Self Defense, Slaton TX

[SAK]

Incident happened close to home.

http://lubbockonline.com/crime-and-cour ... yM401xAbWg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sheriff Kelly Rowe said investigators believed the shooting started when 69-year-old Fred Melcher and 51-year-old Edith Ayers entered Melcher’s Slaton house and found a man they likely knew inside just before 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

[Texas10X]

That was a strange article. One part of it says they don't know how the suspect got in, and the next, they state there was evidence of a break-in.

[RPB]

http://www.myfoxlubbock.com/news/local/ ... RNWdA.cspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[apostate]

http://www.myfoxlubbock.com/news/local/ ... RNWdA.cspx

Good Lord! I don't know why they're yammering about the Castle Doctrine so much. It sounds like a clear case of self defense ("to protect the actor against the other's use or attempted use of unlawful deadly force") considering the last paragraph in the story.

Deputies said both victims were able to speak briefly to investigators Friday. Melcher is still in critical condition and Ayers in serious.

[SAK]

Our local newspaper leaves a lot to be desired. It is called the Mudslide (Avalanche Journal) for a reason. The latest update I have seen says that the bad guy was a drifter that Mr Melcher befriended & was at one time a couple on months ago even staying with him in the home. The story is that several things in the home had come up missing, but Melcher would not believe this guy was responsible. When Melcher & Ayers arrived at the home & surprised him in the act, the BG opened fire on them, wounding Ayers - she went to a neighbor's to call for help. Melcher & him fought - report states that one head wound is from a hammer blow, anyway wounded & hurt Melcher fired one shot - a fatal one & solved the missing items problem once & for all.

Don't mess with the old ones, some of them are tough old birds.

[Texas10X]

Thanks for the update. That's especially bad to have someone you befriended rip you off then try to kill you.

[SAK]

One of our local TV stations has a better update on the web site. Initial reports of one shot were not right - seems like it took 5 shots of 9mm to take him down...

http://www.kcbd.com/story/16631431/auto ... n-shooting" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[threoh8]

From: http://www.kcbd.com/story/16631431/auto" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... n-shooting

"Melcher somehow made his way to the bedroom, grabbed a 9 mm handgun and shot Holt in the three times in his torso and two times in his side."

That's some fancy writing and editing skills right there.

"Authorities believe foul play was not involved."

Hmmm ... I would think burglary and shooting the folks who live there would count as foul play. And those acts were apparently involved in the outcome.

[RPB]

From: http://www.kcbd.com/story/16631431/auto" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... n-shooting

"Melcher somehow made his way to the bedroom, grabbed a 9 mm handgun and shot Holt in the three times in his torso and two times in his side."

That's some fancy writing and editing skills right there.

"Authorities believe foul play was not involved."

Hmmm ... I would think burglary and shooting the folks who live there would count as foul play. And those acts were apparently involved in the outcome.

The chickens weren't stolen from out back o' the house .... darn spell checker changed fowl to foul again ...
(my mom n dad raised rabbits and chickens in that area a while, in the bathtub and out back ... (long ago)

[ELB]

..

"Authorities believe foul play was not involved."

Hmmm ... I would think burglary and shooting the folks who live there would count as foul play. And those acts were apparently involved in the outcome.

I presume this is with respect to Melcher shooting Holt (i.e. it was a justified shooting). As someone noted, this is not the best written news article.