Massachusetts: self defense - may be charged

[fish2xs]

Typical Massachusetts crap. However, this may sound worse only because it is
being reported by the Boston Al-Jazeera Globe. I heard on the ride in that the
robbers used a pellet gun.

FWIW,
-F



Gasoline station attendant wounds robber, police say

By Justin Rebello and Emma Stickgold, Globe Correspondents | December 8, 2004

MEDFORD -- A gasoline station attendant shot a would-be robber several times last night after pulling his own gun on two men attempting to hold up the Mystic Avenue station, police said.

Both suspects fled after the attendant fired at them, police said. One of the men, whose identity was not released last night, collapsed fewer than 100 yards down the street.

He was arrested and taken to Massachusetts General Hospital with bullet wounds to his torso. His condition was not known last night. A handgun police say was used in the attempted robbery was recovered from the wounded man.

Although it was unclear late last night whether charges would be filed against the attendant, whom police did not identify, police Lieutenant Paul Covino said the Fred's Gas attendant may have been justified in shooting at the two men.

"It looked like self-defense," he said last night. The gun was registered to the attendant, who was licensed to carry a firearm, police said.

The arrest may help bring an end to a string of robberies in the area that are believed to be linked, Covino said.

Just before 9:30 p.m., two men wearing leather jackets and masks approached the attendant, who was at the cash register, police said.

One of the men waved a firearm, and the attendant responded by pulling out his own gun and firing seven or eight shots at them.

 

[FPrice]

I wouldn't worry about him being charged, I think your intro explained it very well. Unless there is something seriously wrong with the report it looks like the attendant is clean on all possible counts. He should be feted as a hero, but in the People's Commonwealth, that will NOT happen.

We should send it to the NRA for inclusion in "The Armed Citizen" if everything checks out.

 

[caseydog]

The arrest may help bring an end to a string of robberies in the area that are believed to be linked, Covino said.

The arrest isn't whats going to bring it to it's end , the gas station attendant is the one people can thank.

 

[jefnvk]

If everything is as he says it is (and that shouldn't be too hard to prove, as I bet the station had a camera), then I see nothing wrong. My vote says no charges.

 

[sturmruger]

I sure like a happy ending. I think the NRA should start handing little trophys or medals for people that crime sprees like this.

 

[mainmech48]

While I hope that the attendant will face no criminal charges for defending his life, I'll bet you even money that he'll get fired for it. I'll give odds that there are scum sucking lawyers lining up on the doorsteps of the perp's relatives as you read this.

Let's face it, until we see some major reform of tort law that makes plaintiffs and their attornies liable for all costs incurred by the defendant should their suit be either dismissed or adjudicated against them, good people will continue to face the prospect of personal ruin even when they've commited no crime.

 

[Andrew Rothman]

Every time there is a self defense shooting, the press says, "it is unclear whether the shooter will be charged...." or word to that effect.

It's kind of like saying, "It is unknown whether the senator is a wife-beater," as if there was some reason to think that he was.

The DAs and courts, however, usually (usually) get it right.

 

[rl2669]

MA is bad for self defense...

As a former inmate (oh sorry I meant tax paying resident) of PRMA, luckily I migrated out AFFAP (as far & fast as possible) I can tell you that the Bawstahn area is not at all RKBA friendly, or even self defense friendly. I suspect that if I were to grow up there again, even the various school yard fights I partook in would result in serious jail time in juvenile hall, even though I never started any of them - finished a few though!

Has anyone been following the story of the Harvard student who defended himself with a pocket knife against 2 of Cambridge's finest crack dealers who pummelled him while he innocently walked down the street? Well, one crack head died, and Mr. Harvard law student (from a wealthy Colorado Springs family actually!) is now serving some serious time with the lads behind bars.

Just IMAGINE if this Pring-Wilson guy had a gun? He'd get the death penalty, even in the PRMA. As it was the prevailing opinion out there was he should have gotten convicted of 1st degree murder.

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/3821175/detail.html

 

[LynnMassGuy]

I sell Auto Parts in that area. I know Wally. He is one of my customers.I didn't know he carried a gun. He is a really nice guy. Very mild mannered. (Even when we'd forget to send his parts.) I'd say he is about my age.(32) I hope everything turns out ok for him. I think it will. He was licensed and the incident is on tape.

John
LMG

 

[Fletchette]

As a former inmate (oh sorry I meant tax paying resident) of PRMA

Yup. I escaped from the People's Republic too. Having lived there, I feel for this guy. He seems to have been completely justified in the shooting, and even went through all the red tape to carry in PRMA. However, knowing the personal guards of the Kennedy Kingdom, they will try to pin something, anything on him.

Look for charges for illegal hollowpoint bullets, or a over-capacity magazine, or a verboten human silouette target.

 

[jamz]

Totally depends on the attitude of the Medford Police Chief. THere are actually lots and lots of pro-rkba chiefs in this state, just very few of them inside the rt 128 ring, and the closer to the city you get, the less friendly it tends to get, Arlington being one notable exception. Medford is pretty close to Boston.

