials. Herring had wounds consistent with being hit with a blunt object, investigators said.

[highimpact]

Ping

[lexington minuteman 1775]

If there was some sort of feud it may not be “self defense” will need more info here.

[paddles]

"When officers arrived at 12:30 a.m., they found 44-year-old William Wade Hose, of Mims, dead."

Hose, it would seem, had been hosed.

[stm]

[Joe Miner]

Don’t bring a pipe or tire iron to a gun fight; unless you are a Marine.

[DaveLoneRanger]

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I was just reading this story a few minutes ago, and pulled it and another story up to post...AFTER the pledge drive had been met. :-) Since you posted, I'll go ahead and ping it. Everyone, please take a minute to stop by and donate if you haven't already.

Some concerns had been raised about the "feud" mentioned in this article. According to FloridaToday, the police are, quote, "confident William Herring shot ... in self-defense."

[Red Badger]

Just because there may be a feud, one can still shoot in self defense...........

[Red Badger]

Hose sprang a leak........

[monkeycard]

There is that thing about a feud but it does not take away from the fact that this was an act of self defense.

[Steamburg]

His property, they attacked him, the only question unanswered, in FL, not CA, is did he invite them first?

[arbooz]

Here’s to hoping the other one joins his buddy soon.

[VeniVidiVici]

they found 44-year-old William Wade Hose, of Mims, dead.

Local joke: Mims = my Mother Is My Sister

[Cobra64]

Just because there may be a feud, one can still shoot in self defense...........

Agreed.

[looscnnn]

Looks like William Wade got Hosed.

[Sherman Logan]

Unusual behavior for guys in their late 40s.

[gridlock]

If the paramedics had one of these on the truck, the victim would still be alive... although two to four inches shorter...

[looscnnn]

My favorite part of the article:

“Both shooting victims”

These 2 morons are not victims they are perps.

[Red Badger]

What HE needed was some “DUCK” tape.......

[VRWCmember]

If there was some sort of feud it may not be “self defense” will need more info here.

It doesn't matter if there has been "some sort of feud" in the past or not. If two people attack you on your property with a pipe and a tire iron, then when you shoot them it is self-defense.

[wastedyears]

Twofer, shot AND killed.

[sig226]

“Invitation” doesn’t matter in Florida. As soon as their intentions became clear, which was obvious due to the improvised weapons and history, then Herring had a reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury. He was entitled to use deadly force to defend himself. The location makes no difference in Florida, as long as Herring was not himself doing something illegal and force was threatened to make him stop.

[When do we get liberated?]

what is that?

[snuffy smiff]

and the problem is...?

[gridlock]

Garden hose repair kit. Just cut out the damaged section, put in the new connectors, screw them together and presto!

Rednecks use duct tape. Hose repair kits are classier, though...

[highimpact]

and the problem is...?

Did I say there was a problem? I haven't even commented. I just posted the article.

[stevie_d_64]

What a hoser!

[Steamburg]

You are right, I almost dropped into a what if mode by thinking of the Castle Doctrine rather than the right to defend yourself without retreat. How much more polite the world becomes when thugs are not given the right to intimidate.

[Antonello]

My favorite part of the article:

“Both shooting victims”

These 2 morons are not victims they are perps.

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vic·tim
1. a person who suffers from a destructive or injurious action or agency

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It appears you are relying on a different definition of 'victim' than the rest of the world.

[magslinger]

It is always acceptable to bring a Marine to a gunfight. As a matter of fact, that is number two of the Naval rules for a gunfight.

[tubebender]

I see the problem. This Hose has a kink in it...

[BykrBayb]

Rather unusual headline. I thought it was a joke, you know? Like "How we'd like the news to be reported." It was too honest. Then I got to "Both shooting victims..." and I realized the writer was just a little slow.

[BykrBayb]

Rednecks use duct tape. Hose repair kits are classier, though...

Rednecks, Red Badgers, and me. ; )

[BykrBayb]

They weren’t victimized. They were just receiving their pay. I say they’re shooting recipients.

[highimpact]

I had the same thought about the headline. “Did I read that right?” But you can’t really expect the media to be on the side of a gun owner, unless of course he’s trying to snatch a screaming cuban boy out of the closet to ship him off to a communist dictatorship.

[Veggie Todd]

The two men attacked Herring with a pipe and tire iron...

Never bring a pipe and tire iron to a gunfight.

[snuffy smiff]

Oh no, no problem. At least, I don’t have a problem with it. At all. I guess I was directing that towards anyone who might have a problem.

[ridesthemiles]

If there was some sort of feud it may not be “self defense” will need more info here.”

I don’t care if it was the Hatfields and the McCoys fued.

This man was in HIS GARAGE on HIS PROPERTY. He was minding his own business.
They attacked him with a pipe and perhaps something else. They weren’t looking to clean out his zits from the sound of the article.
I think this guy had EVERY RIGHT to DEFEND himself.
It doesn’t sound like they were on the lawn or at the edge of the property. They cornered him in the Garage. How many doors would the average garage have? Mine has a people door and a garage door. If I am “inside” the garage, I don’t have an escape route. I will defend myself any way that I can.