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Homeowner shoots fleeing, "pregnant" intruder
Tony Tiger
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The Daily Mail wrote:An 80-year-old California man told a television station he shot dead a fleeing intruder who had begged for her life and claimed she was pregnant.
Tom Greer told a Los Angeles news station that he shot Andrea Miller twice in the back just outside his house, while she was running away on Tuesday night.
It is not yet clear if Greer will be arrested over the death, but Miller's alleged accomplice Gus Adams has been charged with her murder, police said Thursday.
Greer claimed that he had returned home Tuesday night to find a man and woman breaking into his Long Beach home, and that the intruders had attacked him in the hallway.
He reportedly told KNBC on Wednesday: '[Miller] says, "Don't shoot me, I'm pregnant, I'm going to have a baby," and I shot her anyway.'
A coroner has not yet confirmed if the 28-year-old, from Long Beach, was actually pregnant.
Greer told NBC 4 he believes he was acting in self defense after Miller and her alleged accomplice Adams, 26, attacked him and broke his collarbone.
Adams, from Long Beach, has been arrested on suspicion of murder for taking part in a crime that led to Miller's death.
Police chief Jim McDonnell said the charge was possible because Adams was involved in a felony that led to a death. The police chief added that Greer was cooperating with the investigation.
(source)
Was wondering where peoples opinions are on this. On the face of it, it might sound like an unreasonable use of force...but he is a very old man who was undoubtedly terrified and full of the adrenaline that comes with that. On the basis of that and the fact he had this happen to him, rather than seeking out trouble in any way, I think I would favour no action being taken against him. I reckon in the end none will be, too, barring some shocking new development.
Anyone who thinks he deserves to be prosecuted for the shooting?
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http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-long-beach-burglar-pregnant-woman-shot-20140724-story.html
So they beat up an 80 year old man quite severely in the first instance. And if it's indeed the third time they've robbed him, then I honestly think he's got every right to defend himself.
IMO, if the person is running away, you can't claim self defence. However, the circumstances described suggest the man was terrified and not thinking straight, so it could be diminished responsibility.
But lets concentrate on the 'self defence' aspect of this - he shot the girl twice...in the back...as she was running away.
People can (and they will) spout all of the 'they deserve what they got', 'she would still be alive if she had not broken into the house' stuff all they want, and yes clearly they should not have been there, no question - but shooting a person twice in the back when they are running away is NOT self defence.
I don't disagree with the accomplice being charged - he was complicit in the events that led to the girls death.
Given the age of the old guy maybe he won't be charged, but I just cannot condone his actions.
They'd been there twice before, they'd beaten him severely the third time so he'd certainly be justified in fearing for his life even while they were running away as he'd most likely be thinking they'd be back again to finish him off.
They terrorised an old man and whilst I'm not saying it was right for him to shoot, surely "this homeowner might have a gun and use it on an intruder" should have entered their heads. What if he hadn't been armed? Would the burglar have beaten him senseless and then robbed him of his possessions.
I'm not pro or anti gun. I do believe though that if someone breaks in, you should be allowed to use reasonable force or force equal to what they have but maybe he was just a scared old guy and shot to protect himself.
I've read two articles on this and neither mention anything about him dragging her to his house. Where did you read that?
Seems like, regardless of what's happened previously, if somebody is retreating when you shoot them, you're not "standing your ground". You are, in fact, attacking.
But I do wonder how she told him this as she ran away, did she shout over her shoulder "don't shoot I'm pregnant" I think we need to know more facts.
As with many of these shootings, we only have the old guys version atm, so will see if anything changes.
According to the chap who is trying to avoid a murder charge. From the link you provided.
So no one was at home when he was previously burgled but he knows it was the same two people
Sounds more like he had her cornered or he wounded her, then executed her.
I'd hope it's the former, otherwise it'd grant people the right to go around blasting anybody who might be responsible for past or future injustices.
Thing is, US justice isn't entirely bonkers.
They also have a thing where they consider retaliation to be a fresh attack.
Plenty of people have been locked-up for, say, shooting at fleeing carjackers etc.
That being the case, the whole "stand your ground" thing seems very dubious to me and, TBH, I get the feeling that it's success is usually based on whether or not you have the sympathies of the jury, rather than on any irrefutable point(s) of law.
Imagine if, for example, Trayvon Martin had been doing his thing when he was confronted with a group of angry, white, middle-class people.
If he'd pulled a gun and started shooting at them in "self defence" do we suppose that a jury would have accepted that he'd just been "standing his ground"?
All speculation, of course but the way these SYG laws work seems rather erratic to me.
Had this been proven at the time he shot her?
Just because no-one was home doesn't mean that they were't seen. Neighbours, CCTV or he he could have arrived home in time to to see them fleeing are a few ideas that immediately spring to mind.
Off With His Head? That's way too quick for the American Justice System.
Nope - should have shot them both
So why had no one done anything about them before, if as you say there may be witnesses and or CCTV to previous visits.. Springs to my mind
How many stories do we see of British Police who are unable or unwilling to do anything despite witnesses or CCTV?