Lancaster family mourns teen shot during argument

Wildscar · Post by **Wildscar** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:12 pm

Lancaster family mourns teen shot during argument

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... 95fca.html

Parents tried to keep son out of trouble

10:52 PM CDT on Friday, July 20, 2007

By MICHAEL GRABELL / The Dallas Morning News
mgrabell@dallasnews.com

LANCASTER â€“ In somber times like these, the Hardemon family could always depend on Raymond to lift their spirits with a smile or joke.

But Raymond isn't here.

The 14-year-old who was going to be a freshman at Lancaster High School was shot July 7 in an argument that got out of hand.

Raymond's parents say Anthony McMillian, 43, indiscriminately opened fire on a group of teenagers and children. The man's attorney says his client was a Good Samaritan who saw several young men chasing his friends and fired to protect them.

Raymond was shot in the neck and died several days later.

"What is it like to bury a child?" asked his mother, Jacqueline Hardemon. "What is it like to see him lying in a coffin, in this box that's going to be closed over his entire face?

"What is it like for you to walk inside your home and never hear that baby's voice, never hear that baby call, 'Mommy or Dad'? There is no word that I can even give you."

"It starts off when someone makes the bad decision of carrying a weapon to a situation where they think there's going to be trouble," he said. "And a lot of times it doesn't end very well."

Dallas police say it started when Raymond's brother, Orlando Finley, started arguing with his girlfriend, Amber Potts, at their home on Altoona Drive in West Oak Cliff.

She called her mother, who came to pick her up with a friend, Mr. McMillian. An argument ensued over whether the couple's 3-week-old son, Orlando Jr., would go with Ms. Potts or stay with Mr. Finley.

According to the Hardemon family, Mr. Finley didn't think his girlfriend's mother's house was a safe environment for the baby.

The families started fighting over the newborn. According to court records, Raymond charged at Mr. McMillian, who pointed his 9 mm handgun at Raymond and fired.

"It was just a few moments of argument or whatnot, and then the next thing they know, Anthony McMillian just started shooting," said Raymond's father, Jerry Hardemon.

Mr. McMillian declined an interview request made at the Dallas County Jail.

But his attorney, Phillip Hayes, said Mr. McMillian, the manager of an auto parts store, went along to protect the girlfriend's mother. It was late at night and Mr. McMillian heard screaming and saw men running after his friends, Mr. Hayes said.

"He thought the girls were in danger, and he thought he was in danger," he said. "He's not a thug. He's not somebody who's looking for trouble. He made a decision in a split second that, looking back, may not have been the right decision."

Mr. McMillian's criminal record appears clean with the exception of misdemeanors from the 1980s. Sgt. Lewis said Mr. McMillian didn't have a concealed-handgun permit but had filled out paperwork for one. Mr. Hayes, his attorney, said that shouldn't taint his good intentions.

After the shooting, Raymond was rushed to Methodist Dallas Medical Center.

"We left our home â€“ I didn't even have shoes on my feet," Mrs. Hardemon said. "We drove as fast as we could to get to them. I was basically screaming and crying and irate and hysterical."

At first, doctors told her Raymond would be paralyzed, but then fluid began to seep into his lungs.

"We were praying the whole times that God would save our baby," she said.

On the morning of July 10, Raymond died.
The Hardemons say they tried hard to keep Raymond out of trouble. But all it took was a short argument to boil over into tragedy. It's the type of shooting that happens frequently in Dallas â€“ people lose control of their emotions and use guns to solve their problems.

"We're angry that somebody decided to take his life for something that's just so petty," Mrs. Hardemon said.

Dallas police homicide Sgt. Larry Lewis has seen it before.
The Hardemons didn't want Raymond's life to end in violence.

They got him into boxing, basketball and football. Two years ago, they moved into a new five-bedroom house in a Lancaster subdivision with street names like April Showers Lane and Mayflowers Lane.

Raymond never had to be straightened out.

"Whenever you met him, you couldn't feel anything but love and joy and happiness," Mrs. Hardemon said.

