What to say to 911 after a self-defence incident

IF I was thinking, I'd say something like, "I just shot an intruder. I need the police and an ambulance. My address is... Tell them I'm armed. I don't want to get shot."

More likely I'd say something like, "HOLY S**T!! I F***ING SHOT HIM!!! I NEED HELP RIGHT F***ING NOW!!! HURRY G*D D**N IT!!! OH S**T!!! F**K ME!!! HELP!!! GET SOMEONE HERE NOW!!!"

I personally think Joe Horn is screwed because of his 911 call. His only hope is that this gets "tried in the press" positively and influences his hearing/trial. Otherwise, Joe is done I think.


-T.

"I'm calling to report a break in. I had to defend myself. Please send police and an ambulance to xxxxxx."

A brief description of the GOOD guy (I'm the one in the flourescent orange hat) might help as well but I've heard garbled communications transform the good guy description into just a description in which case the officer on the scene assumes (naturally) that that's the person he's looking FOR not looking to protect so be careful.

"Someone broke into my house, and they seem to have fallen down and hurt themselves and need an ambulance."

In some small towns (like where I grew up, population ~10,000), you can asked to be redirected to the responding officer. I'd imagine after stating the obvious 'there was a break in, I defended myself, need police/EMS' - you could ask to be redirected to the responding unit, where you could describe yourself.

I need an ambulance here ASAP, multiple gun shot wounds...the guy isnt moving, and i can`t hardly hear anything.

(full auto G3....theyl mess you up.)

...after the threat has ended (ie. he/she's dead) do you stay armed until the police/ambulance show up...

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Absolutely. I wouldn't touch the BG. I'd instead have the gun pointed as his (apparent) dead corpse until LE arrived. Then, as soon as you see the red and blues nearing, put the firearm on the floor (far out of reach of the BG) and step back with your hands up.


-T.

I can't imagine taking time to call the police if the BG is still lurking. Where I live, it could be 30 minutes before an officer could get here. I think the BG would be out of action or clearly under my control before calling. I have a wife and three kids, she may be doing the calling, I'll be holding the gun.

"Someone broke into my house and I had to shoot them.", comes to mind. I'm certain this will provoke many questions from the dispatcher.

Edit: I live in the Gestapo state of Illinois, they are going to prosecute me no matter what is said. I mean, how dare I use a weapon to defend my family and home!

Another question, after the threat has ended (ie. he/she's dead) do you stay armed until the police/ambulance show up, or do you unload\empty your hands?

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Rule #1 - Stay armed until you are "relieved of duty" (I.E. the police have arrived) BECAUSE...
Rule #2 - You MUST (and I can't stress this enough) always, ALWAYS, assume that there is more than one bad guy!

The less you say the better. You aren't required to say anything.

I've heard multiple sources state the importance of setting up the theme up you being the victim from the get go.

For example....his old lady is out in the car sees/hears you shoot. She calls cops and says "My BF was trying to get directions and this crazy dude shot him..."

That will drastically change the way the police respond versus you calling first and saying "A man broke into my home, attacked me, I feared for my life and shot him. He's not moving, and I'm very scared."

Once the cops show up, give them your ID/license and say "I would like to speak to my attorney" Once you say that, they cannot legally ask you anymore questions. However, if you keep talking, whatever you say is admissable in court.

***NOTE*** I am not a lawyer, just relaying what i've been told by people I consider experts in the field....

Never say anything that can potentially incriminate you. And I mean ANYTHING.

Were I in that situation I would hope that I have the presence of mind to say, "Someone just broke into my home, please send officers." That's it. That'll let the police know that there is a bad guy involved, and give them enough of a foundation that they will know where to begin an investigation.

I know some people advise not to say anything, but consider the perspective of the responding officer. If he goes to your home totally ignorant of the situation and sees someone shot, he won't know if what he's seeing is a domestic dispute, drug deal gone bad, or home invasion robbery. All he'll see is that there is someone shot, and you're the one with the gun. You don't have to tell 911 that you shot anyone (and you shouldn't), but you should make them aware of the fact that there is a dangerous intruder in your home.

When they do arrive, keep your mouth shut. Ask to speak to a lawyer. The subsequent investigation will hopefully show that you were in your home and that you were defending yourself. But if you talk and say something stupid, then you might find your words being twisted and in a lot of legal trouble.

My CHL class was taught by a number of LEOs and their advice was along these lines, "I was attacked and had to defend myself. I'll be glad to give you a full statement as soon as I've had an opportunity to meet with my attorney." Sounded like good advice to me. Frame the situation but don't try to talk while still pumped full of adrenalin and not thinking clearly.

Nothing....

