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Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 8:35 am
by The Marshal
Remember the incident months back where 2 young guys that shared a home heard someone pull into their driveway at 3am?

They ended up shooting thru the door, striking & killing one guy, who was at first claiming to be the Gas Man, and then attempting to break in the door.
This, while they observed the other 2 guys attempting to enter thru opposite wall windows.

How can you determine that the guy 'kicking your door' is not a distraction?
And if he gets thru, will you have time to deal with the threat while maintaining Situational Awareness on the other BG's?

Shooting thru the door...not my first choice, but not a clear cut no-no....

~Bill

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 9:49 am
by bigolbigun
WFAA channel 8 reported that the homeowner intended the shot to be a warning shot and he aimed for the very top of the door. The guy outside banging on the door was 6'5" and was struck in the head by the shot. It sounds as though the guy was drunk and probably thought he was banging on his own door to get back in. What a mess. WFAA also reported that it would be sent to the grand jury but inside sources stated that no charges were expected to be filed against the homeowner. As for right or wrong about shooting through the door with the limited amount information we have. I think it's much to easy judge from the comfort of my couch using my laptop. So I won't. But I will offer prayers for all parties involved. Because in an instant many lives were changed forever. JMO

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:21 am
by Rokyudai
Lots of affected parties all around...poor decisions with deadly consequences.

I have a comment and a question:

I would never shoot "above someone's head" or fire a warning shot on account of my understanding in use of deadly force.

I would be concerned that this scenario as it plays out, could then be twisted into some type of condemning strategy from the late wife beater's lawyer or DA: Hypothetical-- "Well, if you were firing somewhere else besides directly at the threat, then why did you shoot, period?...were you actually at that point exhausted of options? If you didn't mean to shoot at the person are you then possibly up for manslaughter? Just trying to feel out the legal community here for how this could turn out.

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:28 am
by Renegade
bigolbigun wrote:WFAA channel 8 reported that the homeowner intended the shot to be a warning shot and he aimed for the very top of the door.
I could see how he would be no-billed for murder, but indicted for manslaughter due to the negligence of firing a "random shot". Kinda of like if the warning shot had killed a neighbor in another home.

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:30 am
by Paladin
AFJailor wrote:Why would you EVER shoot at an un-identified target. This could of been a child or anything.
Excellent point.

If you don't ID your target... the child you shoot could even be your own.

Knowing your target one of the four basic rules of firearms. Its one of the fundamental rules for a reason. Target ID is critical.

I don't plan on shooting through my exterior door, but shooting through an exterior door without ID'ing my target is just plain dangerous.

That said, in this situation it sounds like the homeowner did have some legitimate concerns. The 6'5" guy he shot was out of control, violent, and not otherwise detered from trying to force his way into the house.

In this situation I would suggest putting a table just inside the doorway. So that when the BG breaks in the door, as they walk in the house they will get temporarly hung up on the table. This will slow the BG down enough to get a good shot.

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:32 am
by seamusTX
Rokyudai wrote:I would never shoot "above someone's head" or fire a warning shot on account of my understanding in use of deadly force.
I agree. If you are not justified in the use of deadly force, you are not justified in pointing a weapon at a person (which is deadly conduct).

Precisely what the consequences would be depends on the circumstances and outcome, and whether the DAs hemmorroids are bothering him that day. :smile:

The person mentioned above is talking to the media, or talking to someone who is talking to the media. I wonder if he has a lawyer.

- Jim

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:42 am
by jbirds1210
Paladin wrote:In this situation I would suggest putting a table just inside the doorway. So that when the BG breaks in the door, as they walk in the house they will get temporarly hung up on the table. This will slow the BG down enough to get a good shot.
Just a thought....

Image

I plan to start using one of these bars in hotel rooms. These are not created equal...you get what you pay for.

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:17 am
by NguyenVanDon
jbirds1210 wrote:
Paladin wrote:In this situation I would suggest putting a table just inside the doorway. So that when the BG breaks in the door, as they walk in the house they will get temporarly hung up on the table. This will slow the BG down enough to get a good shot.
Just a thought....

Image

I plan to start using one of these bars in hotel rooms. These are not created equal...you get what you pay for.
Where can I purchase one of these at?

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:20 am
by jbirds1210
A google search for "door security bar" will give you many results. Below is one of the first listings.

http://www.amazon.com/Master-Lock-Dual- ... B0002YUX8I

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:21 am
by Right-Wing-Nut
I am a musician and knew of Carter for a long time. I am shocked by this as he was a very mellow, laid back guy although I wasn't a dear friend or anything like that. I am sure heavy drinking had more than little to do with this. The guy was a truly great talent that obviously used some very,very bad judgement. I can't myself say I'd ever shoot through any door in my home. I'd want to see who I was shooting at myself and I don't fire warning shots. However, it was 4am and the shooter was probably very stressed and scared. Bad deal all away around.

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:32 am
by familyman
Should you announce to the person that they have the wrong house and that you have a gun. Would the better option be to call 9-1-1 and wait at 90 deg. agle ready to fire if the door gives way?

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:37 am
by HankB
SC1903A3 wrote: . . . Fox cable news was comparing Albrecht to Janis Joplin this morning. . .
So are they saying Albrecht was a drunken druggie too? Not a very endearing comparison . . .

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:55 am
by Renegade
familyman wrote:Should you announce to the person that they have the wrong house and that you have a gun. Would the better option be to call 9-1-1 and wait at 90 deg. agle ready to fire if the door gives way?
A similar situation happened to my roommate long ago, when I was not home. Without opening door, he asked who is there, got mumbled response, told them to go away. They kept banging. He called cops and stood in good lane of fire with 870 and decided if nobody comes in, nobody gets shot. Never mentioned anything about guns. Police arrived and arrested the pair, they were drunk and trying to break and enter wrong house.

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 12:09 pm
by familyman
Being lost is not a crime, although being drunk in public is. Niether of which constitutes the use of deadly force. I would do anything I could prior to their entry to avoid the termination of their life.

Take it up a notch, assume that they claimed to be the police.

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 1:54 pm
by fadlan12
Why didn't the wife or girlfriend call the cops when she was hit and he left the house? It might have avoided this (if the police arrived in a short manner). Other than that the shooter had little choice. I would defend againt home invaders as the oppurtunity presented itself. Warning shots are stupid.