Police: Homeowner Didn't Have To Use Deadly Force

NBC5 Internet ^ | January 14, 2004 | Staff

[sinkspur]

Though my "born on date" doesn't show it. I have "been here" longer than you.

Then act like it.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

A good reason for gun control.
He controlled his weapon well enough to take
out both perps.
An expert medal is needed.

[American_Centurion]

I'll "act" as I darn well please.

However, I will refrain from anymore "off topic" postings on this thread. I'll be charitable and consider your admonishment as a "request".

I'm not in the mood nor do I want to turn this into a flame war. You can get in the last shot if you just "need to".

[al_c]

He's going to have to prove that he was taken against his will. So far, all he has is his word. What if he made that part up? Another strike against him is that the perps were each shot in the back of the head. That doesn't look much like self defense to police or to the judicial system.

It's too early to judge this case, IMO.

[sinkspur]

Here, boys and girls. A much more detailed article, with the reason the police have doubts about this guy's story:

Man in Grand Prairie shooting arrested on murder charges

By MICHAEL GRABELL / The Dallas Morning News

GRAND PRAIRIE – A man was arrested on suspicion of capital murder Tuesday after alerting police that he shot two men in his driveway.

Foyil Deal, 63, of Grand Prairie was arrested after police found Wesley Duncan, 40, of Cleburne and Wylie Casey Jr., 35, of Arlington dead in a sedan parked at Mr. Deal's home in the 500 block of Cimarron Trace. Mr. Deal was being held at the Grand Prairie Jail and was expected to be arraigned today, police said.

Police are trying to determine the veracity of Mr. Deal's assertion that he killed both men in self-defense. He told police that the men forced him to withdraw money from an automated teller machine, then threatened him with a baseball bat.

"They knew of him – how, exactly, it hasn't all come to light," said Detective John Brimmer, a police spokesman. "It wasn't a random thing where they just decided to pick his house out of all the houses in the neighborhood. We have not ruled out that this could have been drug-related."

Mr. Deal told police that the two men – one armed with a baseball bat – forced their way into his home about 8 a.m. and forced him to go with them to an ATM at a local bank. After money was withdrawn, the men drove Mr. Deal back to his house, and he said they again threatened him with the bat.

Mr. Deal, who has a concealed-handgun license, shot both men with a small gun he had in his pocket.

"He told us it wasn't until [the trio returned to the house] that he felt threatened enough to use deadly force," Detective Brimmer said. "Up until then, he said, he was content to let them have the money."

The car was left running with its reverse lights on in the short driveway to a stand-alone garage. Neighbors said there were ski masks and a baseball bat on the ground nearby.

"I heard one gunshot, and I muted the TV and said, 'That sounds like a gunshot,' " said Keith Young, who lives across the street. "Then I heard, pow-pow."

Detective Brimmer said that even if Mr. Deal did shoot in self-defense, investigators will refer the matter to a Dallas County grand jury to determine whether he will be indicted.

Neighbors said that Mr. Deal had lived at the white-and-green house for about 10 years, keeping mostly to himself except to mow the lawn. He has a son who visits occasionally as well as a nurse who cares for him a few times a week, several neighbors said. Some neighbors also said that there was a steady stream of people knocking on Mr. Deal's door. Late last month, police were called to the house to quell a disturbance.

He's "an elderly man who has had open-heart surgery. He has quite a few medical conditions," said neighbor Kathy Embree.The neighborhood has faced crime problems over the past few years, she said. Neighbors reported burglaries, thefts, loitering and loud noises into the night. "The cops come here quite a bit, actually," Ms. Embree said. "The boomboxes, the firecrackers, the shootings." "In other words, we don't let our kids out to play," added her next-door neighbor Laura Mathews. "I've got a 15-year-old that's not allowed out after dark."

[kjam22]

Man... someone storms my house and wants me to withdraw money from an ATM and there is going to be some issues. To begin with, my wife and I own no ATM cards. Not a single one, nada.

[kjam22]

Man... someone storms my house and wants me to withdraw money from an ATM and there is going to be some issues. To begin with, my wife and I own no ATM cards. Not a single one, nada.

[Wallace T.]

Grand Prairie, Texas, is hardly a stronghold of gun-grabbing liberals. The Dallas County DA's office has been in the hands of Republicans for several decades. There has to be some "rest of the story" element to this tale we haven't been told.

[sinkspur]

Read the article from the Dallas Morning News I just posted on this thread, if you are truly interested in more information about this case.

[sinkspur]

See #66

[kjam22]

You get the "Paul Harvey" award.

[American_Centurion]

I read it.

[sinkspur]

See #66

[Gerasimov]

hyperbole aside ... yes, your statement does ring true.

[Snuffington]

Let's Hear It!! What is your opinion???

Ship all the cops and lawyers prosecuting the homeowner on one way tickets to England. Make the city pay the homeowner a penalty for harrassing him. Put up a sign in the police department saying "It's about getting the BAD guys, stupid!"

[familyofman]

Are there any witnesses besides the 2 dead perps that can backup the shooters story? Maybe he was robbing them and killed them to shut them up. He could also be a sexual pervert that killed to keep his secret.

[EGPWS]

If people enter your house and commit felony robbery on you, you've got no way of knowing what they intend to do once the robbery has been consummated. Many criminals have a "leave no witnesses" mentality. You simply don't know. A person shouldn't have to prognosticate as to the likelihood of his being physically harmed.

Well said AH. I'm not an attorney (far from it) however probable cause, I would think, would come into play.

Even if a prank call to the fire department stating your residence is on fire, and the arriving firemen see no signs of fire would or should prompt a knock on your door from them before entering.

[LandofLincoln]

Police: Homeowner Didn't Have To Use Deadly Force

The F*CK HE DIDN"T

[Gerasimov]

"It's about getting the BAD guys, stupid!"

LOL!!! Good idea.