Unbelievable

[ColdFront77]

Sure, the homeowner needs to be punished, he shot and killed someone.

[Lindaloo]

My friends and I would do this same type prank when I was a kid. The end result was the neighbor would call our parents about it. Never in our wildest dream would we ever think we would get shot! Boy, have times changed for teens today.

Prayers going out to this teen and his family!!

[JetMaxx]

An important lesson that all teenagers need to learn....in this day and age of home invasions, it's not very wise to mess around strangers homes late at night.

After reading the article, my first reaction is sadness....but I honestly don't see it as more than a tragic accident. I'm sure charges will be filed against the homeowner (probably not murder...to possess a concealed weapons permit, Mr Levin had to have a spotless criminal record), but to be totally honest, the reason the young man is dead is HIS OWN fault. If he isn't trespassing and harrassing innocent folks trying to sleep, he's alive today.

A very sad and tragic story....very sad

[JetMaxx]

My friends and I would do this same type prank when I was a kid. The end result was the neighbor would call our parents about it. Never in our wildest dream would we ever think we would get shot! Boy, have times changed for teens today.

The problem is twofold nowadays...

1) crime is so bad.....the evening news is filled with horror stories of home invasions; homeowners being beaten, tortured, raped, and murdered.....many homeowners assume the worst if they hear a noise at night. Even in this suburban area, there have been several very violent home invasions recently, one in which a young man was shot as he answered the door...the assailants then beat and tortured his parents for over an hour while the boy lay dying in the floor...this happened less than two miles from my home.

2) We don't live in close knit neighborhoods nowadays. As a kid, I knew everyone for over a mile in all directions and they knew me. Today I don't know half the folks in this neighborhood. Most of the "old timers" who lived here when I was a kid are either dead or moved on...replaced by folks who for the most part, aren't as friendly and seem to keep to theirselves (we know very little about them). I was shocked to recently learn from my deputy cuz that a convicted rapist out on parole is living with his sister only blocks from my home. There are new apartments across the woods where drug overdoses, assaults, wild parties, and arrests are commonplace.

There's a very good reason I would be concerned at someone beating on my door after midnight tonight....because things have changed since 1970...and not for the better.

[Lindaloo]

Well said Perry!!

The neighborhood I grew up in remains the same today as it did when I was a child. It is mostly the elderly now and cop families with small children. Hopefully the kids in that neighborhood will have as much fun as I did.

[sunnyday]

LindaLoo,
That's exactly the way when I was a kid! I couldn't help thinking how harmless this is compared to some of the serious problems that some teens have such a drugs, pregnancy, alcohol, etc. This kid was a popular A student; his friend who was with him will have a hard time now after seeing what he did. How sad for the families!

[Rainband]

An important lesson that all teenagers need to learn....in this day and age of home invasions, it's not very wise to mess around strangers homes late at night.

After reading the article, my first reaction is sadness....but I honestly don't see it as more than a tragic accident. I'm sure charges will be filed against the homeowner (probably not murder...to possess a concealed weapons permit, Mr Levin had to have a spotless criminal record), but to be totally honest, the reason the young man is dead is HIS OWN fault. If he isn't trespassing and harrassing innocent folks trying to sleep, he's alive today.

A very sad and tragic story....very sad

This is a clear case of overreacting..If the man didn't overreact the teen would be alive today. I used to egg houses..as did many kids.....Not to get shot but as a prank. He was a good kid ..plain and simple. No excuse for this at all No weapon was found...seems like an excuse ..thought up after the realization of his act.

[JetMaxx]

edited

[sunnyday]

Does anyone remember a similar situation a few years ago? A young man dressed for Halloween knocked on a door to get directions to a Halloween party, and the homeowner shot him? The shooter was not convicted, I think....

[JetMaxx]

I believe that was either in Louisiana or Texas....it was all over the news here in Atlanta.

[Lindaloo]

LindaLoo,
That's exactly the way when I was a kid! I couldn't help thinking how harmless this is compared to some of the serious problems that some teens have such a drugs, pregnancy, alcohol, etc. This kid was a popular A student; his friend who was with him will have a hard time now after seeing what he did. How sad for the families!

I agree 100%.

Perry, I see where you are coming from. But understand that this teen rang the doorbell. He did not beat and bang from what I read. You are correct about home invasions. But, from what I read this man has known everybody in the neighborhood for 10 years. IMO, this man overreacted by shooting first and asking questions later. Not all teens are bad. And home invasions by percentage are done by adults in their early 20's and 30's, very rarely by teens. And they certainly do not ring doorbells when they invade a home.

[ColdFront77]

This is a clear case of overreacting..If the man didn't overreact the teen would be alive today. I used to egg houses..as did many kids.....Not to get shot but as a prank. He was a good kid ..plain and simple. No excuse for this at all No weapon was found...seems like an excuse ..thought up after the realization of his act.

