Home owner shoots intruder

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Desertdog

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"Fired 2 warning shots," "shot in the legs." I think I would have just shot the SOB. Dd

Home owner shoots intruder
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/westmoreland/s_322550.html

By Tribune-Review
Sunday, April 10, 2005


A Hempfield man shot an intruder who invaded his home early Saturday, state police at Greensburg said.
The unidentified homeowner fired two warning shots before shooting Gregory R. Powell, 43, of Greensburg in the legs, police said.

The unidentified family --- a 37-year-old male, a 33-year-old female and 5-year-old and 8-year-old girls --- were not hurt in the 3 a.m. home invasion, Trooper Jared Slater said in a press release issued 13 hours after the incident.

Powell allegedly broke into the residence by using an iron fireplace poker and his fists to break out a pane of door glass. The family called police.

The homeowner, armed with a handgun, warned Powell not to enter the residence. According to police, Powell entered and charged at the man, who then fired two warning shots. After Powell continued to "menace" the man, he was shot in the legs, according to police.

Police said Powell then broke out another pane of door glass and escaped from the house. He was arrested at the scene and flown by medical helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital for gunshot and laceration wounds. The extent of his injuries was unknown. Police did not say how many times Powell was shot.

After his release from medical care, police said, Powell will be arraigned on charges of burglary, felony criminal trespass, four counts of terroristic threats, simple assault, misdemeanor criminal mischief and misdemeanor possessing instruments of crime.

Trooper Slater could not be reached for further information. An official at the office of District Judge Douglas Weimer reported no knowledge of the incident.
 
I'm surprised the home owner wasn't charged with unlawfully discharging a firearm (or whatever the charge would be called). Don't they usually interpret "warning shots" to mean "life wasn't at risk," which would make it (legally) a bad shoot?
 
Why warning shots?

If there was light to see the intruder, and you could see no visible weapon, tell him to get down. If it is dark and you can't see if the intruder has a weapon...well, then my first two warning shots would be right in the center of his chest.
 
Cat is lucky to be alive. I don't think i'd shoot for legs either. Pelvis, possibly, as a quick way to know him down.
 
Someone breaks in your house at night, do the world a favor and bury them right then. It will save you and everyone else a lot of headaches.
 
AgaveHound said:
"four counts of terroristic threats..." What is that all about?

My guess is one 'terroristic threat' per home dweller, he probably said "I'm going to kill you all" or something equally evil.
 
The only warning he would have gotten from me would be the verbal one not to come into the house. After that they would be COM and head if necessary.
 
Someone breaks in your house at night, do the world a favor and bury them right then. It will save you and everyone else a lot of headaches.

Amen. I am really sick of hearing people say, "But I don't want to kill a person..."

Well sh*t, neither do I, but if we're talking not about a good person, but a violent one who has broken into my home?! He doesn't get the same consideration I would give any normal innocent person. (That being, "I never harm normal innocent people. Duh.")

What argument is there for leaving such a person alive after they have exposed themselves to justifiable lethal force?

Simple fact is, if you leave him alive, you may be party to his ability to later kill someone just like you. Is it so important to "preserve life" (people like to pretend that the life of a home invader is equal to the life of any normal good person :rolleyes:) that you must preserve even those lives that are inclined to take innocent lives?! I certainly do not think so.

-Jeffrey
 
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