83 year old homeowner shoots, kills burgler

[johncanfield]

This happened in Daytona Beach. We used to live there and there are some real sleeze-buckets in the area, especially in the winter.

Shot the guy through the door. Police chief praises man for doing what the 'criminal justice system couldn't do'. Story here.

[speedsix]

...makes the coffee taste better this cold mornin'...thanks!!!

[chasfm11]

Police Chief Mike Chitwood said 82-year-old Charles Robbins was awakened by the noise of someone trying to break in at about 6:15 a.m., armed himself and shot through the door in the 300 block of Woodland Avenue, killing 24-year-old Tyler Orshoski.

"We're thankful he did something the criminal justice system couldn't do and he put this guy out of business this morning," he said

That is quite a statement coming from the Chief of Police. I suspect that many LEOs are as upset as the rest of us about the revolving door justice system in many areas. The local TV news last night showed pictures of a BG who is robbing For Sale homes in this area. They've identified him and said that the BG just got out of jail, very short of his original sentence, and was at it again almost immediately.

There is still a part of me that has a problem with the chief's comment. In the context of the other thread about the homeowner who was slashed when trying to confront a BG attempting to burglarize his car, I fully understand that there are significant risks for not dealing effectively with a threat. But I hope that I will always approach the situation as dealing effectively with the that threat and nothing more. To me, it crosses a moral line that I don't want to cross if there is a feeling of administering justice. What happens after I act to deal effectively with the threat is not in my hands.

[Fangs]

I would personally have waited until the BG opened the door, just to cover myself legally. Though I'm not 80+ years old, and I'd be using a shotgun.

[speedsix]

...he was covered legally...why wait and let the BG see him and get off even one shot at him??? we are not required to put ourselves in harm's way to stop an intruder...