I agree, he was a good kid, but he could have been a better kid if he didn't ring the doorbell on purpose and then run away from the door on purpose.

[azsnowman]

I think many of us who grew up in the 60's, 70's use to pull stunts like this and like Johnathan, we use egg, toilet paper and throw tomatoes at houses, never got caught! Nowadays, don't even THINK about it!

I have loaded weapons in the house at ALL times, the chance of a home invasion in Pinetop is SLIM to NONE BUT......there's always a first. One thing, we've had training on WHEN and WHEN NOT to pull a loaded weapon, you take this course for your concealed weapons permit......if this homeowner would have taken this course, this kid would still be alive, a very sad case indeed, the homeowner, IMHO, needs to serve some time to think about what he's done.

Dennis

[JCT777]

It is an unfortunate situation all the way around. Personally, I do not own a gun. So I have a hard time understanding how a person would answer the door holding a loaded weapon - unless they heard a very unusual sound outside. Hearing the doorbell or someone knocking is not just cause IMO for needing a loaded firearm.

[sunnyday]

The autopsy showed that the boy was shot in the back. It seems that the shooter had some probs with neighborhood kids three years ago; they paint-balled his windows. He says he felt that his life was threatened. Late news last night said the man may be charged with manslaughter by Friday.

[Lindaloo]

I kinda figured that he would be brought up on manslaughter charges. His home being paint balled is a form of vandalism, but I highly doubt that his life could feel threatened. If he was shot in the back then that means the homeowner knew what he was doing.

[streetsoldier]

The rule I understood was that a "clear and present danger" MUST exist before comtemplating (quickly, I might add) the use of deadly force; this means, in lay terms, that my life, or someone else's must be in imminent hazard (i.e., a weapon displayed by the suspect, multiple assailants, etc.).

Once said danger IS evident, "skin that smokewagon and go to work", BUT...in the vast majority of cases in which citizens use firearms in defense, 99% never need to fire one round...the perps run like hell. The mere presence of a firearm is a swift and effective deterrent.

As to this guy...I'd have gone for "murder 2". Shooting in the back, esp. an unarmed kid, regardless of "perceived" circumstance, shows some premeditation on the part of the shooter, and "intent" is the salient term here.

[opera ghost]

Okay I was raised in the 80's and even I think this was massivly over reacting. Sure we didn't go door to door and ring doorbells when I was in highschool- but that doens't mean that it's worthy of shooting a kid in the back.

He was a big kid- 6'2 and over 200 pounds. I have no doubt that he could have been mistaken for a burgler. I'd probably have been scared witless when I was living alone had someone done that to my home. I certainly would NOT have answered the freaking door (Like several neighbors chose not to do- I never open my door after 10pm before the person on the other side identifies themselves or what they need) and I might have come to wait by the door with a handgun- I'm a girl- I'm not about to stand by while some bully robs or assaults me. But I wouldn't open the door, see a hulking figure and just shoot. He was unarmed. Equal force is cool- deadly force when not presented with deadly force in return is NOT okay.

[Lindaloo]

True Bill and very well analyzed. I am sure the manslaughter charges are being pursued by the DA because it will be hard to prove murder in the second degree. When evidence is presented to the grand jury they may not even find enough evidence to even pursue manslaughter much less murder. That is the system and it sucks. Hopefully the DA down there will have enough evidence. You know, I have seen grand juries come back with their own judgement and suggest to the DA to proceed with murder charges.

[JetMaxx]

After researching the circumstances (reading some news sites from WPB)....I have changed my mind, and agree the homeowner overreacted and should face charges.

I believe in the right of a homeowner to use deadly force to stop a burglar, rapist, etc; but along with that right comes a responsibility. The question is "was the teenager a threat to the homeowner or his family"? It appears this wasn't the case....I would feel much differently IF the teenager was armed with a gun and/or was breaking down a door or breaking out windows trying to enter the home (not running away).

I've owned both a handgun and shotgun since I was 21....and realized from day one there was one absolute -- if my life, my family's life were in danger, I'd have no problem whatsoever in killing anyone attempting to harm them. That doesn't mean shooting at kids ringing my doorbell or rolling my yard.

The homeowner could have probably scared the kid away by yelling at him (as I've done on a few occasions)...or telling him "I've called the cops" whether he had or not. He could have chased the boy off with a golf club...sprayed him with pepper spray....a dozen things far more preferable than taking a life...a precious life that will never be replaced.

As I posted last weekend....the circumstances would dictate whether charges would be filed or not....and everything would be investigated. If what I'm seeing is true...an unarmed teen shot in the back; a homeowner who apparently had a grudge against kids who'd previously vandalized his home; and no evidence whatsoever the teen was a threat to the homeowner or his family's life -- then I suspect a grand jury will indict him of manslaughter.