Posted on 02/27/2005 6:43:56 PM PST by Mr. Mojo
Injured teen's family wants charges, but homeowner claims self-defense
OAKLAND — A North Oakland man branded a "snitch" because he reports and photographs drug dealers around his home may face assault charges after shooting and wounding a 16-year-old neighbor who confronted him in his front yard.
Neighbors and police have rallied to the defense of Patrick McCullough, who they believe only shot the youth in self-defense. The youth's mother is pressing the district attorney to file charges.
Deputy District Attorney James Lee said Friday his investigation of the Feb. 18 incident is over and a decision should be made next week. Lee could be charged with assault or carrying a concealed weapon, or not charged at all, Lee said.
McCullough, who lives near Bushrod Park with his wife and young son, said he had spent part of that Friday afternoon watching Power Ranger cartoons with his son before heading out to shop for dinner, leaving his wife and son at home.
When he walked outside, McCullough said about a dozen young men and a couple of women were standing in front of his house. Someone called him a snitch, and when he replied, the 16-year-old charged him, McCullough said. They traded blows, McCullough said and the group started circling around; somebody threw a stick at him.
At that point, he said, the 16-year-old ran to a separate group standing near his neighbor's property, and he heard him ask for a pistol. When McCullough saw another man lift his shirt, showing a gun in his waistband, and the youth reach for it, McCullough said he feared for his life and didn't hesitate.
McCullough said he was aiming for the youth's torso and hit him in the arm. McCullough was arrested and spent the night in jail. The youth, who'Snitch' claims
self-defense
lives down the street, was taken to Highland Hospital and treated for a damaged artery, Lee said.
McCullough and his wife moved into the home in 1994 with the help of Oakland's first-time homebuyers' program, which requires them to keep the house for 20 years.
He has made no attempt to hide his reports to the police when he sees drug dealing in the neighborhood, and in April 2003 he caught the ire of Wayne Camper, who, with two associates, beat and kicked him in his front yard.
Camper was charged with assault. In the middle of the trial, Camper was shot and killed by a rival drug dealer.
McCullough said he has suffered much more harassment since then, and started carrying a gun, which he has owned for quite awhile, whenever he leaves the house. Just a few months ago, he said, somebody heaved a 15-pound chunk of concrete through his front window.
He said he is not a vigilante but someone who has been forced to protect himself and his family in the sanctity of his home.
"If I was a vigilante, and I have weapons, why haven't I gone out and shot anybody?" he asked. "I didn't shoot Camper, and if this kid hadn't said 'give me a gun,' I wouldn't have shot him either."
Lt. Lawrence Green, PSA commander for North Oakland, has gone to bat for McCullough and stepped up patrols around his house.
"He's the victim, he's the one that was dumped by a group of kids," Green said.
"They precipitated the entire event, and when they are referring to him as a snitch, they are upset about him calling police.
"It's an escalation of events that started with Wayne Camper. Nothing would have happened if the kids would not have confronted him," Green added.
McCullough said he plans to petition the city to let him out of the contract with no economical hardship because staying in the house is not safe for him or his family.
Hope he gets time off for good behavior....
If you knew Oakland, like I know Oakland -- especially that location, I sure am not siding with the mother of the "victim". I'm with the homeowner.
Also, even if the D.A. does the right thing and gives this guy a medal, I can guarantee the bastard punk's mommy is going to sue in civil court and ruin him financially. She, on the other hand, will find some liberal fascist gun grabbing whacko group to pay her lawyer fees.
Where's the parents of these kids? They should be charged as accessories to the crimes their kids are committing, with apparent regularity.
A common complaint among police officers in my city is that catching the crooks makes no difference because the left-wing judges make it impossible for the prosecution to put these crooks away. For example, the judges forbid the prosecution from showing the defendent's past criminal history to the jury.
I think most people can tell whats going on here.
Drug dealers running the neighborhood.
Time to relocate.
Compared to what we have to deal with here, in the North-East, there is absolutely no excuse for anyone in the Oakland area to resort to illegal means. They have four seasons of moderate temperature, all of it beautiful. Every day is a perfect 50 degrees to 75 degrees. There aren't even any in bothersome insects to deal with.
You can live very comfortably with a minimal investment in housing, no heating, no insulation, there isn't even that much rain. The public transportation is excellent and every street has beautiful sidewalks, on both sides of the road. The only hardship are the people which you must deal with. Because the environment is so easy, I believe that it allows the insane to prosper. But what about Canada then?
In the end, I left because I missed the seasons. I lost track of time without them, there was no urgency.
Prayers for Mr. McCullough's safety.
He may be a hero but he needs to work on his aim.
Ha! It's a "cultcha" thing. Hanging out with da hood is a cultcha thang. And their mommas will get in yer face over how hard their lives are, and how dare you insinuate their child is causin' problems. Why you must be a racist or oreo. I've heard this one a zillion times. And of course the screwed up lawyers who wanna keep racism alive, at the expense of messed up kids, just keep on fuelin this type of "neglect" of children. Sometimes, neglect is far worse than.. dare I say it... "spanking!" (running away.....)
Yeah, the weather is so good, some folks just gotta stir up trouble for others. That's over 30 years of living throughout the Bay Area has taught me.
The shot young man, and his mother, and all others of their ilk can take a long walk off a short pier.
No good dead goes unpunished.
The City suckers folks in to buy homes in Oakland with that program, and then doesn't provide basic police protection from street thugs and gangs selling drugs in his driveway.. go figure...
The City should buy the guy out, it effectively created the mess and environment folks are caught up in, imo.
Supposedly, the parents of the shot thug are going to sue the homeowner,, this guy will need some legal and defense fund help at this rate.
The other great thing about Berkeley was that you could go into lunch places, as a young single coed and get a table and have others join you, or join people at their tables. Then, just enjoy a nice a meal with good company and leave, none of this big deal 'relationship maintence' which is all so important here, or be isolated, literally.
Ok Ok, the real key is that I was young, beautiful, and care free then.
Be well!
Amen!
Is Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown still Mayor of that fine city?
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