Teenager Fatally Shot by Father of 2nd Youth in a Confrontation

NY Times ^ | August 11, 2006 | BRUCE LAMBERT and JULIA C. MEAD

[Pharmboy]

One shot in the ground would have scattered them.

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

Mr. White and his son are black

Whoa. I am confused.

[driftdiver]

"One shot in the ground would have scattered them."

You mean after the sight of the two armed men didnt? It was 5 to 2 when the two were on their own property.

They should have stayed in their house but I can't really fault them for defending themselves.

Of course you could always have called 911 and hoped they responded.

[Pharmboy]

Yep...the five were unarmed and the sound of the shot would have stopped them in their tracks. If they were armed--even with pipes or 2x4s--then shooting at them would have been appropriate, IMO.

[poobear]

Why do they bother mentioning race? Mr. White shot a youth in the street without do cause. Is there more to this story than the bigot reporter is telling us here?

[thiscouldbemoreconfusing]

Mr. Cicciaro pursued Mr. White to his home, arriving there shortly after 11 p.m., they said. “The five individuals pull up in two cars, and when they do, the garage door opens and exiting are the son with a shotgun and his father with a handgun,”

That is about the time reasonably sane individuals would have left. And while differant states have differant laws, if the five stepped onto the White's property, in many states they would be justified in using deadly force.

But since this is an newspaper account I would be amazed if they even have the names right.

[Pharmboy]

Question of bias crime was raised in the article.

[Wormwood]

"The weapon used was an unlicensed semiautomatic, the police said..."

What is this 'license' they speak of?

/Some days it's better to be a Floridian.
//Some days, at least.

[sassygirl]

Maybe.. maybe not, but he probably should have tried it first.

Sad story all the same.

[driftdiver]

"Yep...the five were unarmed and the sound of the shot would have stopped them in their tracks. If they were armed--even with pipes or 2x4s--then shooting at them would have been appropriate, IMO."

I just don't believe in warning shots. I've always been taught that if you don't have reason to kill someone you shouldn't be pulling the trigger.

If the sight of the guns didn't deter these 5 young adults then how do you know the sound of a warning shot wouldn't have just escalated the issue?

[raybbr]

Although the police said they did not consider the shooting a bias crime, racial remarks were used by the pursuing teenagers in the phone calls and at the confrontation in front of the Whites’ house, according to Mr. White’s lawyer, Daniel T. Driscoll.

He said the pursuing teenagers “were using insults,” and derogatory terms, while the White family had “absolutely no” racial motivation.

That clear it up for you?

[sassygirl]

Mentioning that Mr. White and his son are black is being a biggot?

[poobear]

I didn't really catch the bias with all the snips. Mr. White has the proverbial race card chip on his shoulder?

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

It was the "Mr. White is black" thing. I was trying to make a joke on his name. I actually understood the article. Maybe it wasn't that funny.

[Pharmboy]

The white boys who invaded the White's property were evidently using racial slurs.

[driftdiver]

" He said the pursuing teenagers “were using insults,” and derogatory terms, while the White family had “absolutely no” racial motivation."

I don't buy the "no racial motivation" on his part if the pursuing young adults were using racial insults. All the same, they shoulda known better than to chase this guy back to his house.

[raybbr]

Oh... I get it now. :*)

[Dionysius]

Journalism One-Oh-Dumb.

[raybbr]

I don't buy the "no racial motivation" on his part if the pursuing young adults were using racial insults. All the same, they shoulda known better than to chase this guy back to his house.

I don't understand. If five white guys are chasing one black guy and they are calling him names how does that also implicate the one black guy?

[Pharmboy]

The sound of a gunshot changes everything. And, I have heard what you have heard my whole life also, but these kids evidently did not have tire irons in their hands. If they did, I'm with you--no warning shots.