Back a week ago, I was burglarized in my home and shot the intruder with a shotgun after he started toward me. However, turning on the light, he wasn't much younger than me. Ended up later finding he was only 18. I've already been cleared under the Florida Castle Doctrine, but damn man. Just don't seem right that kids this age should be breaking into houses, and I didn't want to kill him. I'm in college, so I have very little and try to protect it, not to mention I have been robbed more than once. What would have everyone else done in the situation?
2007-03-05 00:53:39 · 16 answers · asked by Nicholas P 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
For what he was doing, the PD felt that he was simply trying to burglarize me. He had two priors, so they attributed the incident to that.
However, the biggest thing to me was the way he died. The shot hit him in the right lung, but it was #8 shot meant for dove. The pellets weren't strong enough to kill him instantly, just punctured his lung. I called the ambulance and sit there with him until he died. He was suffering, and there was nothing I could do to save him or ease his pain. That's the biggest, looking at his questioning eyes until the life left him.
2007-03-05 01:16:12 · update #1
Kids or adults at any age have no right to invade your home.
What if you didn't have a gun? What do you think he would have done to you?
Even if he hadn't killed you and only injured and robbed you, would you feel better about it? Criminals become more confident and brazen after every successful attempt. It might even be possible that this isn't the first time he has robbed you. What do you think he would have done to his next victim if you hadn't stopped him?
I assume you want to live rather than die, so why feel bad about that?
That kid initiated force against you by invading the privacy of your home with the intention to do harm to you. You had every right to defend yourself, even if it means killing him.
2007-03-05 01:16:18 · answer #1 · answered by kensai 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats a tough one man... I think you may still be feeling badly about the situation since you have a conscience and maybe you were raised right by your parents to believe that murder is wrong.
Being so close in age is hard as well.
There are (i hope), in your community a service that would be free or cheap to help you discuss your feelings and or fears maybe even anger that you are dealing with right now.
There seems to me a few more steps of dealing with this before it is over and you have come to grips with it.
I really hope you can find solice in a group or most importantly within yourself to overcome this.
I bet you could try a religious person as well to talk to.
On the other hand, you are right that kids should not be breaking into homes and taking what they wish. But this happens all over the country and has become a veritible epidemic with the youth of today. They don't seem to have a care or good upbringing. This is caused by bad child rearing and a hundred other factors. too many to discuss here and now. But this could become a crusade for helping trouble youth of your area and become a mentor or something.
Good Luck!!!
2007-03-05 01:04:19 · answer #2 · answered by rennes89 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Obviously, you were cleared so you have been given the right to defend yourself.
Unfortunately this was a young person, who had a whole life ahead of him. Who is to say he would not have killed you or spent his life hurting other people. who is to say he wouldn't have gotten off drugs and became a scientist that saved the world?
I believe that you are rolling through tons of what if thoughts because of his age. Had he been 90 you would know that he was a screw ball probably forever and would it make you feel better.
If you had to do again I'm sure you would have aimed for the leg but you panicked in your own defense.You can not go back and it is ok, he shouldn't have been in your home. He has robbed you of more than things if you let him. DON'T!! Your own quilt and feelings of being sorry prove that you are a good person. If it didn't bother you, I would worry but you a good, loving person. Sorry he has put you through this, wipe it away, you are alive because of you own desire.
2007-03-05 01:25:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your options were all bad. He made the choice. But if it happens again, you may not want to do IT again. You could get hurt through an inaction. This kid would of killed you, make no mistake, burglary is non-violent until you've cornered the burglar. But do you have options? A well placed round in the ankle will usually send them flying back out the door., but be ready for round two incase they get real stupid.. Robbing a burglar of wallet, ID. cash,, and give back the wallet, keep the id and cash, is dangerous, even if your standing on a baseball bat on his throat. If you've been robbed before, the current perp may know where the rest of your stuff. is. Be at peace though, it was his turn, and who knows how many of us you saved. Thanks.
2007-03-05 02:10:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
What your feeling is natural, it just means you are a good human being. You did what you had to do, he was the on who made the choice to turn to crime, instead of getting a job, if you didn't shoot him, trust me someone else would have. You also should look at like this, criminals only get braver, what if he had broke into someone else's house and killed them. The thing for you to do is get counseling. Someone you can help you deal with this. Just so you know, if someone broke into my home, it would be the last house they broke into, because I without hesitation would kill them.
2007-03-05 02:14:14 · answer #5 · answered by kc 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You shoot the guy. There's a general recognition in society that if someone invades your home, you have the right to defend it, and yourself. Hence, the laws protecting you.
That said, killing someone doesn't feel good. You may want to consider getting some counseling to help work through your feelings. Your campus health center can give you a referral, or perhaps a local church or community center.
2007-03-05 00:58:16 · answer #6 · answered by Jason 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You did what you had to do. People that invade other peoples privacy know the risks involved. He could've (& probably would've) seriously hurt or killed you if you hadn't taken action. Yes, it's a horrible shame but he knew what he was doing. I'm very sorry. You might want to talk to a counselor.
2007-03-05 01:03:59 · answer #7 · answered by lovemy2babies 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well thats why we live in this country bet you dont have any more break ins ..........Kid was probably on drugs or something i would just forget about it wasnt nuthin else you could do he would have shot you if he had the chance. In time you will forget about it and God wont hold it aganist you
2007-03-05 01:06:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its human nature to feel empathy for someone else. But the guy was living on the razor's edge...it was his fault, not yours. You would have felt even worse if he had injured or killed a member of your family, and you did nothing to stop him.
2007-03-05 00:58:23 · answer #9 · answered by mamasquirrel 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You were just protecting yourself anyone would do the same, its normal to feel some guilt but dont let it consume you.It really sucks but there is nothing you can do now whats done is done, now you just have to deal
Good luck
2007-03-05 00:59:33 · answer #10 · answered by lily paige 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