The Press implies the boy "bragged" instead of commending him. This lad will endure plenty of mental trauma as a result of his act, which quite possibly saved his life. Since he was "known" to the family, the intruder might well have chosen to leave no witness to identify him. Thoughts on this? Frank "..‘He started crying like a little baby’: 11-year-old brags about shooting suspected home invader" "Chris Gaither was home alone “petting the dogs” on Wednesday morning when he heard a noise upstairs. The 11-year-old boy from Talladega, Ala., told NBC affiliate WVTM-TV that he was scared, so he grabbed a knife and steadied himself. Chris said that a man appeared on the stairwell, but when confronted, he ran back up upstairs. When the man reappeared moments later, the boy told WVTM-TV, the individual was holding a gun. “When he was coming down the stairs, that’s when he told me he was going to kill me, f-you and all that,” Chris said. Instead of running, Chris told the station, he upgraded his weaponry, picking up a 9mm handgun that was in the home. Chris said he threatened to kill the man and ordered him to get out of the house. “I guess when I pulled the gun out on him he didn’t think it was a real gun cause he didn’t worry about it,” Chris told the station. “He just kept on walking.” Not only was Chris holding a real gun, the boy knew how to use it. His stepfather had been giving him shooting lessons, he told WVTM-TV. In 2006, the Hunstville Times reports, Alabama enacted Stand Your Ground, a law that permits the use the use of deadly force against an aggressor if that person is: About to use unlawful deadly physical force. A burglar about to use physical force. Engaged in kidnapping, assault, robbery, or rape. Unlawfully and forcefully entering a home or car, or attempting to remove a person against their will. (There are exceptions for people who used to live there and are under no injunctions or domestic protection orders.) Breaking into a nuclear power plant. Story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-brags-about-shooting-suspected-home-invader/
He did exactly what he should have done. If there were an armed man in my home I would have done the same thing. His step father taught him well.
Well...yes and no, but.....the story as written cannot be assumed 100% accurate, but if it WAS: Not clear if the intruder was still armed after leaving premises, hardly anywhere can one use potential lethal force after the threat to their own life has ceased. The intruder was running away when shot, it said. Most jurisdictions one cannot shoot any individual running away from them. Not saying I AGREE with that, understand. AFAIC an intruder who is armed deserves more than being shot, and just wounded. Saves the public a lot of tax dollars. Frank
I guess I missed the part that said the intruder was running away. You know as old as I am, I'd be inclined to shoot any one I didn't know that I found in my house. I'm way to old to defend my self in hand to hand.