Elderly homeowner in Colorado facing attempted murder charges for shooting thief

LeeH · 07:47 PM

This just doesn't seem real...

WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. - Admitted thieves are going free, while an elderly Wheat Ridge man is facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life behind bars, all, he says, for trying to defend his property and his life.

Don't know why the embedded video didn't work. Full story is here:

http://www.fox8.com/news/kdvr-theives-free-victim-arrested-txt,0,2892096.story

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Well, it was pretty dumb to shoot at a fleeing vehicle over stolen property. I think it should be legal to kill a thief. But it's not in most places and it's grossly negligent to fire at a vehicle, even if it's coming right at you, which this one was not. The perps deserve to be eaten alive by pigs. But you gots to know the law where you live and that goes double when it comes to gunplay.

BTW, you can't shoot someone even in AZ for stealing your property. You can threaten deadly force, but not use it.

Jim Bremner · 07-07-2010, 08:02 PM

It's a sad day......

911boost · 911boost's Garage

Didn't the article say he was threatened, that they almost ran him over and one of his shots hit one of the perps face's? Now, if he was completely safe behind the vehicle, then yep, shooting at them wasn't smart.

jyl · jyl's Garage

My guess - the DA will agree to a plea for some lesser offense and the guy will get probation/suspended sentence. The thieves will be jailed on immigration charges and deported.

He (the shooter) is an idiot. If you own a gun, you'd better know the laws about using it.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Shooting at a moving vehicle is the dumbest thing you can do. The only thing more dangerous than a live criminal behind the wheel of a moving vehicle is a dead criminal behind the wheel of a moving vehicle.

911boost · 911boost's Garage

Rick, good guys alway shoot at bad guys in moving vehicles on tv and in the movies. Are you telling me that isn't the correct method?

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSiple

Rick, good guys alway shoot at bad guys in moving vehicles on tv and in the movies. Are you telling me that isn't the correct method?

This happened at an iHop in Alexandria, VA a few years ago and the cop stepped in front of a moving car full of teens just having done the dine and ditch. Cop shot at the SUV and killed a passenger in the backseat. Had he hit the driver, he'd probably have been run down too. Nothing morally wrong with killing thieves. But you gotta know your target and what's beyond. The only vehicle I've ever shot at was an old VW and Yamaha bike on Seahawk's home shooting range.

aigel · aigel's Garage

Not enough information. If they were driving off and he shot at the leaving vehicle from behind he should be in trouble. If he was in their way and they tried to run him over and he shot through their windshield, different story.

The fact that the guy had a gunshot wound to the face may just be due to him looking back at the shooter out the back window.

George

speeder · speeder's Garage

Rick, you think that there is "nothing morally wrong" with shooting and killing teenagers who just dined and dashed a restaurant?? Are you out of your freaking mind??

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by speeder

Rick, you think that there is "nothing morally wrong" with shooting and killing teenagers who just dined and dashed a restaurant?? Are you out of your freaking mind??

No, no. I wasn't referring to that. I meant the guys in the article above.

The kids doing the dine and dash should have been locked up. The cop was working security off duty in the IHOP, as this kind of thing is common in the area. He chased after them when they skipped on the check. Cop stepped in front of the SUV, put his hand up to stop them and the driver allegedly floored it at him. Who knows? Tragedy all around.

Still, nothing dumber than shooting at a vehicle coming at you. What do you expect the dead driver to do then? Slam on the brakes? Swerve to avoid you?

speeder · speeder's Garage

As much as I understand the emotional desire to blast thieves to hell, in most cases it would not fit the crime. Killing offenses always include some kind of violence or really, REALLY grand larceny in my perfect world. Those guys should have just been painfully beaten and then strapped onto the next donkey back to Mexico, with big tattoos on their foreheads marking them as deported felons in case they ever try to slither in again.

stuartj · 07-07-2010, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

This happened at an iHop in Alexandria, VA a few years ago and the cop stepped in front of a moving car full of teens just having done the dine and ditch. Cop shot at the SUV and killed a passenger in the backseat. Had he hit the driver, he'd probably have been run down too. Nothing morally wrong with killing thieves. But you gotta know your target and what's beyond. The only vehicle I've ever shot at was an old VW and Yamaha bike on Seahawk's home shooting range.

