Teen pulling prank killed by neighbor

The Palm Beach Post ^ | Sunday, October 26 | Sarah Eisenhauer and Cynthia Kopkowski

[On the Road to Serfdom]

Maybe the neighbors did not see him hiding. But this homeowner did see him. A 6 foot male hiding who you did not see until you opened the door would be very scary. Any sudden moves by this person could be interpreted as a threat.

[muawiyah]

The way things turned out in Louisiana the law says you can kill a man (woman or child) for knocking on your door even if you do not have a locking gate at your properline and have neglected to post your property.

It's a very good reason for people to NOT live in Louisiana.

[Freedom2specul8]

"longtermmemmory's" opinion is that the kid was standing at the doors of all the neighbors houses until the homeowners opened their doors. The article states that when the other neighbors opened the door, no one was there. My first thought (before I read the entire article) was that a scared elderly neighbor called the guy with the gun and warned him in advance or asked him for help...but that wasn't his defense so....

[Freedom2specul8]

That's what I want to know..was the kid at the door or hiding.. I hope someone will follow up and ping us all to updates.

[carl in alaska]

I agree. If this guy was afraid of a burgaler, why did he answer the door? In that case, he would have not answered the door and instead taken a position where he could fire on the door if an intruder broke it down.

I remember an incident when I was doing a sales presentation and I was nervous. I went back to my car to get some more materials and accidentally walked into the wrong house. Does that give someone the right to shoot me? I don't think so. There has to be some evidence of intent to harm the homeowner. Sometimes people pull pranks, accidentally knock on the wrong door, or even walk into the wrong house by accident. Looks like this homeowner was too eager to shoot somebody.

[Freedom2specul8]

btw, I agree with you about the sudden moves and threat part...hence my automatic response is to not answer the door.

[On the Road to Serfdom]

Yes, we need more information.

[muawiyah]

Let's see, just who are we comparing to the Commies? Is it the homeowner ~ he didn't respect that kid's life, right?

Or, are you comparing the kid to the Commies because he rang a doorbell?

How about this one that's just as meaningful ~ next time the kids down there play "ring and run", they should carry their own firearms with them lest they run into a humorless homeowner who wants to kill one of them. Then they can have a "Dirty Harry" type event; maybe even blow the whole house away.

[Middle Man]

I played "ring and run" as a kid. I'm sure we were a nuisance to the adults in the neighborhood, but this is insane. I don't believe for a second this guy thought the boy was holding a weapon.

[Freedom2specul8]

Good points!

[On the Road to Serfdom]

It's a very good reason for people to NOT live in Louisiana.

If I remember correctly the case being referred to, the Japanese excange student charged at the homeowner while pretending to attack him. This is because he did not realize he had the wrong house for the costume party. He thought the homeower's gun was part of a costume. The homeowner yelled "Freeze" and only shot after the exchange student ignored his words and kept "attacking".

[Freedom2specul8]

In all the safety courses I've taken, and ground rules that should be memorized by every gun owner..know your target and beyond.

[Freedom2specul8]

Oh my gosh... That is just unreal..

[On the Road to Serfdom]

...and another reason to distrust this article. If you read the article where it talkes about the exchange student you are left with the impression that he just rang the bell, the homeowner just opened the door and shot him for no reason.

[On the Road to Serfdom]

Here is the part from the article:

A man in Louisiana was cleared of wrongdoing in 1993 after he shot a Halloween-costumed Japanese exchange student knocking on his door looking for a party in 1992. He turned himself in after a grand jury had indicted him on charges of manslaughter in the killing of Yoshihiro Hattori of Nagoya, Japan. Hattori's friend testified in the trial that he was carrying a camera when they knocked on Rodney Peairs' door.

Quite different from what really happened. No mention of the fact that he charged at the homeowner who was pointing a gun at him and yelling "FREEZE!"

[not_apathetic_anymore]

Clearly we're all playing 'what if' with the little bit of information we have.

Here's another scenario: Maybe the homeowner's door didn't have a window or peephole. He hears the doorbell ring, it wakes him up - it's late at night and he takes his gun with him. Maybe he does call out who is it (or not) no info one way or the other. But assume he does. He gets no answer and thinks (perhaps still a little groggy)... wierd ... but I have my gun I'll just open the door and glance out. AT that point the young man starts to take off, he's startled because 1) he's already called out and there was no answer and 2)it's late at night and dark. He fires and tragedy for everyone ensues.

[durham62]

You were not there. You have no way of knowing that any of those assertions are true. I'll wait for the police and DA to make a finding of fact.

Actually I met with the kid who was with Mark and he told me Mark had no weapon. He was not lying.

[muawiyah]

The exchange student, of course, had not attacked anyone. He thought he was at the right house, nothing more than that.

Actually, it doesn't matter what the homeowner thought, he went out to shoot the kid because his wife asked him to, and all married men know about that one. She knew Louisiana law regarding folks on your porch is decidedly UNFRIENDLY! We can only imagine what she did to him after he screwed it all up and caused her public embarrassment.

[k omalley]

The last time I played "ring and run" I was nine years old. My parents found out about it and I was in trouble, grounded for two weeks. Sixteen years old is a little old to be playing this game. And sixteen year olds should have the maturity to think about the consequences of their actions. The guy who shot the kid definitely over-reacted, but who knows, maybe he had been the victim of a crime before and was on edge.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Aw crap! You're supposed to read the Whole article?! I'll take Lazmatazs' defense..:-)

ROFLMAO ...... well I would have let you off until you claim THAT!!!!!