Break-in suspect charged with murder after accomplice is shot by homeowner

wave3 ^ | Feb 10, 2009 | Scott Reynolds

[Red in Blue PA]

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - A fatal shooting over the weekend in Louisville has resulted in a murder charge that may be unlike any you have seen in Kentucky. Police say the homeowner who pulled the trigger acted in self-defense and is not being charged. Instead, one of three suspects who broke in is now facing the murder charge.

Children played in the 1700 block of West Oak Street Sunday in front of a home where Louisville Metro Police investigated the shooting death of James Wood, Senior. Police say Wood and his two sons broke into the home. The homeowner fatally shot the father, but now one of the sons that faces a murder rap.

"In a situation where individuals are involved in a felonious act of some type and an individual is murdered or killed, they can also be charged with that murder," said Lt. Barry Wilkerson, commander of the LMPD Homicide unit.

A Kentucky Supreme Court ruling allows the murder charge because the break-in led to the shooting death, even if the suspects did not pull the trigger.

[stylin_geek]

Works for me.

[clee1]

I just love a happy ending.

[boknows]

The best news I’ve heard in weeks.

Lock ‘n’ Load!

[GladesGuru]

“The family that preys together ....”

[blueplum]

a breath of sanity!

[grimalkin]

Sounds good.

[MathDoc]

Children played in the 1700 block of West Oak Street Sunday in front of a home where Louisville Metro Police investigated the shooting death of James Wood, Senior. Police say Wood and his two sons broke into the home. The homeowner fatally shot the father, but now one of the sons that faces a murder rap.

One thug removed permanently from the general population, and a chance to get rid of #2. I'd call that a big win.

[PGalt]

Justice is best carried out whenever possible at the point of the crime by the intended victim AGAINST the criminal.

[Red in Blue PA]

The rest of the country could learn a thing or two (or three) from this case.

An example of justice being served.

[Taylor42]

Sorry, I don’t agree.

[Red in Blue PA]

What is not to agree with?????

[AnAmericanMother]

This is the concept of 'felony murder' and 'parties to a crime'.

It's on the books in every state in the union, so far as I know. Nothing unusual about it.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I agree and think any injury or death that occurs while
a person commits a crime should be charged with murder
or assault to commit murder.

[Troll_House_Cookies]

How can this happen in Obama’s America?! Will he pardon the young man who is obviously a victim of an oppressive and racist society?

[Let's Roll]

“It’s on the books in every state in the union, so far as I know. Nothing unusual about it. “

That’s my understanding too. If you commit an armed robbery, kidnapping, rape etc. and someone is killed even though accidentally or by another party, you are charged with murder.

[MaryFromMichigan]

Ping.

[longtermmemmory]

The reporter is an incompetent.

Someone should revoke his journalism license...

[AnAmericanMother]

But you know, for these reporters, it's like the world began this morning.

Everything's new and a big surprise to them.

[muawiyah]

They do that here in Virginia too. Kind of a Southern thing, but it all makes sense.

Too many people elsewhere are overly concerned with the feelings of the triggerman ~ this eliminates the problem of identifying exactly who in a group commited the crime and who is responsible for the deaths that result.

The public at large shouldn't be held responsible for these crimes and the deaths through fancy-schmanzy runarounds.