Teen, 16, 'justified' in dad's shooting, man broke into home with knife (MI)

Flint Journal ^ | June 6, 2002 | Bryn Mickle

[tarawa]

Teen, 16, 'justified' in dad's shooting, man broke into home with knife

Thursday, June 6, 2002

By Bryn Mickle JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Flint - A 16-year-old boy was justified when he shot and killed his father Tuesday after the man burst through the front door at 3 a.m. holding a knife and a baseball bat, Genesee County Prosecutor Arthur A. Busch says.

The man's estranged wife had obtained a court order to keep him away from the family's home on Hastings Street near Tuscola Avenue in Flint after a May 14 incident in which he allegedly broke into the home and choked her, before being stopped by the boy.

"The system was not capable of protecting this family," Busch said.

Police said Owen Q. Sharpe, 52, made several phone calls to the house about 2 a.m. Tuesday, then tried to break in through the front door about an hour later.

The teen heard the commotion then saw a white-gloved fist break through the door, Busch said.

The teen, armed with a .22-caliber rifle, fired a warning shot at the door casing, but Sharpe unlocked the door and came in carrying a baseball bat and a folding buck knife.

Busch said the teen backed up, then shot his father once in the chest. Sharpe died at Hurley Medical Center.

The shooting was self-defense, said Busch, adding that Sharpe had a long history of mental illness, substance abuse and domestic violence.

Sharpe's estranged wife, Dolores, told a judge last month that Owen Sharpe choked her May 14 because he did not think she would punish her son for driving her car without a driver's license. Owen Sharpe allegedly grabbed a knife in the incident, but was stopped by the boy.

Busch said the family had done everything right in obtaining a personal protection order and filing police reports against Sharpe.

Bryn Mickle is the afternoon police reporter. He can be reached at (810) 766-6383 or bmickle@flintjournal.com.

[tarawa]

Here's just one more example of a teen getting hold of a gun and going wild.....

[tarawa]

ping

[TnMomofTwo]

Did you leave off the /sarcasm note?

[Always Right]

Wonder why they put 'justified' in quotes, as if it wasn't obvious.

[ThinkDifferent]

Yep, and of course this will be counted as a "family member killed by a gun".

[lavaroise]

"The system was not capable of protecting this family," Busch said.

Was never meant to protect the family, was never meant to be a responsible liable spouse to the family, was never meant to be sinless, was never meant to be better than this violence drunken terrorist. Try to declare your independence from government as this woman declared independence from this man, and we will see if the treatment is better.

[AAABEST]

If the anti-gun crazies had their way, this lady and possibly her son would be dead. Lucky he hit a good spot with that pea shooter.

We ought to take up a collection and buy that kid a 12 gauge.

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[dighton]

Sarcasm understood.

This young man found himself in a terrible position, and did what needed to be done.

[mrfixit514]

Boy that DA sure is smart to figure that one out.

[lelio]

Levelheadedness by the kid ... don't know if I could shoot a 22 rifle at close range like that in the dark and be able to hit anything with accuracy. With a .22 you have to shoot for the head to do any damage, thick leather jackets could stop / deflect those bullets.

[ValerieUSA]

What a horrible situation and experience for that kid to live with - but less horrible than watching his crazed father murder his mother and then him. There are worse problems than having a dead dad -- having a brutal, insane father waiting to kill you is worse.

[eastforker]

Before I get flamed,let me say I do not condone what this father did.On the other hand let us understand he was upset that the mother let his son break the law by driving without a license.I do not fault the boy for defending his mother.Alot of family violence in America today is caused because parents many times use their kids to get back at their spouse for some other reason.I bet if the truth was known in this case,the kid was the reason for the separation.Mom sided with teen constantly,dad would try to discipline and get chastised for it,they seperate,she files for divorce and the guy will probably lose everything.This is probably the only woman he ever loved,even though it was okay for him to sleep around and stay out on occasion in his mind since all he ever gets at home is hot tounge and cold sholder.Life in America,you just gotta love it.

[genefromjersey]

I'm just sad the youngster will have to live with that for many years to come. He did the right thing, but society will always blame him !

[another cricket]

On the other hand let us understand he was upset that the mother let his son break the law by driving without a license.

That is reason to choke someone? I am very glad I am not married to you. :~)

Yell, yes. Choke, no.

a.cricket

[GovernmentShrinker]

Eastforker, either you didn't read the whole article, are just plain nuts, or are a domestic abuser yourself who's full of excuses and rationalizations. This guy had a long history of mental illness, substance abuse, and domestic violence. The attempted choking of his wife over the teen driving without a license was just the latest installment. He was a five-star violent scumbag. Why are you inventing fictional excuses for him? The only woman he ever loved? Mother always sided with the son and wouldn't let dad discipline him? Dad was sleeping around because the only thing he ever got at home is "a hot tongue and a cold shoulder"? You realize, don't you, that you made up every bit of this stuff out of thin air, and that there is no basis for any of it in the article? I really think you need professional help.

[Republicus2001]

just a terrible story - truly sad

[fourdeuce82d]

With a .22 you have to shoot for the head to do any damage, thick leather jackets could stop / deflect those bullets.

Maybe out of a pistol, but out of a rifle some of those mini-mags are moving with a quickness.

[Dan from Michigan]

IT's the Flint Journal........ That's why.

[Valpal1]

Yep, it's always the woman's fault. How dare she disagree over child discipline with a substance abusing nutcase. What a rotten, selfish female to remove a substance abusing nutcase from the family home.

It is always appropriate to bust in during the night with a knife and a baseball bat to prove your point in a little domestic disagreement.

jeez, some people can rationalize anything.