Thats really ****ed up Rick. There is nothing morally wrong with killing thieves?

Maybe its different in the USA, but in most places you can use the use deadly force if you are fear of your own life or for somebody elses. You cant kill somone going over your backfence with the telly, or making off with your trailer.

If they deserved to shot, a potentially lethal act- or as you say, just killed, for stealing a trailer, should I be able to shoot and kill the kids down the road who steal lemons off my tree?

Jesus Christ Rick.

The Gaijin · 07-08-2010, 05:07 AM

Lighten up on the old guy.

"82-year-old Robert Wallace said in February that he looked out his window and saw two men hooking his flatbed trailer up to their pickup. He yelled at them to stop, but they sped away, stealing his trailer. He told police he fired two shots at the pickup..."

He is 82! So his judgment was not perfect, but this situation was forced onto him. Yes, it was a property crime and yes he was inside - but I am not going to second guess him.

As for the shot guy. Piece of **** deserves a few years in jail and a one way ticket home. Both of them.

Jeff Higgins · 07-08-2010, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuartj

Thats really ****ed up Rick. There is nothing morally wrong with killing thieves?

Maybe its different in the USA, but in most places you can use the use deadly force if you are fear of your own life or for somebody elses. You cant kill somone going over your backfence with the telly, or making off with your trailer.

If they deserved to shot, a potentially lethal act- or as you say, just killed, for stealing a trailer, should I be able to shoot and kill the kids down the road who steal lemons off my tree?

Jesus Christ Rick.

So, even godless heathens invoke a higher power when the situation is dire enough.

Rick, I believe you may have upset poor Stuart. Shame on you.

Rikao4 · 07-08-2010, 05:45 AM

poor kid my a$$..
after a few corrections..
folks would get the idea..
not sorry if you 'good boy' goes first..

Rika

Scuba Steve · 07-08-2010, 05:48 AM

He had no chance of recovering his stolen property - I think in that situation it's legal (in TX) to shoot.

About the thieves who had an arrest record and were in the country illegally, I have no sympathy towards them at all. I've been tired of the problem with people who are here illegally for years...

Radioactive · 07-08-2010, 06:15 AM

This is how its done

Elderly man shoots, kills burglar in Colton home
The Associated Press
Posted: 06/26/2010 12:55:21 PM PDT
Updated: 06/26/2010 12:55:21 PM PDT

COLTON, Calif.—A 79-year-old man has shot and killed a burglar climbing into his Southern California home.

Colton police Detective Jack Morenberg said Saturday that Richard Contreras shot and killed 37-year-old Fidel Escanuelas (ess-kuh-NWAY'-luss) Thursday.

A police news release says Contreras saw a car back into the driveway of his Colton home, heard a noise in a bedroom, found Escanuelas climbing through a window and shot him once in the shoulder with a handgun. Escanuelas died at the scene.

Police say two other men, 24-year-old Trinidad Amador and 25-year-old Albaro Amaya, fled on foot. Amador was quickly caught and arrested on suspicion of burglary and conspiracy, and Amaya was arrested Friday.

Morenberg says he doesn't anticipate that Contreras will face any charges, but the San Bernardino County District Attorney's office will decide.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

So, even godless heathens invoke a higher power when the situation is dire enough.

Rick, I believe you may have upset poor Stuart. Shame on you.

I've had him on ignore for a long time. But anything I write that upsets him is obviously the right thing to say and do.

stuartj · 06:47 AM

Well Rick, you missed the link I posted uppage to Pink and her fabulous Zep cover. Your loss.

If its morally correct to kill thieves, what are you boys going to to about the homies down at Goldman Sachs?