Posted on 07/24/2014 10:08:32 AM PDT by marktwain
(LONG BEACH, CA.) -- They came to the wrong house to do a B & E (break and enter) that night and they most certainly frightened and roughed up the wrong 80-year old man.
For one of the invader-robbers that night, a woman, it was indeed a fatal error in the victim selection process.
Tom Greer, an 80-year-old retiree arrived at his home in Long Beach Tuesday night to find a man and a woman in the middle of a late night break in, ransacking the place.
Greer told L.A.'s KNBC-TV as soon as he got inside both robbers tackled him, "Both of them jumped up on top of me," after they threw him to the ground he said.
The next day he had to be treated at a hospital for a severe shoulder and collarbone injury.
But during the attack on Greer the robbers didn't know that somehow he had gotten a hold of his .22 caliber revolver.
A .22 is a terribly puny, underpowered cartridge for self-defense, most firearms instructors would say, but in a pinch it's better than throwing a rock.
Greer told the station, "I come back and they see me with a gun, and they run," he said.
The man got away, but as they were both running in an alley behind the house. Greer fired his weapon at them and the woman fell after being hit by a bullet.
Greer said the woman pleaded, 'Don't shoot me, I'm pregnant! I'm going to have a baby!' And I shot her anyway," he said.
Greer said after he fired the shots, "She was dead. I shot her twice, she best be dead ... (The man) had run off and left her."
(Excerpt) Read more at skyvalleychronicle.com ...
I just think the fear that they would return a 4th time to attack an old man and steal his property will be part of the defense and part of the prosecutor’s decision on charges.
When people like you judge an 80 yo man who was just beaten up by two thugs, I can only say this: I hope something like this happens to you someday.
My situation would be if a wounded woman was on the ground pleading for her life and her unborn child I would not have shot her as this guy and you would do. Jackass.
Skydancer,I appreciate your participation on these forums and value your opinion.
Red in Blue PA, you do some good work here on freerpublic, but wishing for a bad situation for Skydancer is a bit over the top.
Both - I think that there may be more than we have heard form this article. Let’s not get overheated on what is likely incomplete reporting.
Good point. Thanks.
It does not sound like self defense.
Provoke an adrenaline rush in a tired and battered 80 year old man and you are not likely to induce rational thought. Anger at being robbed and beaten took over and it cost her life. It will probably cost him his freedom.
Her accomplice/boyfriend, if found, should be brought up on murder charges for what happened, whatever the DA decides to do with the old man.
Good explanation of a reason why the justice system is broken. Some murderers get off free without doing time - cops who kill "suspects", often individuals who have done no crime but are perceived by the cop as a threat. On the other hand, here is an old guy who is not a threat to anyone, won't harm anyone again, and killed because he was victimized by violent thieves doing him harm. I would acquit him also.<<
Your logic is the same as mine. If a cop can get away with it why can't a civilian, especially an 80 year old man who just got the crap beat out of him ?
I agree He was justified in His action.
Bad news is this is in Kooafornia and the “system” will hose Him up one side and down the other.
The perfect case for JURY NULLIFICATION.
However the 1st thing out of the Lefty judges mouth to the Jury will be “don’t even think about that thing call Jury Nullification in MY Court!”
If this was a cop it would not even have made the news more than likely.
Maybe. Maybe not. They arrested her boyfriend and charged him with murder, but have not arrested Greer.
If I were on his jury, I would vote for acquittal.
If you were on the jury, how would you vote? Knowing the facts released so far, would you convict him?
That's why it's important that people who understand what the law is supposed to be about serve on juries.
I used to be one of those who avoided jury duty. Not any more. Now, I'm the justice system's worst nightmare as a juror. Not only will I serve, but I will judge not only the facts of the case, but also the law and the application of it.
I'll make sure my fellow jurors understand that's their responsibility, too. If we decide that the law or its application are wrong, it's our duty to acquit the accused.
The people who were robbing Greer's house and then beat him thought they just had to run away and they'd be safe to rob and beat another day. Greer made sure one of them won't have that chance.
If he were to be charged and brought to trial and if were on the jury, I would vote for acquittal.
Why isn’t ammo available anymore? I go to WalMart and they are always out. I need 25 hollow point and 38 and 22 for rifle.
I just want to stock up
>>> Why isn’t ammo available anymore?
Well, it’s still available... just not very accessible.
Wal-Mart heavily restricts the ammount of .22 it distributes to stores... Why? probably a mixture of PC corporate mentality, combined with Gov induced shortages.
Now that the last lead smelting plant in the US is shut down, and the last gunpowder manufacturer is on it’s way out, it’s only going to get worse.
Stock up now.
Based on just what the story said? Yes. Regardless of what had led up to the shooting, the threat to his life was over. The two were fleeing. He shot and wounded one and then basically executed her. That's murder and not self defense.
In California you can't shoot a fleeing robber. In Texas, you can.
Keep in mind that in all likelihood this was not the first burglary these two had committed, and had they successfully fled the scene without injury, this would not have been the last. They would have laughed about the close call and about beating up the 'old man' and promised each other to be more careful the next time.
IMO, Greer did society a favor.
No doubt. But there is the old expression that some people are alive just because it's illegal to kill them. And scum or not, it's illegal to just shoot someone when it isn't a case of self defense.
Not sure of the status of California’s “fleeing felon” law, but that might apply.
Legality will be determined by whether the DA decides to press charges. If so, it will then be up to the jury to decide whether to convict.
If the DA declines to file and/or the jury declines to convict, then it was legal for him to do so.
Some more information: She was not pregnant. He probably fired the first shots in his house.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3185135/posts
“McDonnell would not say whether Miller was shot in the back as Greer said. He also declined to say how many shots were fired and whether either of the suspects was hit inside the house before fleeing.”
Bottom line is she pleaded for her life and according to the guy he shot her. Twice. On the ground.
I am not convinced that we know what you say. I am unclear if she was on the ground when he shot her twice, or at what point she lied to him about being pregnant and plead not to be shot.
I am sure that we will find out more as the investigation continues.
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