U.S. National - AP
'Make My Day' Law Shields Slay Suspect
Tue Nov 11,12:15 PM ET Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo!
AULT, Colo. - A man accused of killing a neighbor in a dispute that started with a barking dog will not be charged with a crime because of Colorado's "make my day" law, which protects residents protecting themselves from intruders.
Weld County District Attorney Al Dominguez said Monday he had no choice.
"I have a dead human being and that death was caused by someone shooting a shotgun at him. Under normal circumstances, that kind of behavior demands a consequence," Dominguez said. The decision "was very difficult. I struggled with it all weekend."
Eric Griffin, 33, upset by the barking of a dog belonging to neighbor Richard Hammock, allegedly wounded the animal with a pellet gun Nov. 2. Hammock, 48, then went to Griffin's home carrying a 3-foot board, authorities said.
Griffin's girlfriend told police she heard breaking glass and a shotgun blast. Dominguez said the woman reported Griffin told her he fired when Hammock tried to enter the house.
Griffin has an unlisted phone number and couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.
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This is a tough one. If someone was shooting at your dog with a pellet gun, what would you do?
'Make My Day' Law Shields Slay Suspect
Tue Nov 11,12:15 PM ET Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo!
AULT, Colo. - A man accused of killing a neighbor in a dispute that started with a barking dog will not be charged with a crime because of Colorado's "make my day" law, which protects residents protecting themselves from intruders.
Weld County District Attorney Al Dominguez said Monday he had no choice.
"I have a dead human being and that death was caused by someone shooting a shotgun at him. Under normal circumstances, that kind of behavior demands a consequence," Dominguez said. The decision "was very difficult. I struggled with it all weekend."
Eric Griffin, 33, upset by the barking of a dog belonging to neighbor Richard Hammock, allegedly wounded the animal with a pellet gun Nov. 2. Hammock, 48, then went to Griffin's home carrying a 3-foot board, authorities said.
Griffin's girlfriend told police she heard breaking glass and a shotgun blast. Dominguez said the woman reported Griffin told her he fired when Hammock tried to enter the house.
Griffin has an unlisted phone number and couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.
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This is a tough one. If someone was shooting at your dog with a pellet gun, what would you do?