Unbelievable

[sunnyday]

In WPB, Fl., a sixteen year old boy was shot by a man Friday night when the teen, who was playing pranks in his neighborhood, knocked on the door and rang the bell. It was that old prank of knocking on the door and running. Anyway, the man shot him, claiming he thought the boy as a burglar. What kind of burglar knocks and rings the bell?

[GulfBreezer]

OMLORDY!! Is the teen okay?? What makes people do these things? This is very sad indeed!!

[StormCrazyIowan]

Good lord!! Yes, the prank may be a nuisance, but come on?? Does anyone have a heart these days?

[JetMaxx]

In this day and age, it doesn't pay to take chances. Sometimes home invasions begin with someone knocking/ ringing the doorbell...when someone answers, the assailants burst in (overpowering the homeowner) or opening fire. One such event occurred recently here in Douglas County that left one young man shot to death and his father and mother beaten, robbed, shot, and in the hospital....and that's exactly how the assailants got into the home (ringing the doorbell).

I'm sorry the young man got shot...but at 16, he should have known better. In 2003, it isn't very wise to play pranks of that nature. With violent crime rampant in many areas, many homeowners will shoot first and ask questions later.

If someone is ringing my doorbell/ banging on my front door at night....they'd better have a very good reason; and don't delay in giving it (because I will answer that doorbell with a snubnose .38 in my hand).

[sunnyday]

The boy was killed. One report says that he was shot in the back!!!!
I wonder what in the world happened. It was the kid's 16th birthday, and he had told his grandmother earlier that day that it was the best day of his life.
I wonder why the homeowner didn't dial 911 if he was afraid..... It's a sad commentary on today's world, no matter what the case....

[JetMaxx]

I don't recommend depending on 911....or the police to save you from an assailant or burglar. They will never get there in time (and two of my own cousins are sheriff deputy lieutenants; my dad is a retired police officer). There just aren't enough law enforcement officers to be everywhere....in every subdivision. Everyone has a duty and responsibility to protect themselves and their family. If someone is breaking into my home at 3 a.m., I will call the cops....AFTER I stop the assailant with deadly force.

As for this case in West Palm Beach, I don't know any of the facts...so therefore cannot pass judgement on the homeowner. The authorities will have to consider whether or not the homeowner at fault....was he a model citizen or a convicted felon? A good citizen or a known hothead? Was he awakened from sleep and may have reacted from instinct believing his life was in danger? Was the homeowner's judgement impaired by alcohol/ drugs? What about the boy? Was he a good kid just horsing around, or a known troublemaker with a criminal record? What type of neighborhood did the incident occur? The answers to those factors and many more will determine who was at fault, and who if anyone will be charged.

Don't get me wrong....I don't advocate shooting from the front porch just because someone rings your doorbell at night. I have law enforcement training and know when it is legal to use deadly force and when it's not.
I also have the common sense to know the difference between a teen prank and a serious threat to my safety.

[wx247]

I think sunnyday may have meant after he shot the kid.

[JetMaxx]

I know what sunnyday meant...but you just can't assume the homeowner was a bad guy because he shot and killed a teenager.

There's a trememndous difference in a good kid who was horsing around and a vicious teen gang member.....just as there's a big difference between a good hearted homeowner who was feared for their life and a stupid hothead looking for trouble.

I'm not saying the homeowner is innocent...but do believe in the right to defend myself and home with deadly force against intruders. There are laws for when deadly force is legal and when its considered homicide. If the homeowner acted in a rash manner and took a young man's life without a reasonable belief his life was in danger, then I'm certain he'll be charged with murder or at least negligent homicide/ reckless conduct.

[wx247]

I agree with you Perry I just can't understand why you would not call 9-1-1 after shooting someone. I guess it just because I am to chicken to even shoot someone in the first place.

[Josephine96]

I don't understand why you shoot a pranker. He was 16. His prank was innocent. It's not fair. The homeowner went too far

[Lindaloo]

I do not think Perry meant that Garrett. What he was saying is that it may be neccessary to defend yourself before calling 911. After trying to defend I am sure he would dial 911. It makes sense to me.

[JetMaxx]

But DID the homeowner know it was a prank? That's one of the many factors the investigators will have to determine...

I'm not disagreeing with sunnyday....because I don't know anything about the incident; only explaining there may have been circumstances that caused the homeowner to feel his life was in danger. That's what the investigators, D.A.'s office, and grand jury are for....sort
through all the details.

A few years ago a homeowner here in Douglas County shot and killed two teenagers who were breaking into his home....but the D.A. decided against arresting him. Why?

1) both teenagers had criminal records including convictions for violent crimes while the homeowner had a clean record..

2) both of the teens were armed, one with a handgun stolen from an earlier burglary..

3) the homeowner's father was murdered only two years earlier by a TEENAGER (who shot the man's dad death in his nearby country store during an armed robbery).

Those factors led the sheriff and D.A. to rule the two deaths as justifiable self defense. They knew no grand jury would even indict the son of a man murdered by a teen in a robbery for shooting two armed teens he confronted while trying to enter his home, presumably to rob and assault him (based on their prior convictions).

[Rainband]

I would have to know all the details before passing judgement..hopefully the homeowner didn't just do this for no reason. I agree knocking on a door and running is no reason to shoot anyone. I did it when I was a kid Maybe it's possible..the area had some violent crimes recently and the homeowner was fearful of his life. Although the teen wasn't armed??? Was he??? I have heard of robberies where the assailants..knock or ring the bell to see who..if anyone is home. Guess more will come out in a few days. Very sad!!!

[JetMaxx]

It's a very sad situation....and IF it's determined the homeowner shot the kid without justification or reasonable fear for his life, he SHOULD be held legally responsible and be charged with homicide....but I don't know thats the case..

Every situation is different...that's why we have law enforcement investigators, district attorney offices, and grand juries: to determine what IS and ISN'T legal when a gun is fired and someone is killed (or injured).

[wx247]

I do not think Perry meant that Garrett. What he was saying is that it may be neccessary to defend yourself before calling 911. After trying to defend I am sure he would dial 911. It makes sense to me.

I know Linda. I was just saying that that fact is the one that makes me go hmmm....

[Lindaloo]

Here is the article if anyone wants to read it.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/conte ... d00da.html

Gotcha Garrett!

According to the article the teen was just pulling a knock and run prank. The homeowner overreacted IMO.

[wx247]

Thanks for posting the link.

[Lindaloo]

Thanks for posting the link.

You bet!

[ColdFront77]

There are harmless pranks, but there are also harmful pranks. If teenagers (or anyone, for that matter) wouldn't do such things, then there wouldn't be any problems with this sort of thing.

[Rainband]

Here is the article if anyone wants to read it.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/conte ... d00da.html

Gotcha Garrett!

According to the article the teen was just pulling a knock and run prank. The homeowner overreacted IMO.

After reading that..I agree. He overreacted and needs to be punished.