To use deadly force in attacking another individual, the suspect does not have to possess a firearm or bladed weapon to reach that threat level. And if they do some other way, the consequences may be just as final.
Hillsborough County, Florida prosecutors announced that the resident who shot a 15-year-old attacker due to the obvious self-defense nature of the violent confrontation last week does not face legal consequences.
It all started with a missing cell phone. The young man who misplaced his device and two friends deployed the “find my phone” feature, which pointed them toward a residential neighborhood.
Asking questions is fine, conducting door-to-door interrogations is not
The group knocked on doors asking anyone who answered the door if they knew the phone’s whereabouts. When a resident described only as a male in his mid-20s did not answer, the three young men allegedly went through the home’s back patio and tried to breach a sliding glass door.
The homeowner said he put on a mask to scare the three strangers off, and a physical struggle quickly erupted between the man and the 15-year-old searching for the lost phone. The other two reportedly ran.
Investigators determined that the resident was “placed in a headlock” and feared for his life. He managed to fire one round from his handgun, and the teenager did not survive his injuries.
‘Stand Your Ground’ protects intended victims in Florida
If the facts hold, the fatal encounter appears to be the result of a series of mistakes that escalated far too quickly. The resident’s wearing a mask is well within his rights, and if the trio forced their way inside, there’s plenty of justification for fearing for one’s life.
Florida residents are not encumbered with the ridiculous requirement that a law-abiding citizen retreat when confronted by a violent criminal. Far from it.
There’s nothing wrong with attempting to use technology to find a missing device, that’s why such apps exist. But the ensuring search is not a carte blanche to jump into a Dirty Harry impression and terrorize innocent folks under the guise of finding a lost personal possession, if that’s what indeed happened.
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