Since Raymond's death, several relatives have gotten matching tattoos with Raymond's nickname, "Jay R," and a pair of boxing gloves on their right arms.

The argument has destroyed two families. Mr. Finley no longer dates Ms. Potts, who is caring for the baby. Mr. McMillian faces murder and aggravated assault charges.

And the Hardemons have lost a son.

"Nobody could stay mad at him," Mr. Hardemon said. "He was going to make sure your day was just like the sun â€“ shining. When you think about him, it would bring a smile to you. It would bring laughter to you."

T3hK1w1 · Post by **T3hK1w1** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:37 pm

all good shoot/bad shoot questions aside, he did NOT have plastic...That by itself will make things harder for him

govnor · Post by **govnor** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 1:50 am

Lancaster has become a hole. I remember when it was a nice place to live. That was over 15 years ago though...

stroo · Post by **stroo** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 10:00 pm

You can't really tell anything from this about whether or not it was a good or bad shoot. But they have him dead to rights on illegal carrying - no plastic and he wasn't "traveling".

TSB83 · Post by **TSB83** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 11:20 pm

So a 43 year old man shot a 14 year old teen. I wonder how this one will turn out..

I guess we'll find out as the facts come out.

I mean if he had a knife, bat, etc. sure. If he wasn't attacking with a weapon I think shooting a 14 year old was uncalled for.. Everybody is so quick to use a gun nobody just fights anymore.. At least after a fistfight you have a 98%ish chance of still being able to go home.. my $.02

srothstein · Post by **srothstein** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 7:39 am

On the good shoot/bad shoot question, don't forget that there is an argument called disparity of force. I don't know how fir the shooter was, but the teen was a football player and boxer and charged at him according to the police report (obviously not according to the parents). There were also others present who could have jumped in on both sides making it a mass brawl.

On the unlawfully carrying issue, this is the end result of the traveling presumption law and is going to be an interesting test. If he legally could have the gun in his car, and got to a point where there is danger, can he get it out and carry it to protect himself? I am not as sure as some of you that this is a clear case. I think it will go to a jury at the end, and it will really depend on how good the attorneys involved are and what issues they raise to the jury. I don't see this one coming to a plea bargain very quickly unless the DA agrees the shooting was self defense.

HadEmAll · Post by **HadEmAll** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 8:28 pm

Does this bother anybody else?:

"According to court records, Raymond charged at Mr. McMillian........."

What the hay is their 14 year old doing charging at an adult? All I had to do was read this to totally lose interest in the story.

The guy without the CHL may or may not be screwed, but the teenager got what he deserved if the "court records" are correct.

Will938 · Post by **Will938** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:00 pm

TSB83 wrote:So a 43 year old man shot a 14 year old teen. I wonder how this one will turn out.. I guess we'll find out as the facts come out.

A man in Endgland was killed the other day after being struck with a rock thrown from a pack of 10 year olds. Age has little to do with it, more about disparity in force and such.

Post by **Crossfire** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:23 pm

HadEmAll wrote:"According to court records, Raymond charged at Mr. McMillian........."

What the hay is their 14 year old doing charging at an adult?

Excess amounts of teenage hormones cause young brains to be mushy.

Therefore, teenagers do stupid things.

Sometimes with really, really bad consequences.

HadEmAll · Post by **HadEmAll** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:46 pm

Unfortunately I believe it has more to do with upbringing, parenting, and the society they are raised in than teenage hormones.

Some of these "teenagers" are so different from my teenagers that I don't even consider them the same species.

Of course all this could be very misguided on my part. Maybe he was just rushing over to spread some of that laughter and sunshine that his mom said he was so famous for.

WarHawk-AVG · Post by **WarHawk-AVG** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:55 pm

This is what chaps my hide

Raymond's parents say Anthony McMillian, 43, indiscriminately opened fire on a group of teenagers and children.

The MSM makes it sound like the dude just opened up on a group of kids...like some cold insane killer

Plus the story is full of bogus "emotional" tripe..thats not news..its a anti-gun hit piece!

phddan · Post by **phddan** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 5:58 am

"But his attorney, Phillip Hayes, said Mr. McMillian, the manager of an auto parts store, went along to protect the girlfriend's mother. It was late at night and Mr. McMillian heard screaming and saw men running after his friends, Mr. Hayes said.

