Free Republic

Recently, two pharmacies in two different states experienced attempted robberies. In both cases, the pharmacist was able to secure a handgun, kill one robber, and successfully protect both co-workers and property. In one case, the police chief quickly announced the shooting justified. In the other, the district attorney filed first-degree murder charges against the pharmacist. The two cases provide what firearms instructors call a “teachable moment.”

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The mother of a 14-year-old charged with murder in the shooting death of another teenager during an attempted robbery says the prosecutor has gone back on his word. -- Spigner says Prater initially said he would charge only Erslander and is going back on his word. Prater says he changed his mind after additional legal research.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma pharmacist who shot and killed an armed robbery suspect was ordered back in court today. The judge wanted Jerome Ersland's attorney to provide a list of every gun the pharmacist owns. His attorney refused, creating some fireworks in the courtroom.

Bill Wynn doesn’t know much about Jerome Jay Ersland’s case, but he knows firsthand what it’s like to kill a robber. Wynn shot one Wednesday at his pharmacy in San Antonio, Texas. "What was I thinking?” he told The Oklahoman. "I’ll be honest with you: Not much. From the time he came in the door until the time it was completely over with ... was less than a minute. There wasn’t time to think.”

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The public's emotions continue to run high as Jerome Ersland, the pharmacist who shot and killed a 16-year-old robber, now faces first degree murder charges. Three others, including the other teen involved in the robbery, have also been charged. Now, the judge presiding over Ersland's case said she's receiving death threats. Judge Tammy Bass-LeSure received those threats via phone calls made to her chambers. "They were threats on my life," Bass-LeSure said. "There were a lot of racial epithets and just things of that nature." The phone calls came after she raised the bond on murder suspect...

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The mother of a teenage boy arrested in connection with an attempted pharmacy robbery that left another teenager dead said the robbery was not her son's idea. Natasha Spigner said she knew her son, Jevontia Ingram, 14, was the teenager shown on the surveillance video at Reliable Pharmacy the moment that she saw it. "My son made a mistake, and he is learning from this mistake," she said. -- She said she knew about her oldest son's involvement but didn't tell police. "He wanted to go downtown, but me, being a parent, I had to protect him,"...

OKLAHOMA CITY - Authorities have arrested two people, including a 14-year-old boy, in connection with an attempted pharmacy robbery that left another teen dead and a pharmacist facing first-degree murder charges. Oklahoma County Sheriff's deputies arrested the teen at 706 NE 26th Street in Oklahoma City at about 1 p.m. after he was seen standing outside an apartment complex. The teen ran when he noticed the deputies and jumped out a window of an apartment. Police say the teen is the second suspect in the May 19 robbery of the Reliable Pharmacy in south Oklahoma City. During the robbery, pharmacist...

I am curious what gun owners think of the recent Oklahoma shooting. Gun owners specifically. I read many gun owners not supporting Mr. Ersland at all, and quite honestly, it is distressing to see them throw somebody over who was, by all accounts, defending his life. Am I the minority in the gun community or do most others feel this way? Because from what I see, it is distressing....no other way to say it.

Controversy surrounding the first-degree murder charge and release of pharmacist Jerome Ersland... is evoking a strong response today from the Oklahoma and Oklahoma City NAACP. At a press conference this afternoon... The Oklahoma state branch president saying they stand behind the first-degree murder charge.

Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater reversed course today, announcing he would seek felony murder charges against three people involved in the attempted robbery of a southwest Oklahoma City pharmacy that left a 16-year-old dead. Advertisement Prater initially said he would not charge the masked suspect who entered Reliable Discount Pharmacy with a gun on May 19. Antwun Parker was killed by pharmacist Jerome Jay Ersland, who was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder because prosecutors contend he fired the shots that killed Parker while the teen was incapacitated. Prater initially said he would not charge anyone else in Parker's death...

OKLAHOMA CITY — A pharmacist accused of pumping six bullets into a teenager during a robbery attempt was released on bail Thursday in a case that is stoking debate about self-defense rights. Jerome Ersland, 57, was released from Oklahoma County Jail on $100,000 bond. A condition of his release is that he have no access to guns.

