Posted on 04/13/2024 7:15:35 AM PDT by marktwain
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — The Lancaster County District Attorney's Office has determined a March 13 shooting on Fruitville Pike was justified.
The shooting occurred at 4:22 p.m. near the intersection with Delp Road. Robin Megill was struck by a single round fired from a handgun, faced non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.
According to the Lancaster County DA's Office, Megill was riding a bike on Fruitville Pike in the lane of travel with multiple cars backed up behind him.
A driver behind Megill reportedly beeped their horn. In response, Megill refused to exit the road and stopped on Fruitville Pike, blocking traffic. Eventually, Megill moved to the right side of the road. The backed-up cars passed him and stopped at a red light on Delp Road.
Megill reportedly chased the car that had beeped at him, visibly pedaling uphill to catch the driver. Megill reportedly flung the front passenger door of the car open and moved inside before being struck by a single bullet.
The driver fired one shot from a handgun, striking Megill in the abdomen/chest area. The driver pulled over on Delp Road, called 911 and waited for police to arrive.
The DA’s office concluded that the driver of the vehicle was legally justified when he used deadly force against the bicyclist.
Under the law, a person is presumed to have a reasonable belief that deadly force is immediately necessary when a person is in the process of illegally and forcefully entering an occupied vehicle.
The driver was legally in possession of the firearm and had a license to carry the firearm. No charges will be filed against them.
Megill was charged with a summary count of disorderly conduct.
Scene of the shooting from Google maps. It appears Robin Mehill was pedaling uphill to this light to overtake the car which honked at him, stopped at the light. Uphill at the light appears to be from mid-scene in this image to the traffic lights.
Sure would like to see a photo of this ‘cyclist’. I’m guessing he was dressed up as Gaia-man.
Megill not Mehill in my previous post.
Too bad the driver wasnt packing a much larger caliber. Mr Spandex should not have gotten up after opening the car door.
> Megill reportedly flung the front passenger door of the car open and moved inside … <
That’ll do it.
Note to hotheads: Don’t be like Mr. Megill.
Note to drivers: Keep your car doors locked.
“When emotions are high, common sense is at a all time low” - Tommy Davidson
“”Under the law, a person is presumed to have a reasonable belief that deadly force is immediately necessary when a person is in the process of illegally and forcefully entering an occupied vehicle.””
The law actually says that - specifically to an occupied vehicle? They must have a lot of that in PA for it to be spelled out. How about “illegally and forcefully entering a home” - “home invasion”? Do they have a law specifically for that?
Yes, you can shoot someone attempting to break into your home in PA.
The law distinguishes between someone entering your vehicle when you are in it (carjacking, deadly force authorized) versus you seeing someone entering your empty car in a parking lot (car theft, deadly force NOT authorized)
The difference revolves around the reasonable assumption that your life, rather than just property, is threatened.
These a$$holes make it less safe for the rest of us cyclists who make an effort to share the road. Pride can be a dangerous thing.
Many states require you to flee your home when invaded. Those people are ruled by idiots.
If you can reasonably believe (note I said “can” not “do”) that your well being is threatened: fire away.
As to I bear some responsibility to lock my doors, nope. Neither am I responsible for keeping a moat around my house.
(2.1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2.2), an actor is presumed to have a reasonable belief that deadly force is immediately necessary to protect himself against death, serious bodily injury, kidnapping or sexual intercourse compelled by force or threat if both of the following conditions exist:
(i) The person against whom the force is used is in the process of unlawfully and forcefully entering, or has unlawfully and forcefully entered and is present within, a dwelling, residence or occupied vehicle; or the person against whom the force is used is or is attempting to unlawfully and forcefully remove another against that other's will from the dwelling, residence or occupied vehicle.
Probably enacted because of carjackings.
Hilarious. The prick on the bike is a doctor. He’s not used to being told no.
Hopefully he learned an important life lesson.
I just wonder exactly what he EXPECTED to happen when he made that crazy move?
You neglected to post the second condition:
(ii) The actor knows or has reason to believe that the unlawful and forceful entry or act is occurring or has occurred.
Now this makes perfect sense for the PA residents.
It is a logical part of the law.
That he's not bullet proof, and merely "bullet resistant?"
One wonders if he was on steroids.
When traveling for a short distance on a highway my dad always pulled over, when he had a chance, to let traffic go by. There wasn’t a reasonable alternative route or Dad would have taken it.
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