[Morpheus2009]

“Since when is stopping a crime in progress vigilantism!?!”

It’s not, by itself, wrong, when the crime is in progress.
The big key here is to be sorry that the offender ultimately died from the fight, and move on.

However, holding grudges and continuing to hate the person after the act is being unforgiving,

[TigersEye]

It’s not vigilantism period. Forgiveness is not a legal issue in any case FWIW.

[rottndog]

However, holding grudges and continuing to hate the person after the act is being unforgiving,

FWIW....there is NO after the fact here. Both the girl, and her father have been severely traumatized, and will live with this the rest of their lives. The one thing for absolute sure here is that girl will at least have the peace of mind that the monster who assaulted her can never do it again.

While I agree that holding a grudge and hatred for life for the perp might not be healthy, in no way should anyone be sorry that he is dead. He was a manifestation of evil, caught in the middle of an absolutely evil act, and needed and deserved to be dispatched. It is up to the real victims of this event to determine forgiveness, no one else. And NO ONE has the right to judge them either way, excepting our ultimate judge, of course.

BTW...good luck finding a jury to convict. Unless forces from outside the community come in and force a change of venue, the father walks, as he should.