Posted on 11/21/2009 5:40:41 AM PST by marktwain
Many people will sympathize with an Arlington, WA man who fired a couple of shots at a burglary suspect who later turned up dead with jewelry belonging homeowner’s wife in his pocket, because the homeowner has now been arrested for investigation of second-degree murder.
Keira S. Earhart was booked into the Snohomish County Jail and is being held there on $1 million bail. The man he shot, Ryan A. Rzechula, 25, of Stanwood, has a criminal record, according to the Everett Herald.
What allegedly occurred in this case will need some sorting out, but the basic facts are that Earhart arrived home Nov. 16 to find Rzechula running from his house. Earhart discovered that some of his wife’s jewelry was missing and called the Snohomish County Sheriff Deputies responded, including a K-9 unit, but a search failed to find the suspect. A few hours later, Earhart apparently spotted the same man hiding in a nearby ditch, yelled at him as he started to run, fired a couple of shots at him, and then called the sheriff again. This time, a deputy arrived, checked the area, found nothing and departed.
On Wednesday – a day and a half after the incident – a neighbor found Rzechula’s body lying in a creek on his property. The medical examiner found at least one bullet wound in Rzechula, along with jewelry that matched the description of stolen items reported by Earhart.
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
Well it is hunting season.....;-)
Ping.
And keep in mind that if you shoot someone in the back who is running away, you’re going to have a tough time selling that it was “self defense.”
That’s right. Unless it’s clear and obvious that the dirtbag had a weapon, keep your mouth shut. Even if the dirtbag does have a weapon, say nothing except to point that out. You want the cops to know you saw it. If possible, take a picture of the cops picking it up off the dirtbag. That’s your ticket out. Ask them for the serial number. They probably won’t give it to you, but ask anyway.
INDIANA
the times
Nearly 100 weapons exchanged for $50 gift cards
Gun exchange exceeds expectations
By Stan Maddux - Times Correspondent | Posted: Saturday, November 21, 2009 12:05 am
MICHIGAN CITY | Gift cards for guns were given out so rapidly, police in Michigan City had to go to Walmart to reload.
Money to purchase more $50 gift cards ran out in just one hour. Police going in figured they had enough gift cards to last two days.
“We exceeded our expectations completely,” Michigan City Police Sgt. Chris Yagelski said.
The “More Buck for the Bang” program was supposed to begin at 10 a.m. but people lining up early outside the police station with guns to exchange for extra spending cash forced police to open the doors 30 minutes sooner.
When the dust settled, a total of 94 handguns, shotguns, rifles and BB guns were collected.
In comparison, about 50 guns in a 48-hour period were turned in under a similar gift exchange program last year.
Yagelski said the first 64 gift cards provided totally by Walmart were given out almost right away.
Police department funds were scraped together to purchase another 30 gift cards — which quickly vanished, too.
“It was amazing,” Yagelski said.
Guns ranged from an old military-style rifle, a rusted sawed-off shotgun and derringer often carried by women in their purses were turned in.
Just one of the guns had to be disarmed.
The handguns will go into a bulletproof glass case now containing more than 300 firearms confiscated in recent years in drug raids and other crime scenes. The case is on display in the police station lobby to make a visual impact about the dangers of guns.
Michigan City Police Chief Ben Neitzel said the main thrust of the exchange program is to reduce the number of guns in homes for burglars and thieves to steal.
Stolen firearms — when exchanged for drugs — many times end up on the streets, he said.
Yagelski said he believes the economy had something to do with the huge response.
“Fifty dollars worth of groceries or Christmas shopping is something that people are digging in their closets for guns saying, ‘I don’t need that anymore,’” Yagelski said.
If I’m on the jury, he walks.
An example would be a bank robber that shoots up the bank during the robbery. The suspect has a demonstrated willingness to use violence in his crime.
What seems to be a common denominator here?
Really? I will never have that problem, cause I live in Texas and if my property or person is in danger, then the burglar is dead where he/she/it stands or crawls.... in fact my neighbor can kill someone on my property if he sees that burglars are stealing from me.
I agree with the earlier posts... give your name, be polite but don't say anything except I want a lawyer...period. No statement, no "I'm sorry he's dead", nothing. "I WANT A LAWYER, NOW... PLEASE." Then shut your cake hole till one shows up.
Make sure you have a “drop gun” handy.
Most average Joe-citizen people don’t keep a “drop gun” handy, wouldn’t know how to go about getting one, and it isn’t necessary anyway. All that would do in most cases is incriminate the “dropper.” It’s a much easier path to reasonably perceive a threat than it is to explain why a witness saw you drop an extra gun by the body of the assailant and wrap his hand on it to make him look like he was carrying it. Then explain why it has his right-hand prints even though he was left-handed. I hate it when that happens. ;)
..explain why it has his right-hand prints even though he was left handed. I hate it when that happens.)
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Couldn’t you use that info to show how deranged he really was? Or he must have dropped his OTHER gun someplace while chasing you?????
I like the ‘shooting tips card (Self-Defense Guideline Card)’ I have... it tells you (in no particular order)
Talk to NO ONE but your lawyer and when the cops get there
ask for medical treatment for shock.
AND MOST IMPORTANT (IMNSHO)
Do NOT express remorse to anyone including the police. lest “I didn’t mean to do it” gets equated with guilt...
That’s the solution right there - keep hanging the jury until the prosecutor finds someone else to harass or decides to actually go after a real, live, dangerous criminal.
“Arlington shooting underscores need to understand law”
Yes, that in Washington State a person is not allowed to protect his property.
No, planting a gun in the wrong hand will not make it seem as though he’s deranged. It will demonstrate your consciousness of guilt.
The advice on your self-defense card is good.
Better yet, just let your dog out if you find someone in your yard.
Maybe the guy was ambidextrous, like my husband and son, though they consider themselves to be left handed, they are both right footed, so sometimes it is actually easier to do things that require foot work too, with their right hand.
Sure, if you have a big enough, well-trained enough dog to go for the throat of intruders only.
I’m all for shooting the bastards so they never bother another family, but people have to know their state’s laws and find a way to kill the intruder yet not end up in a jackpot.
Where was the bullet hole, front or back? If the bullet hole was in the front, the guy could have said that the prowler had stuck around or returned after the cops left, to physically harm him or his wife.
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