69-Year-Old Shoots Home Intruder

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Metro police said the victim of a home invasion turned the tides on his intruder. Rather than running, the homeowner shot the burglar. John Lewis is sick and tired of being the victim. He said burglars have broken into his home four times this year.

snip

Around 10:30 p.m., he heard a crash. "So he started kicking on the door. He made more noise than anybody I've ever dreamed of trying to break into a house," he said. What he saw was a man holding a flashlight and a pickax. Lewis was packing a 357 pistol. "And the pistol went off. I had it cocked. It had a hair trigger and I touched it and it went off," he said.

The bullet hit suspect Jerry Watson in the leg. Police said Watson, who has a lengthy criminal history, limped to the home next door and lost consciousness. "What's there to think about? I mean he was going to hurt me or I was going to hurt him. One of the two," he said.

http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=9409212


I guess grandpa and his cane aren't such an easy target when grandpa has a firearm.

David

[MercutioATC]

1. Nice cover story!

It diffuses the "Did you intend to kill him?" question.

[doc03]

2. Now lets hope he doesn't sue or get out of prison for

a long long time.

[X_Digger]

3. The criminal justice system failed..

"Police said Watson has 26 criminal convictions ranging from burglary to drug offenses."

Why was this guy walking around?

[Euromutt]

4. Injudicious wording there

"And the pistol went off. I had it cocked. It had a hair trigger and I touched it and it went off," <Lewis> said.

Not a smart thing to say to the media; makes it sound like a negligent discharge instead of a defensive shooting.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

5. It will definitely keep him out of jail though.

[safeinOhio]

6. Number one rule if you shoot someone in self defense

Never, never, ever make any statement to the press or the police. All statements to the police need to be made through your lawyer. This will save you in both criminal and civil court. Remember there is never any hurry to talk about what happened.