by Leody » Tue Feb 19, 2013 6:25 pm
Obviously the laws where I live don't apply to this case... but in Ohio, if you shoot a person, there must be three conditions for you to not face criminal conviction of at the least manslaughter and at the worst murder.
1. There must be a clear and immediate threat of severe bodily harm or death.
2. You were not at fault for creating the confrontation or incident.
3. You were unable to retreat from the situation.
Clearly 1 and 3 were not met in this case. There was a closed door between him and the person he shot, so he clearly wasn't in immediate danger. And again, he could have retreated from the situation rather than investigating the noise in the first place so 3 isn't met either.
In Ohio, he's going to prison. Just a matter of for how long based on that evidence.
That's why you're taught here to remain in your bedroom, lock the door, call the cops and announce to the intruder that you've done that and if he comes in you will shot, but you do not want to hurt him, so please leave.
This space used to be more fun...