Posted on 01/08/2009 4:40:25 PM PST by SwinneySwitch
One week into the new year, San Antonio residents and police have already used deadly force to protect themselves or their homes in three incidents, resulting in two people dead and two injured.
The shootings follow a year in which residents and police killed more than twice as many people as the previous year in what officials have deemed justified homicides, in which the shooter acted within the law.
A fatal shooting of two suspected home invaders Tuesday night marked the latest example of a resident using deadly force to fend off intruders, authorities said.
“It appears to be a justified shooting,” said Sgt. Gabe Trevino, a San Antonio Police Department spokesman.
Alex Salas, 17, shot two people as the intruders kicked in the front door of his parents' home in the 100 block of Horace Street, according to a police report.
Michael Garcia, 18, was pronounced dead at the scene. Alexander Lopez, 17, was critically wounded and died around noon Wednesday at University Hospital.
Police said Garcia, a documented gang member who was armed Tuesday, collapsed on a sidewalk outside the near North Side home.
“I don't think (Garcia) even had a chance to fire (his weapon),” police Sgt. John Slaughter said.
The resident told police he armed himself after noticing a tan SUV circling the neighborhood suspiciously before two men left the vehicle and kicked in his door. Residents at the home declined to comment Wednesday.
Investigators will try to determine whether the home invasion was related to gang activity, Trevino said. Even if it was gang-related, Salas would still be justified because he was protecting his family and property in accordance with Texas law, police said.
“What the suspects are doing there and what involvement they have with the homeowner, we'll definitely look at it,” Trevino said.
San Antonio's justified homicides more than doubled in 2008 from the previous year, going from seven to 17. Some of the killings were police-involved shootings. Several homicides were justified under state law, including the so-called “castle doctrine,” which allows property owners to use deadly force to protect homes.
Various law enforcement agencies across the country also have reported an increase in justified homicides. George R. Franks Jr., a criminal justice professor at Stephen F. Austin State University, said publicity of high-profile justified shootings has inspired others to take up arms.
“As people see these things happening to folks they identify with, they decide it's time for them to arm themselves,” he said.
Tuesday night's shooting occurred a day after a West Side homeowner shot and injured a 15-year-old boy as the teen and his father allegedly attempted to break into a residence. The 33-year-old homeowner was not charged.
In the third justified shooting, a San Antonio police officer wounded a suspect in an armed robbery and carjacking outside a Northwest Side apartment complex after a high-speed chase Friday. According to police, the suspect tried to point a gun at the officer.
Staff writer Alejandro Martinez-Cabrera contributed to this report.
“Get off my lawn”.
What’s with the quotes around the word “justified”? Nah, the media isn’t biased.
I thought the point of the castle doctrine was to protect PEOPLE in their homes.
Now he wants a motorcycle to drive the 70MPH spaghetti bowl traffic to work...!!
It isn't a term created by the media, it's a LEGAL term.....
and it ticks them off! :-)
Let’s see...more homeowners are armed and protecting their property...so justified shootings are UP.
How about this idiot “reporter” checking to see if break ins and robberies are DOWN.
It’s good news for honest citizens, but to gun controllers it all comes under the category “gun violence.” But make no mistake about it - the news gets around in the criminal world and it absolutely does serve as a deterrent.
I guess a more "proportional" response would be to let the thug fire first, then respond.
If the police and the courts won’t take out the garbage (why should they? It’s their job security), the people will do it.
Keep up the good work!
So, a couple more children have died at the end of a gun. The statitstics just keep coming. /s
If these folks are really serious about gun control they should put a sign on their front lawn that reads, “Unarmed liberal, choose me.”
Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
Ping*
I have noticed that justifiable homicides are listed right in there with murders when the media lists gun crime. Very misleading.
The number of home invasions committed by Mr. Garcia and Mr. Salas will be dropping by 100%.
I think the residents and the police should keep score and see who’s on top at the end of the year. Just a friendly thing.
To be fair, let's at least give the media credit for reporting this story. Accounts where firearms were used legally to defend from crime are usually ignored in the news.
We should start a fund at FR to provide anyone who legally rids the world of a scumbag a box of ammo.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.