(WI) Woman shoots, kills two home invaders 09-19-03

[WAGCEVP]

(WI) Woman shoots, kills two home invaders 09-19-03
Date: Sep 20, 2003 2:07 AM
Channel3000.com - News - MPD: Woman Shoots, Kills Home Invaders
<http://www.channel3000.com/news/2496146/detail.html>
Police Say Woman Is Not Under Arrest
UPDATED: 10:28 a.m. CDT September 19, 2003

MADISON, Wis. -- Madison police are investigating a double homicide this
morning in the 2800 block of Dahle Street, on the city's northeast side.

Numerous people called police to report gunfire around 10:30 p.m., News
3 reported. When officers arrived, they found one gunshot-wounded victim
outside and another in a nearby apartment. Both were taken to the
hospital, but died, police said.

Police are questioning a female who they said shot the men as they
allegedly forced their way into her home.

Officer Laura Walker described the situation as "a home invasion and the
people that forced their way in" the apartment got killed.

Walker said the female is not under arrest.
Autopsies on the two males will be done today, police said.

Police and coroner's office officials are investigating.

News 3 and Channel 3000 will have more information as it becomes
available.

 

[Mannlicher]

good on her !!!

 

[XenaduKhan]

Nice how they are calling it a homicide rather than self-defense. Love those journalists

 

[Dorian]

I think "homocide" is when one human kills another human.... No matter what the situation.

So the wording is correct...

But it is definately being put into context as anti gun to me too.

 

[Mark Tyson]

Dorian is right. The term homicide includes self defense, legal intervention(justifiable police shooting) and executions, but it has taken on a criminal undertone.

 

[Andrew Rothman]

There is some bias in this story. The cops called it a home invasion, but the two dead bad guys are referred to as "victims."

Any Madison THR's here? Call the station and tell `em that it sure looks like they were "suspects," not victims.

Matt

 

[Andrew Rothman]

Follow-up story

http://www.channel3000.com/news/2499442/detail.html

DA: Woman Shooter Killed 2 In Self Defense
2 Men Die, 1 May Be Charged

POSTED: 4:49 p.m. CDT September 20, 2003
UPDATED: 5:08 p.m. CDT September 20, 2003

MADISON -- The Dane County district attorney has decided not to charge a woman in the shooting deaths of two men Friday night in xxxxx.

Witnesses heard six shots fired in a woman's northeast-side home shortly after 10:30 p.m. Friday night. Two men were killed by a woman who said she was protecting herself from them. Dade District Attorney Brian Blanchard has decided not to charge the woman.

"I've been briefed by the police and from everything I understand at this point, there will be no criminal liability for who fired the fatal shots because of the circumstances -- namely an armed home invasion," Blanchard revealed.


Police are not willing to identify the woman at this time.

The tearful mother of one of the dead men showed up at the scene of the shooting Saturday afternoon in search of answers. Outside the northside apartment where her 19-year-old son lost his life, Louveena Sargant told reporters her child was not a home invader.

"My son came here several times, and I'm not going to lie -- it's to sell drugs," she said. "It wasn't like he came here and he didn't know who the people were."

Police tell News 3 it was her son, Sedric Sargant, and an accomplice, Kenneth Robinson, 22, who barged their way into the 22-year-old woman's home.

The woman's criminal history shows a recent arrest for marijuana possession, police said.

"I didn't hear anything, but she says she heard shots," said neighbor Chris Mees. "We came out to look, and there was already cops here."

As word spreads about the woman shooter and the fact that the district attorney will not charge her, there is support in the neighborhood for the decision.

"If someone broke into my home -- and I've got a 1-year-old -- we have guns and I'm not asking questions. No time for that," one neighbor said.

"You are entitled to respond to real threats with real force," Blanchard explained. "You can't shoot simply because they're on your property or are even stealing from you. You have to be in danger."

Police now have another suspect, and prosecutors are considering murder charges even though that person didn't pull the trigger or even go inside the woman's home.

That third suspect who escaped and was with the two dead men and could be on the hook for two murders.

Blanchard is likening this case to one from 1989.

In that case, two men entered a house in Monona. Another man waited outside. The owner used his shotgun to kill the intruders. The getaway driver, James Oimen, fled the scene. He shot no one but he was convicted of homicide and sentenced to 24 years in prison.

His conviction was upheld in the Supreme Court five years later. Preliminarily, Blanchard says he's looking at that type charge in this case.

Investigators will now have to figure out if the third suspect knew the intentions of the now two dead men before they all went inside the home. If so, he could be charged with felony murder.


Copyright 2003 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved.

 

[Standing Wolf]

When officers arrived, they found one gunshot-wounded victim outside and another in a nearby apartment. Both were taken to the hospital, but died, police said.

Who said criminals never do the right thing?

 

[Andrew Rothman]

My analysis:

* The DA did the right thing
* The shooter may not be squeaky clean - not an ideal 2A spokesmodel!
* This story showed little or no anti-gun bias! If anything, it was pro!

* Neighbor was quoted supporting self defense.
* No fright-ninnies were quoted saying how baaaaaaad guns are
* DA was extensively quoted about proper DGU
* The story refers throughout to two "dead men," not "victims"
* The story refers to a "third suspect," implying other two are suspects!

I'll say it again -- any Wisconsin THRers should call and tell the station that they APPRECIATE the fair and accurate reporting of the second story over the kneejerk blame-the-shooter tone of the first.

Media Analyst Matt

 

[tommytrauma]

Update: The woman is being charged for possession, use and selling of crack cocaine, and the shooting may well have been drug related.

 

[greyhound]

My son came here several times, and I'm not going to lie -- it's to sell drugs," she said. "It wasn't like he came here and he didn't know who the people were."

Not to be mean spirited, but if the mother had done something to help get her son away from "The Life", maybe this wouldn't have happened.

Update: The woman is being charged for possession, use and selling of crack cocaine, and the shooting may well have been drug related.

In which case can they go back and charge her now, or is it too late? Or, even if drugs were involved, can it still be self defense?