People called, wrote notes and went in person to offer condolences and support after a southwest Oklahoma City pharmacist was charged Wednesday in connection with last week’s shooting death of a robbery suspect, the store owner said this morning. Douglas Sizemore, owner of Reliable Discount Pharmacy at 5900 S Pennsylvania Ave., said despite a first-degree murder charge against employee Jerome Ersland, 57, the store is open and Ersland’s status as pharmacist has not changed. Ersland’s actions during a robbery attempt left a 16-year-old dead. “We’ve had tons of calls and letters from people who want to help and we are...

The hearing today turned contentious when District Attorney David Prater asked the judge not to bar Ersland from access to a gun while at the store. He argued Ersland still has a right to defend himself and pharmacy employees if the store is robbed again. He said the restriction either meant Ersland would be fired from his job or crooks now know it is "open season" at the pharmacy if Ersland is there. The district attorney said his position sounds crazy but under the law Ersland has the right to protect himself. At one point, spectators clapped. Defense attorney Irven...

kfor.com /news/sns-ap-ok--pharmacyshooting,0,2415801.story KFOR Oklahoma City pharmacist who shot would-be teen robber is charged with murder By Associated Press 2:43 PM CDT, May 27, 2009 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Oklahoma City pharmacist who shot and killed a 16-year-old would-be robber has been charged with first-degree murder. Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater said Wednesday that 57-year-old Jerome Ersland was justified in shooting Antwun Parker once in the head on May 19. But Prater says Ersland went too far when he shot Parker five more times in the abdomen while Parker lay unconscious on the floor. Ersland's attorney — Irven Box...

An Oklahoma City pharmacist was charged today with first-degree murder in the May 19 shooting death of a would-be robber. Chickasha resident Jerome Ersland, 57, surrendered about noon, his attorney, Irven Box, said. He is being held without bail in the Oklahoma County Jail. Box thinks a jury will exonerate Ersland. The charge alleges Ersland shot Antwun Parker, 16, while he was incapacitated and lying on his back. Ersland’s account of the incident doesn’t match the video or the evidence collected at the scene, according to the affidavit written by Oklahoma City Police Detective David Jacobson.

(AP) — OKLAHOMA CITY - A pharmacist who shot a would-be robber six times was charged with first-degree murder Wednesday, and the prosecutor said only the first shot was justified. A security video shows two men bursting into the pharmacy May 19 and one of them, 16-year-old Antwun Parker, is shot. Pharmacist Jerome Ersland then is seen chasing the second man outside before he walks past Parker to get a second gun, returns to Parker and opens fire. District Attorney David Prater said Ersland was justified in shooting Parker once in the head, but went too far when he shot...

An Oklahoma City pharmacist was charged today with first-degree murder in the May 19 shooting death of a would-be robber. Chickasha resident Jerome Ersland, 57, on Tuesday said he was concerned about the scrutiny he has faced since the shooting. The charge alleges Ersland shot Antwun Parker, 16, while he was incapacitated and lying on his back. Ersland’s account of the incident doesn’t match the video or the evidence collected at the scene, according to the affidavit written by Oklahoma City Police Detective David Jacobson. Parker was shot once in the head and five times in the stomach area. The...

Freep this poll!

Jerome Ersland was back at work Thursday filling prescriptions and hoping that by taking the life of a 16-year-old boy two days earlier, he had saved others. Rubbing an oversized bandage on his left forearm, where he said he was grazed by a robber’s bullet, Ersland related details of what he said was a highly organized hit on the Reliable Discount Pharmacy. "I just regret anybody would get killed,” Ersland said. "But if I wouldn’t have been here, there would have been three people killed — the other pharmacist and the two techs.” He also recalls the angry voices of...

Pharmacist Jerome Ersland talks about a fatal shooting that occurred at Reliable Discount Pharmacy in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman Jerome Ersland was back at work Thursday filling prescriptions and hoping that by taking the life of a 16-year-old boy two days earlier, he had saved others. Advertisement Click here to find out more! Rubbing an oversized bandage on his left forearm, where he said he was grazed by a robber’s bullet, Ersland related details of what he said was a highly organized hit on the Reliable Discount Pharmacy. "I just regret anybody would get killed,” Ersland...