Nashville, TN: Carjackers Surprised By Victim With Gun

News 5 Nashville ^ | 12/30/02 | staff

[GailA]

Carjackers Surprised By Victim With Gun

A couple of would-be carjackers got more than they bargained for in South Nashville. Their victim had a gun of his own.

It happened at the Golden Gallon convenience store on Haywood Lane. Billy J. Brown had been inside to get a snack. When he climbed back in his car, one of the carjackers jumped in the seat behind them and told Brown to drive.

That's when Brown pulled out his own gun, and shot and killed the carjacker. The other carjacker tried to run away, but police later caught him.

"He came back here to police headquarters and during the interview, he gave statements to the effect he and his friend were out, and robbery was one of the topics they were looking into," said Detective Todd Watson of Metro Police. "The one suspect that was shot was wanting to get money to bail out a friend or a relative."

Brown wasn't charged although the District Attorney's office will likely review the case. Brown is a former officer with the Tennessee Defense Force. He also ran for the 59th District seat in the state House of Representatives this past November.

[GailA]

Good guy 1, bad guy 0

[holyscroller]

One less low-life to house and feed for the next few years.

[The Obstinate Insomniac]

bang

[coloradan]

No, good guys 2, bad guys 0. "The one suspect that was shot was wanting to get money to bail out a friend or a relative." Not only was a violent criminal killed, but another likely kindred spirit remained in jail.

[maica]

(Travis McGee here on a remote webtv)

There goes the bail money. Junior is going to have to celebrate New Year's Eve in jail after all.

[GailA]

Carjacker shooting "justifiable homicide"

State law allows citizens to defend selves

Nancy Amons

December 30, 2002

B.J. Brown, the man who shot and killed a suspected carjacker in Antioch Sunday morning, will not face charges from Metro Police. The shooting has been classified as justifiable homicide.

Police say Brown was parked at the Golden Gallon off Haywood Lane when one of the carjack suspects jumped into the back seat of his Ford Explorer and threatened to kill him.

Police say Brown grabbed a .44 caliber revolver from his floorboard, jumped out, and shot the suspect in his backseat through the window. The suspect died at the scene.

Legal expert David Raybin says state law is clear that Tennesseans have the right to defend themselves.

"Self defense will allow you to use deadly force to protect yourself or a loved one, if you are reasonable fear of death or great bodily injury," said Raybin.

Raybin says the shooting would not be justified if the suspect had been fleeing. That's what happened in the case of the second carjacking suspect, 20-year-old David Lee Moore. He ran away and was caught by police.

"When they are running away and are no longer a threat, you cannot pursue them and kill them," said Raybin.

The dead suspected carjacker was identified by police Monday as Jerry Williams Jr., of Wallace Road, a 25-year- old with a police record, including two aggravated assault charges. Detectives now believe Williams was unarmed. Raybin says that doesn't matter. What matters is what the victim thought.

B.J. Brown declined to talk on camera. He told me Channel 4 he was sorry that it happened, but says, he had no doubt they intended to kill him.

"State law says you can be reasonably mistaken. Some folks say they'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6," said Raybin.

Raybin says a different set of laws apply if someone's breaking into your home. "You don't have to wait until they get inside. You can shoot to kill to protect yourself and your family."

[wardaddy]

I know exactly where that is.....it's a shortcut off I-24 to South Nashville when approaching from the Southeast....right by the interstate.

Got my Landrover stuck tonight at deer camp....first time ever...lol....I think a winch is in order. Luckily, a young farmer and his wife and their JD 3040 were only a mile walk away. It was my fault....yakking with my little brother coming up a ridge and took my eyes off the trail just for a second and slid off into a side rut...bottomed out....thunk...end of story....locking differentials and sweet torque don't mean squat when bottomed out.

Anyhow....glad the victim iced the would be perp....good for him. Hope the Maryland holiday is going swell....mild and rainy here.

[coloradan]

Police say Brown grabbed a .44 caliber revolver from his floorboard, jumped out, and shot the suspect in his backseat through the window. The suspect died at the scene.

The question is, was that a .44 special, or a .44 magnum. Do you feel lucky, punk? (That question is for the suspect, not you, GailA.)

[Shooter 2.5]

I really miss living in Nashville.

If you count the guy who was shot, the guy who was caught trying to run away and the guy who couldn't make bail, I think that's good guys 3, bad guys 0.

[Lancey Howard]

Raybin says a different set of laws apply if someone's breaking into your home. "You don't have to wait until they get inside. You can shoot to kill to protect yourself and your family."

Cool. What a relief that the law allows this.

[Malesherbes]

Don't mess with anyone named Billy J. Brown.

[SW6906]

"Some folks say they'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6."

That has been my saying for years.

[paul51]

Too bad he couldn't get the punk that ran also but nice work none the less

[Gigantor]

"Raybin says a different set of laws apply if someone's breaking into your home. "You don't have to wait until they get inside. You can shoot to kill to protect yourself and your family.

Cool. What a relief that the law allows this."

Apparently not in my home state of New York, where a homeowner is under arrest for having an 'unlicensed' weapon after shooting a burglar who was climbing in a smashed bedroom window!

I love NY [/sarcasm]

[.30Carbine]

Final Score: Goodguys 3, Badguys zip.

[humblegunner]

Final Score: Goodguys 3, Badguys zip.

That just made my day!

[laredo44]

Good guy 1, bad guy 0

I'm going with bad guys, -1.

[Vic3O3]

armed citizen alert

[bushfamfan]

I'm curious as to Billy's color? With the carjack thug attempting to kidnap him and being black and have it turned around and him ending up dead, I'm sure they'll be cries of racism coming out.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Doesn't sound like a victim to me.