This is what a friend of the family told me who is a Judge:

If you have shot an attacker before calling 911 just say that someone has been shot and request an ambulance. Even if you "know" that the guy is dead, still request an ambulance. Give the location. Thats it. Keep in mind that you will not be in a rational state. Tell the police when you get there that you feared for your life (or someone else's) and that you intentionally shot the BG. Then request medical attention for your self. Tell the police that you intend to comply fully, but that you are too shaken up to give a statement at the time (which will most likely be true, even if you don't think that you are). When you do give a statement, have your lawyer present.

Remember, even if you are 100% in the right legally speaking, your distressed ramblings can still be used against you in a civil suit. You may not go to jail over the event, but you can still loose everything financially.

Be smart. Keep you mouth shut. Once the shooting is over, the police are not your friends. They will try to get a statement out of you on the spot; Don't do it. More innocent folks land themselves in jail or the poor house due to their big mouths that should be shut, but because of the trauma of having to use lethal force, they don't act rationally.

As a former LEO, let me add my $.02. From a responding officer's standpoint & to alert EMS what the situation is; I would advise something like, "Someone broke into my home", or "There's a burglary in progress" ....then, "Shots have been fired... 1 (or more) suspect is down...I am the homeowner, I am armed...I need police and EMS, right now..." Answer only basic questions from the dispatcher such as, your location in the house, who else is in the house (i.e. wife, kids so they don't get shot) and the location of the BG's.

Cover the downed BG's from a point of concealment/cover, if possible...Don't stand over him. Stayed armed.

When the police get there, and you can see them..slowly put your gun down, back away from it and put your hands up, while repeating LOUDLY, "I'm the homeowner...I'm the homeowner, don't shoot...don't shoot".

Afterwards: Once the scene has been secured by the police, defer all statements, other than "Someone broke into my home and I had to defend myself because I was in fear for my life"...then, tell them you will gladly make a statement, after you have spoken with your attorney, and received medical attention.

+1 to what DogBonz said...The police are not necessarily your enemy....but anything you say, without being questioned, can be testified to by the officer's...and could hurt you later.

OldTXCop makes another good point. ALWAYS ask for medical attention.

1) It improves your standing as the victim of the event (you KNOW how TV news likes to make it look when the badguy is bloody and dead on the ground and the homeowner is standing there without a scratch on him. Looks much different with the homeowner sitting in an ambulance with the med-techs checking him/her out.

2) You may actually be injured and not realized it yet. This happens a lot.

3) Having understanding medical personnel on hand when the impact of what happened finally hits is a good thing.

Here's what I'd say;

"I have just been involved in a self defense shooting. I am at [insert location here] and I need police and ambulance NOW."

Then they will ask your name to which I'll reply;
"My name is [insert your name here]. Please hurry!" (maybe repeat the location)

Don't say anything else. If the perp is clearly down and out, reholster your weapon, get away from the body (but don't leave the scene) and when police cars show up put your hands in the air and follow their instructions. If the perp is still conscious keep him covered from a position of cover (not too far away) and again, when the police show up, put your weapon down and hands up and then follow their instructions.


At least thats how I've planned it ... realities of the situation may mess with the best plans though.

If the perp is clearly down and out, reholster your weapon

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And I repeat... NEVER assume that there is only one bad-guy. You aren't "off duty" until backup arrives.

I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record but multiple-assailant crimes are going waaaay up. Just trying to look out for y'all!

and I repeat... NEVER assume that there is only one bad-guy.

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Good point.

Here in Texas, my concealed handgun license instructor advised us to first say: "I/we feared for my/our life".

Massad Ayoob teaches, "The first one to call the police is the victim. Make sure it's you and not someone else."

I see some good points here. EMS needs to know if someone has been shot, but you don't want to put down a verbal record that it was you that shot him.

I disagree with the above poster who said the Texas guy is going to jail because of the 911 tape. I think he said everything that a jury will need to hear to let him off. He said he was in fear for his life, and that the bad guys were on his property, and he saw they were armed. It would have been better not to have the whole thing on tape, but I still think he's going to walk like a duck.

I did get advice once from a trainer somewhere or other who said, "If someone is in your house, pick up the phone, dial 911, and leave it running through the process." I now STRONGLY disagree. There will be someone who is going to tear that tape apart to make you look bad.

"this is so and so at 1234 main st.... im calling to report a home invasion, shots have been fired, im unsure if anyone has been hit"

thats it... the 911 dispatcher only needs to know enough to let LEOs and appropriate medical personel know how many people to send... they dont need to know anything else... anything you say on a 911 call can be used in court...

plus in my house, the crying kids would make talking to 911 damn near impossible...

Learn these 5 things to say:

1. My Name is ______
2. My Address is ______
3. Shots have been Fired
4. Send Police
5. Send Medical Attention

Count them off on your fingers and when you have reached 5 - Hang up the phone and say nothing else.
All 911 calls are recorded and you have no idea what you will say after a shooting incident. What is certain is that whatever you say can and will come back to haunt you. So be safe - say nothing.
Do not get into any conversation with the 911 operator... it cannot help you and may hurt you bigtime.