Posted on 12/17/2004 7:00:10 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
Police say it appears to be a straight forward case of self defense that ended with a robber fighting for his life.
Investigators say around 8:30 Wednesday night two armed robbers busted into the side door of a home on Best Street in Buffalo's east side. The homeowner, a man in his 40s, was eating dinner at his kitchen table, according to relatives. Turns out he also had a gun and fired at the two men. Police say he struck at least one of them.
The robbers ran out of the house, say police, and the man who was shot collapsed around the corner on Meyers Street. He was taken to Erie County Medical Center where he is in critical condition, say police. The other robber escaped.
Police say the homeowner probably will not be charged. For one, he is a licensed gun owner, and second, it appears he did nothing wrong.
"If someone came into my house with a gun, I would have done the same thing as him," said Sgt. Jim Lonergan of the Buffalo Police Department.
Relatives of the homeowner say he bought a gun because his home has been robbed and vandalized several times in the last few months. He also walks with a cane. That may make him an easy target.
Police are not releasing the name of the man shot. They also say they do not have a good description of the second robber.
Be on the lookout for a desperado with brown drawers!
What did he have on the table for dinner -- a hamburger, fries, and a .38?
Too bad he missed the other robber.Good thing the PD says the shooting was justifiable. Now all he has to worry about is being sued.
I read recently that in the US, around 10% of home break ins occur while the homeowner is present. In the UK, they said it was around 50%. The lower number in the US couldn't possibly have anything to do with our right to keep and bear arms, could it? /s
If I ever had a home break-in/robbery when I was in the home, I'd have a gun handy every minute I was home.
If I was afraid of burglars, and could't move too fast, I'd carry it in a holster at all times. That might be what he was doing.
A few years back, Madonna's house in London was robbed while the family slept, and despite the recent addition of a fancy security system. When even extremely wealthy people can't protect themselves, you know it's bad.
Not a bad idea if you've been robbed and vandalizes several times in the last few months.
Burger, fries and a 12ga might be an even better idea.
Probably. A surprising number of people carry in their own homes, particularly if they've had a bad experience with intruders. I had an aunt who slipped a revolver into her apron pocket when she answered the door!
Question. Wasn't there a case where some guy, who was robbed before, waited with a shotgun (at his home or business, I forget)? When the burglar came through the window, he blew him away and was charged with murder?
I think the charge was based more on the fact that he waited for the bad guy, and less on the fact that he wasn't in "fear for his life". If you follow.
Now, I support this guy 100% and am sorry he didn't get both of them. But it seems as though he's walking a fine line here, and he might have been charged with a less tolerant prosecutor.
He may still be, it the bad guy dies or if the "bad guy" is some straight-A, 18-year-old white suburban kid with rich parents.
Thoughts?
Good thinking, poor shooting...
That's a BAD neighborhood. A relative of mine used to live there when it started going bad. They killed his dog because it barked and warned people they were around....made it harder to rob your house.
I'm compiling a "defensive use of firearms" ping-list. If you'd like to be on it, Freepmail me and let me know.
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