TheFringe
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http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/05/ap_burglarshot_070504/
War vet, home early, kills burglar
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday May 4, 2007 6:25:32 EDT
AUGUSTA, Ga. — A man authorities say had broken into an Army officer’s home to steal guns was shot to death by the Iraq war veteran, who had come home early.
Capt. Barre Bollinger told police he returned from work around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and found his house had been ransacked, Richmond County sheriff’s investigator Thomas Johnson said.
Bollinger, who is stationed at Fort Gordon, entered his bedroom and noticed that guns were missing.
He grabbed his SKS rifle — a weapon similar to an AK47 assault rifle — and called 911, Johnson said.
“While on the phone with 911, he sees the suspect approaching his back door,” Johnson said. “Because he believes the man now is armed with his stolen weapons, Mr. Bollinger fires at him three times.”
Errol Lavar Royal, 29, was shot at least twice in the stomach area. He was later pronounced dead at Medical College of Georgia Hospital.
Royal lived with his parents near the home that was burglarized, police said. A search of his home turned up two guns taken from Bollinger’s house and marijuana, Johnson said.
Police had no immediate plans to charge Bollinger in the shooting.
I have started a bit of controversy on another forum by stating this was a bad shoot based on the news account.
He sees a man approaching his back door and presumes he is armed, then shoots him 3 times ? What if this person had been a friend of the burglar happening upon the scene for the first time ?
In most states an un-armed intruder would need to be inside your dwelling for lethal force to be justified. Conversely, if the guy in the backyard had been brandishing as he approached the back door, homeowner could then use lethal force as he would be imminent fear for his life. The individual was neither inside nor brandishing according to the news account.
Personally I am glad that a criminal's career has come to an end, but I'm not so sure that I (a long-haired rock musician) would be spared prosecution by the authorities given the same scenario had I been the homeowner.
War vet, home early, kills burglar
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday May 4, 2007 6:25:32 EDT
AUGUSTA, Ga. — A man authorities say had broken into an Army officer’s home to steal guns was shot to death by the Iraq war veteran, who had come home early.
Capt. Barre Bollinger told police he returned from work around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and found his house had been ransacked, Richmond County sheriff’s investigator Thomas Johnson said.
Bollinger, who is stationed at Fort Gordon, entered his bedroom and noticed that guns were missing.
He grabbed his SKS rifle — a weapon similar to an AK47 assault rifle — and called 911, Johnson said.
“While on the phone with 911, he sees the suspect approaching his back door,” Johnson said. “Because he believes the man now is armed with his stolen weapons, Mr. Bollinger fires at him three times.”
Errol Lavar Royal, 29, was shot at least twice in the stomach area. He was later pronounced dead at Medical College of Georgia Hospital.
Royal lived with his parents near the home that was burglarized, police said. A search of his home turned up two guns taken from Bollinger’s house and marijuana, Johnson said.
Police had no immediate plans to charge Bollinger in the shooting.
I have started a bit of controversy on another forum by stating this was a bad shoot based on the news account.
He sees a man approaching his back door and presumes he is armed, then shoots him 3 times ? What if this person had been a friend of the burglar happening upon the scene for the first time ?
In most states an un-armed intruder would need to be inside your dwelling for lethal force to be justified. Conversely, if the guy in the backyard had been brandishing as he approached the back door, homeowner could then use lethal force as he would be imminent fear for his life. The individual was neither inside nor brandishing according to the news account.
Personally I am glad that a criminal's career has come to an end, but I'm not so sure that I (a long-haired rock musician) would be spared prosecution by the authorities given the same scenario had I been the homeowner.