Hope this guy does okay.

-James
(Post Number 666!)

 

[mr hanky]

Quote:


The arrest isn't whats going to bring it to it's end , the gas station attendant is the one people can thank.

Casey: You are a genius!

 

[brownie0486]

Article today in the Herald says he will not be charged.

As to illegal hollowpoints in Ma.--that not true at all. Most every ccw holder carries them in the firearm for self defense. I've never heard of a case being brought against a ccw holder involved in a SD situation being charged with illegal hollowpoint use. If you have evidence to the contrary, please post the facts.

Pring-Wilson was guilty and convicted accordingly. Thats why he's serving time.

BTW--I'm also out of Ma end of the month as well after 32 years. The liberal state has it's problems in areas for ccw holders, but no more so than many other states.

Robin Brown

 

[Chipperman]

"Look for charges for illegal hollowpoint bullets, or a over-capacity magazine, or a verboten human silouette target."

Just to clear this up for people who are not in MA.....

Hollowpoints are perfectly legal in MA (I carry them)
Hi- Cap mags are also perfectly legal (if you have a Class A License)
Shooting silhouettes is perfectly legal for individuals. It is not legal for clubs who have their own FFL to allow silhouette shootign at thier range. (This law is often misunderstood)


With all that said, I agree that they may well try to nail him on something; even if it is not illegal.

 

[rl2669]

hey brownie, read this...

You think Pring-Wilson was guilty? Maybe so, but read another viewpoint before making up your mind:

http://www.relentlessdefense.com/tips/casesinnews/pring.wilson.case.html

 

[Werewolf]

My GAWD!

If that is an accurate account of the testimony that Rodriquez gave then it seems we haver our own little piece of the UK right here in the USA.

I am ever so thankful I was born, raised and live in the south.

 

[ExtremeDooty]

I've been looking for work for months now. I don't even read the postings from MA, CA, NY and IL.

 

[Don Gwinn]

Looked to me like the reporter was working a lot harder to make it sound like the attendant would be charged than any of the officers or officials quoted. If you notice, when the reporter quotes the police officer who said "It looked like it was self-defense" he took it upon himself to modify what the officer said when he paraphrased it. Then it became "The attendant MAY not be charged."

I'd say if the cops think you fired in self-defense and are willing to say it to a reporter, you have a better chance than "may not be charged."

 

[carpettbaggerr]

It is not legal for clubs who have their own FFL to allow silhouette shootign at thier range.

 

[brownie0486]

rl,

Thats the spin doctors version probably written by his parents who are both lawyers in the state as well.

If you'll read the transcripts from the trial with all the attendant testimony, including Prings own 4 versions of what happened with different statements he gave on different dates to the cops x2, the court x2, you'll understand how he was convicted.

Those who make it up as they go need to remember what they said initially, and not change their story after consulting with hired attys, and mom and dad. He incriminated himself and then changed the story after the lawyers got to talk to him.

The jury who heard all the evidence found him to have lied about the circumstances surrounding the incident and his after actions and reasoning for those actions. It also did not help him any that he was drunk.

Robin Brown

 

[Chipperman]

Sounds strange, doesn't it?

That's the way the law works. If a range or club does not have its own FFL, then silhouette shooting is fine. If it has its own FFL, then they cannot allow shooting of silhouette targets on their property.

A lot of people misconstrue the law to mean that any silhouette shooting in MA is illegal. They are wrong.

 

[LynnMassGuy]

BTW folks. He is not going to be charged.

 

[Chipperman]

Yippee Skippee.

 

[KAR120C]

Did anyone else pick up on the use of the term "teenager" to describe the 18 year old felon who was stabbed while assaulting Pring-Wilson?

Not that the media would try to paint this slime as an inocennt choir boy.

 

[rl2669]

brownie...

Fair 'nuff, I wasn't there nor I suspect were you. We're both relying on the available evidence to see what really occurred.

It sounds like Pring may have had a chance to get away and failed to do so? Not clear. If so, bad on him, but not 1st degree murder bad. Being drunk is no time to carry a weapon. Changing story to cops in a court is worse - leads to the cliche "were you lying then or are you lying now, Mr Pring".

I used to live in PRMA, Cambridge specifically, near Central Square T station where this all happened. As of 20 years ago when I lived there, it was a scary place at night. I doubt its improved much. As I'm sure you know MA especially close in to Boston exhibits a very hostile political climate towards any kind of weapon carry / self defense, and a rich white boy from out of town killing a local hood isn't going to fly with a PR-cambridge jury, irregardless of facts. Some of what goes on in a courtroom is classic "win or lose", and this Pring guy had the cards stacked against him, not that his own behavior helped any.

You are correct that Mahoney was apparently one of the defense counsel. Clearly there is motive and opportunity to portray the facts in a way that helps Pring. I don't claim to know all the facts, I need to further investigate as you suggest. As someone who walked around Cambridge a bit inebriated myself many years ago and dodged various hood-types, I still think what happened to Pring was lousy.