Black prosecuted in shooting of white teen, what do you think?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071223/ap_on_re_us/driveway_shooting;_ylt=ArgTUyuk1_XGhQmccPjL0Hus0NUE

I'm curious about other people's opinions in whether the verdict was just or not, but please read the ENTIRE article before posting.

Answer 1

The verdict is just. The black guy is just another criminal trying to blame his behavior on whitey. Give him the maximum penalty.

Answer 2

Reading the ENTIRE article doesn't hardly tell me doodley squat, except that the jury sat through weeks of testimony and evidence, then deliberated for four days before reaching a verdict. That tells me more than the rest of the article.

Answer 3

Justice? Let's see, the man shot and killed an unarmed man in the face. You don't shoot someone in the face, at point blank range, unless your intent is to kill them. If he was trying to protect his son from a lynch mob, wouldn't wounding the person be a possibility? No, this gentleman squeezes off a round into the kids head, at point-blank-range. This is not the old west, we don't settle disputes with fire arms anymore. This idiot shoots a KID, in the face that he knew was coming to fight with his son. Yet, it never occurs to him to call the police before the kid arrives, and strangely again, never occurs to him to call the police even after he shoots and kills him on the front lawn!!! Yes, I believe justice was done.

Answer 4

For the answerer who mentioned "self defense" it was hardly self defense when the teens were not even on his property or armed. He could have easily called the police from inside his locked up home, and all would have been well. Even if the kid he murdered was a racist, that doesn't entitle someone to kill him.

Answer 5

Textbook case of over reacting to a threat. The teen was unarmed, therefore deadly force can not be used under NY law. All he had to do to remove the threat was stay inside his house, lock the door, and call 911, and the teen would be the one going to jail instead of him.

Answer 6

I would like a whole lot more info before I can actually answer this question.

I am very aware that the state of New York does not value self defense as much as us poor unenlightened hicks in Texas/Oklahoma. So I suspect that he may have been defending himself. Yet I know that the politically correct media would be inclined to lie for him.

I want more info.

Answer 7

difficult situation to judge...i personally think that it was his property,and im pretty sure he asked them to remove themselves from it..plus there was a group of them trying to attack his son,i believe he has every right to use whatever force necessary to protect his offspring..but what i find so sad is that he is actually going through a prosecution due to this..but when a white man shot 2 intruders(his neighbors,not his) he hasnt even been indicted for murder? the dispatcher even told him to stay in the home..and upon calling the dispatcher,he stated that he had a gun..they continued throughout the call to persuade him to stay inside and mind his business until police arrived to handle the situation..and right before shooting them,he stated " i will not let them get away with this" and even said"boom your dead" prior to shooting....there was no threat to him,his family,or his property,but he's currently sitting at home not in a jail cell? i think all should be treated equally and fairly and this sitll isnt the case..its sad

for more on the story i am referring to:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f3d_1195171937

http://www.abajournal.com/news/case_of_texas_man_who_killed_next_door_burglars_goes_to_grand_jury/

Answer 8

Just because he is black, does not give him the right to kill anyone. Then cry racism, that is getting old. And I for one think that card is over played...look at what O.J. got away with because of it.

Answer 9

A group of drunk teens, shouting in the front yard.

One has to ask why the police were not called?

If they had tried to break in or whatever he would have been justified.

Answer 10

Why does race have anything to do with it? The man pulled a gun and shot a boy, He should of just called the cops.