HOUSTON - The cha-chick of a shell entering a shotgun's chamber rattled through the 911 line just before Joe Horn stepped out his front door.
Horn, 61, had phoned police when he saw two men break into his neighbor's suburban Houston home through a window in broad daylight. Now they were getting away with a bag of loot.
"Don't go outside the house," the 911 operator pleaded. "You're going to get yourself shot if you go outside that house with a gun. I don't care what you think."
"You want to make a bet?" Horn answered. "I'm going to kill them." He did.
Admirers, including several of his neighbors, say Horn is a hero for killing the burglars, protecting his neighborhood and sending a message to would-be criminals. Critics call him a loose cannon. His attorney says Horn just feared for his life.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071127/ap_on_re_us/burglary_shooting;_ylt=ApoE3GQ.svdlkwmfRN.1dqxH2ocA
2007-11-27 06:35:08 · 7 answers · asked by uscrodeu 3 in News & Events ➔ Other - News & Events
I wish he was my neighbor. Neighbors should look out for each other and their property. He gave them warning but they chose to break in and steal anyways. Also, he had called 911 already and couldn't get the help needed so i think he did the right thing.
2007-11-27 06:42:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
According to the story, the burglars had left the residence. Flight constitutes abandonment. Even the police can't shoot at a fleeing suspect under most conditions. That's why you see so many foot pursuits on "Cops". So, this shooter is in trouble. But, I do support any law-abiding citizen being able to arm himself to protect himself and his property. I've had to draw my weapon out of my holster on four occasions in the past 25 years. Each time it was to prevent the commission of a felony. I never had to fire it, but I did clear a few heads and stop some crimes from happening.
2007-11-27 10:34:22 · answer #2 · answered by desertviking_00 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sarge is incorrect.
His statement that this is murder is not only wrong, it is actionable. He can be sued for saying something like that.
The Police get their authority from US. That doesn't mean that we give it up.
You have a responsibility to your neighbors to get involved when a crime is committed.
If you sat by and hid while the community was at risk, I would have you charged as an accessory.
Bad attitude Sarge, even the cops agree.
2007-11-27 13:30:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'd hate to have him as my neighbor. What if the next person he shot was a teenager sneaking out of the house or an undercover cop in a burgler sting operation?
Besides, we only have his word for what happened. He convieniently killed off all the witnesses.
I'm sure in tEXAS, he will be considered a hero, but it just goes to show how morally bankrupt tEXANS are.
2007-11-27 07:20:57 · answer #4 · answered by buffytou 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Hero.
Give that man a Smith & Wesson 44 Magnum.
Honor that Hero.
What would U do in his shoes??
He was defending a neighbors home NOT his.
How would U react???
Blow the scum away.
Lock & Load & Chamber the round & Fire.
Horn needs a 3030 rifle, scope & Lasersight.
2007-11-27 14:32:03 · answer #5 · answered by STEPHEN R 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Under the law, he's a murderer. If a burglar has left the house and is fleeing you can't shoot him. Now, if the burglars were still in the house and he shot them, that's a different story. If this case goes to court, Horn's attorney isn't going to have a leg to stand on based on the 9-1-1 call. He loaded his gun, stated plainly that he was going to kill them, and then he did. I see a 6x9 cell in Mr. Horn's future.
If only he had shot them while they were inside the house instead of calling 9-1-1 first...
2007-11-27 06:47:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Murder.Plain and simple and why couldn't he shoot to wound considering he knew help was on the way.No this guy made up his own rules here and became an executioner and most probably shot them in the back.You don't kill someone for theft and especially as it wasn't even his house they were burgling.
2007-11-27 07:16:32 · answer #7 · answered by Misty Blue 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
He went outside to kill them. He's a murderer. You can't just shoot people for stealing your neighbor's stuff. If they pointed a gun back at them MAYBE it'd be self defense, but you can shoot a guy in the leg just as easy as you can shoot a guy in the chest, so if they weren't firing back he's not in the right.
2007-11-27 06:51:32 · answer #8 · answered by Vegas Matt 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