Justifiable Homicide and Self-defense

Homeowners and self-defense stories are in the news.

The Sun Herald: One man dead, another charged in shooting. [Not the first story on the page] This is the case an ex-husband looking to do injury to his ex-wife and her new boyfriend. With an unusual twist the ex-husband recruited a friend of his to help out. They arrived at the new boyfriend's home armed with guns and baseball bats.

Hinton [the ex-husband] allegedly fired into the trailer, but did not hit anyone. Byrd said it appears Sexton returned fire in self-defense and struck Howell [the recruit] in the head. Howell was taken to a hospital in Alabama, where he later died.

The ex-husband will charged in the shooting.

WSFA TV Montgomery, AL - Police Decline to Charge Self-Defense Shooter. For the third time in a year, Montgomery police have not filed charges in a justifiable shooting.

Police say 37 year old Wallace Jones got into a traffic accident with another man near Godfrey and Day Streets early Saturday morning. Investigators say Jones then threatened the other driver with a baseball bat.

Then, the other driver pulled a gun and killed Jones. Now, police say they will not file charges against the shooter

The story covers 2 other cases of self-defense in the last year and one case where it clearly was not self-defense, and the shooter was charged with assault. This is a very balanced story about guns and self-defense.

News from KTRK Houston: Intruder fatally shot by homeowner. This guy broke into a house armed with a baseball bat. The homeowner defending his wife and child warned the intruder he was armed, but this guy kept coming anyway.

HPD's Mike Walker said, "(As he) began to make his way through the residence the homeowner secured his wife and child. As he tried to go upstairs he shot him."

The intruder died at the scene. Police say classify the case as a justifiable homicide.

What else would it be?

Albany, GA: Armed resident holds criminal for police. These idiots picked the wrong house to rob.

Bill Mitchell, who live in the Rawson Circle, on the Avenues in North Central Albany, turned the table on two burglars, holding one at gunpoint until police arrived.

Though he only held one of the 2 burglars, police caught up with the other in short order and arrested them both.

News - Post-Tribune: Self-defense shooting In this case a 17-year-old burglar is likely going to be paralyzed from the gunshot wound he received after breaking into an Indiana home.

The homeowner called police and said a man had forced his way into her house, pointed a gun at her and demanded money.

When officers arrived, they found Walker with a shotgun slug in his side and a handgun nearby.

[Hat Tip Keep and Bear Arms]