"He thought the girls were in danger, and he thought he was in danger," he said. "He's not a thug. He's not somebody who's looking for trouble. He made a decision in a split second that, looking back, may not have been the right decision."

Again..."He made a decision in a split second that, looking back, may not have been the right decision."

I would have just two words if that was my attorney..........
YOUR FIRED!!!!!!!

Geeesh, and they tell us to keep our mouths shut.

Dan

Post by **Crossfire** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 7:49 am

HadEmAll wrote:Unfortunately I believe it has more to do with upbringing, parenting, and the society they are raised in than teenage hormones.

Some of these "teenagers" are so different from my teenagers that I don't even consider them the same species.

Of course all this could be very misguided on my part. Maybe he was just rushing over to spread some of that laughter and sunshine that his mom said he was so famous for.

So true.

stevie_d_64 · Post by **stevie_d_64** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:00 am

phddan wrote:"But his attorney, Phillip Hayes, said Mr. McMillian, the manager of an auto parts store, went along to protect the girlfriend's mother. It was late at night and Mr. McMillian heard screaming and saw men running after his friends, Mr. Hayes said.

There have been incidents (over the years, one in particular that I recall) involving a CHL being asked to come along, "just to be there" basically...

Good intentions aside...Any Texas CHL recipient (regardless of experience, or training) had better understand that you are NOT law enforcement...That's almost rule number one with me, and not that anyone ever needs to comply with anything I say...What do I know, huh?

...

But no one ever needs to interject themselves into any situation like this, or one that could develop into one...

If anything you should be looking for ways to "remove" those people you feel might be in a bad situation and not be lingering in and around that situation for any longer than it takes to pack them in, and ship them out...

The fact that you are armed does not give you any advantage AT ALL...It only gives YOU, and only you, the ability (or feeling) to (stick around much longer than you should) recieve a lot more attention from those who are definitely going to have a problem with you being there...Whether they know you are licensed to carry or not...

This (issue) is certainly a pet peeve of mine that I feel compelled to say some very harsh things to a portion of the CHL community, with nothing but good intentions, and understanding that 99% or more, don't put themselves into situations like this anyway...

Humanphibian · Post by **Humanphibian** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:32 am

stevie_d_64 wrote:
phddan wrote:"But his attorney, Phillip Hayes, said Mr. McMillian, the manager of an auto parts store, went along to protect the girlfriend's mother. It was late at night and Mr. McMillian heard screaming and saw men running after his friends, Mr. Hayes said.
There have been incidents (over the years, one in particular that I recall) involving a CHL being asked to come along, "just to be there" basically...

Good intentions aside...Any Texas CHL recipient (regardless of experience, or training) had better understand that you are NOT law enforcement...That's almost rule number one with me, and not that anyone ever needs to comply with anything I say...What do I know, huh? ...

But no one ever needs to interject themselves into any situation like this, or one that could develop into one...

If anything you should be looking for ways to "remove" those people you feel might be in a bad situation and not be lingering in and around that situation for any longer than it takes to pack them in, and ship them out...

The fact that you are armed does not give you any advantage AT ALL...It only gives YOU, and only you, the ability (or feeling) to (stick around much longer than you should) recieve a lot more attention from those who are definitely going to have a problem with you being there...Whether they know you are licensed to carry or not...

This (issue) is certainly a pet peeve of mine that I feel compelled to say some very harsh things to a portion of the CHL community, with nothing but good intentions, and understanding that 99% or more,
don't put themselves into situations like this anyway...

Agree 100%. If you show up looking like the "Enforcer" you have just made yourself a target if the situation falls apart.

Perhaps this guy would have been better served by alerting LPD as to the situation before they even left to go over there. At the very least given them a call when the child became involved and things started to escalate. Response times may not be great, but "hanging" at the end of the block until LEO's arrive may have been the best option in this case.

There are SO many things that are wrong with this deal.....the soapbox would collapse before I could get done.