Friday, December 13, 2013

Stand Your Ground Law's Latest Victim: 72-Year-Old With Alzheimer's

"A 72-year-old who suffered from Alzheimer's was shot dead after wandering onto a man's property early Wednesday morning, ringing the doorbell and turning the door handle. After Joe Hendrix's fiancé called 911 to report a possible intruder, Hendrix went outside to take matters into his own hands, and fired four shots at a silhouette in his yard, killing Ronald Westbrook.



Hendrix admitted to shooting Westbrook in the yard of his rural northern Georgia home after calling out to him and hearing no answer. The county sheriff said Hendrix went outside after waiting 9 or 10 minutes for the police, while his fiancé was still on the phone with the 911 dispatcher. The county sheriff said was "certain" he and his fiance felt threatened.

The incident is the latest in a series of fatal shootings by residents who said they feared an intruder. Last month, protests erupted while a Detroit-area district attorney mulled whether she would file charges against a homeowner who shot a 19-year-old girl, reportedly seeking help after a car accident. Theodore P. Wafer was ultimately charged with murder, but his lawyer invoked the language of the state's "shoot first" laws that authorize deadly force in self-defense, suggesting Wafer may seek immunity against charges."* Ana Kasparian, John Iadarola, Michael Shure and Jimmy Dore break it down on The Young Turks.

No comments:

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...