911 Calls Reveal Details Of Break-In Suspect Shot By Homeowner

[Hoopla Phil]

Greensboro, NC -- Greensboro police say an 80-year-old man is not facing charges after he shot and killed a break-in suspect early Wednesday morning.

Charles Haithcock called 911 immediately following the shooting of 19-year-old Michael L. Medley who he says broke into his home.


The apartment where the 80-year-old lives is located near the Greensboro Police Department's Eastern Division precinct.

"The police department is sitting right here, and they still kicked in this door and stole a car from in front of the house," said Haithcock's neighbor. "I would think this was the safest place to be."

http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=131736&catid=57



Well I see two "anti" myths debunked here. The bad guy did not take the gun away from the 80 year old and the proximity to the police station did not dissuade this break-in.

[iamjoy]

1. On The Other Side

There's the man who shot his fiance the day before the wedding because he mistook her for an intruder

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/12/national/main5378015.shtml

[GreenStormCloud]

2. There are several complete threads on that one. Dead horse. N/T

[Hoopla Phil]

4. Deleted. As was pointed out, there are other threads on that topic already.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

7. And that just makes your day doesn't it?

[iamjoy]

8. Not Really

Because while the man killing his fiancee is horrible, I'm not some one who thinks banning guns is necessarily the answer. I don't believe in punishing the smart and good because of the foolish and/or criminal. I don't believe in making one size fits all laws to try to prevent the every possible tragedy. That aside, I don't like the attitude "if we were all armed we would all be safer" any more than the desire to ban guns. I never believed the myths "the gun will always be taken away" or "police will always protect you." I always saw it as a question of whether it was more or less likely that a gun would be used for protection vs. the cause of tragedy. I believe the latter is more likely, but not always the case. The man in this case who defended his home is one smart cookie. The one who killed his fiancee, well, I don't imagine any punishment from a court of law or any chatter on blogs can be worse torment for him than the loss he has already suffered and the guilt he will live with for the rest of his life.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

10. Except nobody has the attitude "if we were all armed we would all be safer"

[sam sarrha]

13. if the Liberals take my gun... can i keep my Swords..?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

15. You'll have to check your local laws.

[eqfan592]

22. No truer words were ever spoken.

"The one who killed his fiancee, well, I don't imagine any punishment from a court of law or any chatter on blogs can be worse torment for him than the loss he has already suffered and the guilt he will live with for the rest of his life."

I was just married a little over 2 months ago. I can't even imagine the nightmare this man must be living with now. Much worse than any punishment society could ever level on him.

[Jamastiene]

3. I fail to see a problem when a homeowner protects their family and property in self defense.

It is a clear case of self defense in that case. There have been so many burglaries here in North Carolina (especially over toward Charlotte and Gastonia) lately that homeowners have resorted to shooting first and then calling the cops when it is safe. If I am not mistaken, the law clearly states that if they break into your home, and enter your home, you have a right to defend yourself. I fail to see any need to press any charges in those cases. :shrug:

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

11. Some here absolutely abhor it.

[sam sarrha]

14. if they run, back off, or aren't in a position to present a lethal threat.. ya cant kill

the son's a bitches... in NC you can kill em breaking in, but once they get in, it gets REAL COMPLICATED..

[bertman]

5. One down. A shitload more to go. Good shooting, Gramps!!

For anyone who thinks this is a bad thing, you should read the stories we get about old people being beaten, raped, and murdered by people breaking into their homes. It happens all the time. I live in N.C. too, but I don't think it's just happening here.

[file83]

6. 2nd Amendment right there

Poor old guy was probably scared as hell, probably feels bad about it too. Stupid kid.

[proteus_lives]

9. Good for Mr. Haithcock.

He defended himself and his home.

And Medley's folks should have raised him not to be criminal, he might have a had a better life.

[sam sarrha]

12. could be a questionable kill, in NC you can kill em before they get in the house, but then you have

to be in eminent mortal danger, he retreated..but shooting thru the door precludes knowing if you were in danger, cant see if he has a gun pointed at him. if the bad guy was retreating it's murder, he couldn't tell at the time. it is complicated here, unless you have a "Good Ol Boy" get out of the Pokey Free card.

[Jdub4abluenc]

16. In NC - We can only shoot in the act of breaking or

if you fear bodily harm to yourself or someone else. You can't shoot a criminal in the back. Kinda sucks when criminals have more rights than a homeowner.
It would be a tough call; if someone was in my house with me, my wife & my 2 little girls; not to drop a perpetrator in his tracks. I would think that if it were 2AM, alarm going off, two dogs barking & me yelling at him to get down; if a perp kept coming; I would have a solid argument for self defense. 12GA or .45ACP is the only question?

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ!

[sam sarrha]

17. i was only debating shooting thru a closed door and killing the perp..

[oneshooter]

18. That would be murder, even in Texas.

As long as he has not entered the home then he is NOT a danger. Once he has entered the home THEN he becomes a danger to yourself and/or your family.

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

[PavePusher]

19. The younger man was in the house illegally...

Appeared to be armed and trying to gain access to the resident.

Good shoot. Period. End. Dot.


Don't want to get shot? Don't break into someone elses home.

Duh.

[Hoopla Phil]

20. kick

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

21. Kick.