Florida homeowner fired 30 rounds from AR15 at pool cleaner he mistook for intruder - no charges

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

https://www.wesh.com/article/florida-homeowner-pool-cleaner-intruder/44347742

A man won’t face charges after he opened fire on a pool cleaner who he mistook for an intruder, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said.

According to the sheriff’s office, the two homeowners called 911 around 9 p.m. on Sunday after spotting a man on their lanai.

The sheriff said the man was hired by the homeowners to clean their pool and had been working for them for around six months to a year.

The victim had been busy with other appointments and showed up at their home later than expected. Deputies said the pool cleaner did not notify the homeowners that he was coming that late at night. He usually stops by on Thursday or Friday afternoon, Gualtieri said.

According to the sheriff’s office, one of the homeowners said she was in the family room when she saw a man she did not recognize through the sliding glass doors. She locked the door and told her husband that a random person was on their property.

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He was unaware the victim had fled the backyard and fired additional rounds. He fired a total of 30 rounds in 90 seconds.

According to the sheriff’s office, the homeowner “acted within the law”, so no crime occurred.

“It was lawful but awful,” the sheriff said.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

1. video of shooting

[orleans]

5. (i can't watch it)...

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

9. no bullets touch the pool guy

[Marcuse]

2. Where did the 30 rounds go? Neighboring homes?

[Deuxcents]

3. He can clean his own damn pool from now on.

The guy was running late and probably should have called but you can plainly see he’s cleaning their pool. July 1st is right around the corner and the new law is gonna have everyone carrying with no holds barred in Florida.

[GoodRaisin]

7. This.

Good luck finding anyone willing to come to this nut’s home.

[Red Mountain]

16. Gaaaahhhh

nobody wants to work these days.

[LiberalFighter]

19. Pool cleaners need to boycott him.

[DFW]

4. And if he had killed someone in a house nearby?

Nope, he would still not be charged under Florida’s new “Off Your Neighbor” law, which provides immunity for anyone firing in any direction, as long as the shots originate from their property.

[miyazaki]

6. He thought his pool was being stolen I guess. nt

[betsuni]

8. Because vicious intruders always clean the pool before breaking in to kill you and take your stuff.

[Celerity]

10. the further shitholing of Floriduh continues apace

[yonder]

11. The victim was not advancing on the shooter in any way I can see.

What threat was he defending himself from? It looks like Florida allows deadly force against anyone one finds in their yard, no questions asked....pool guy, utility people, neighbor kid fetching their dog? Just start blasting. Some law.

And 30 high powered rounds ricocheting all over the place? Jeebus. The neighbors might have some thoughts about that.

Thankfully, no deadly injuries....this time.

[GenXer47]

13. there are now 49 states

as far as I'm concerned.
Florida's gone insane officially.

[snowybirdie]

14. Hey were still here

and are gearing up for the next election. All Floridians aren't nuts. Remember, Michigan and California used to be right wing strongholds!

[stumpysbear]

15. Not lawful, no matter what the sheriff says

[Jedi Guy]

17. Frankly bizarre behavior.

I could halfway understand opening fire if an intruder is attempting to break into one's home. I say halfway because I would first try to gather my family and either exit the house or attempt to barricade ourselves in a back bedroom or something and then call 911. If the intruder pursued and tried to get into that room to harm me or my family, then all bets are off and deadly force is reasonable.

There's nothing on my lawn or in my home, property-wise, that I'm willing to kill over. It's all insured, so take it and go, just leave me and my family alone and unharmed. Killing someone for just being on my property is a bizarre idea to me.

All hypothetical, of course, since I live in Canada and gun ownership isn't nearly as common here as in the States. I don't own any and don't plan to do so.

Still... frankly bizarre.

[tanyev]

18. "911, what's your emergency?" "I've got an intruder and he's CLEANING MY POOL!"

(silence)......"Could you repeat that, please?"

[MineralMan]

20. I'm guessing that there was some impairment on the homeowner's part.

Consumption of intoxicants, perhaps.

[aocommunalpunch]

21. Why do we give this fuck ANY benefit of the doubt?

Fuck these entitled ammosexuals.

[MineralMan]

25. We don't. The laws give them that benefit.

If you're impaired, you shouldn't be grabbing your gun in the first place. Dumbass. He's lucky he didn't kill that pool cleaner. Lock him up!

[Johonny]

22. Living victims can sue in civil court

I'd sue him. Criminal or no criminal charges.

[Mysterian]

23. Jesus Christ that's a whole 30-round magazine.

WTF!

[Aristus]

24. I noticed that.

These gun fucks love to boast about their marksmanship. But their whole deal is just spray and pray.

I qualified expert on the M-16A1 rifle in the Army. I did it by firing very slowly and carefully, one round at a time.

Haven't fired a weapon since I got out of the Army in 1993.

[MineralMan]

26. Yup. I have a USAF Expert Marksman ribbon.

Only time I fired an M-16 was at the range in Basic Training. I'm a very good shot. I don't have one of those semi-autos now. Don't have a pool, either.

[kacekwl]

27. So it would be unreasonable to

ask the person who are you and what are you doing before opening fire ?

[Marthe48]

28. The pool cleaner worked for them 6 months to a year

How could they not recognize their employee? I guess they didn't want to, guess that getting a notch on the gun was the homeowner's goal.

[Maru Kitteh]

29. Gee. Meth much?

Flooreeduh, you've lost yer' damn mind.

[Kid Berwyn]

30. Attempted murder is OK if you're a Republican.

Most everybody with an AR-15 knows that.