Mentally playing "devil's advocate" as well as changing Race, Gender, Political preference, Religious preference etc to look at a particular incident, law or action is something that I quite often do to assess fairness to that situation. . The following sets off so many emotional explosions in my brain I am tempted to travel to St Louis to release the pressure building up from outrage. . Draw your own conclusions ..... . Black Knockout Game Player Killed by Armed Homeowner : Political Outcast . BTW ....... IMNSHO this 15 year old thug fully deserved to DIE. The only thing I would change were I a god, would be; karma would dictate that he be slowly beaten and or kicked to death.
I found this second article. Plus I read the police report for that evening. All that I can see would indicate no charges were filed and that under state and city statutes the home owner was within his rights to shoot this individual. Additionally, charges were being filed against the second burgler for murder (this is one of the states where if you are one of a group comitting a crime and someone dies, even one of the wrong doers, all the living wrong doers may be charged with murder). It did state the whole incident was still under investigation. I would say, short of Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton whipping the St. Louis Blacks into a white killing near riot frenzy, no charges will be filled. ...... only time will tell ...... Demetrius Murphy, 15, Shot And Killed While Allegedly Trying To Burglarize St. Louis Home - St. Louis - News - Daily RFT
I don't know what MO laws say, but assuming it's similar to here, the simple fact of imminent assault on one's own property (inside or out) justifies the shoot. I'm liking the story so far.
Missouri's Castle Doctrine is pretty solid, with no "duty to retreat". Section 563-031 Use of force in defense of persons. Missouri "Castle Doctrine" Law - Online Copy of Final Bill This last link sums it up well if you don't feel like reading the legal mumbo-jumbo in the first 2 links. Missouri authorities navigate castle doctrine : News
Violence for fun may be spreading among teens : News It would seem that the shooting was justifiable in that particular case. As to the surviving perp in custody....the moral of the story is...don't keep bad company, and don't do bad sh!t....it will only lead to tears....he'll have quite a while ahead of him to reflect on that fact of life.
Nah, he'll be back out on the street in a few weeks. The only thing he would have learned is how to make a tattoo with a ballpoint pen, a new understanding of how to scam the system, and a heightened feeling of contempt for his fellow human beings he percieves as weaker than him.
Do Juveniles convicted of murder (in company) get let off that lightly? You are probably right about a failure to change attitude...few of his ilk accept responsibility for their crimes and misdemeanours...it's always someone else's fault but their own.
You make a very good point. I wish it weren't the case, but it seems that we need more people like the homeowner in the original article to help make sure that the moral of this story is effectively communicated to those who are considering such a path of life... On a side note, it saddens me that this "knockout game" is not only ignorance at its worst, but more so that it's a black and white thing. Whatever happened to "can't we all just get along?" EDITED - not implying that it's a race thing for anyone here, just saying that it's sad that it is what it is...
Over hear, UNLESS they are Tried and CONVICTED as Adults, when they reach 21 Years of Age, they are Released, from Custody, in MOST States... This is a State Statute thing, and does vary from State, to State. depending on that States specific Statute....