911 Call from Self Defense Shooting

[{TEX}Hawaii 99]

http://www.wsls.com/sls/news/local/arti ... ing/33181/

Intruder shot dead. It's been in the news recently. Here is a copy of a segment of the 911 tapes. It took LE 14 minutes to respond. Luckily the homeonwer was armed.

[stevie_d_64]

This is another (great) example of what to do, and yet, what not to do...

Somehow, I know its a hard thing to do, but the discussion after the shooting is something I would not have had...Just my opinion...

These audio clips should be added to our library here for future reference...Just my suggestion...

[tfrazier]

Dispatcher: “Ma’am if he shot him he is not going to get up.. tell your husband to put the gun down please.“

They have crystal balls now? How did the dispatcher know that? Hubby could've shot the intruder with a .22 and intruder could be playing dead. Talk about liability!

I don't care what a dispatcher says, my gun doesn't get put away until threat is confirmed neutralized or keeping it out invites me getting showered with LEO lead.

Poor dispatcher. They have incredibly tough jobs but surely they are trained better than that these days.

Even at Greenville PD back in the late 80's none of our dispatchers would have told a homeowner to put their weapon down with no police on site and an intruder in their house. They would have kept them on the phone, got clothing descriptions, and relayed instructions to them from the officers as they neared the premises.

[ClarkLZeuss]

Very sobering. The homeowner used deadly force only as a last resort. He wisely stayed inside his home and didn't confront the intruder (physically) until the intruder actually broke in. He showed a lot of restraint, and then took action when needed. I only hope I would have the same wisdom and courage.

On a slightly cynical note, it sounds like the intruder was a veteran (the wife said he was yelling something about Vietnam), so now I wonder which of the two types of men the media will try to discredit - gun owners or veterans? At least this local station seems to be just objectively reporting the facts. But all bets are off if national picks it up.

[Chemist45]

IMHO, the homeowner made only one mistake:
He didn't get his gun before he called 911.

[ELB]

Dispatcher: “Ma’am if he shot him he is not going to get up.. tell your husband to put the gun down please.“

They have crystal balls now? How did the dispatcher know that?

Exactly what I thought when I heard the dispatcher say that. Jeepers. The wife sounded pretty hysterical at points, but I also thought the dispatcher telling her "Everything will be alright" was a bit...presumptuous, I guess.

And yes I would have had the gun before calling 911 (and it would have been loaded long before the doorcrasher showed up) but overall the homeowner did a good job.

elb

[Rollin2008]

IMHO, the homeowner made only one mistake:
He didn't get his gun before he called 911.

but i also would have let my wife call instead of me. if it was a glass sliding door and the guy is looking at my gun or GUNS??(think the shotgun would be in my hands and a pistol on my hip) and this guy came crashing in ya your a dead man (or should i say neutral target???) !!!!!

[pbwalker]

I think one of the things that I found to be very wise was the very loud vocalization of commands given while the family was on the line with 911. He was very clear and concise and you can hear it on the call. IMO, this was completely justified and he did good.

Also, he was no Vietnam Vet. He was 35 and drunk.

http://www.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/201085

[ddurkof]

It sounds like the police were on the outside of the house when he shot the guy. There is radio traffic that there was a gunshot from inside the house. I think that is why she told him to put the gun down at that time. The husband did a great job, he tried to diffuse the situation, told BG that he was armed and then only took action when BG entered the house. All of this on the 911 tape. It is a shame that he had to use deadly force, but the decision to use it was the bad guy's. BG could have walked away at any time. I guess the question about shotguns being used for home defense in this case was answered. Both the husband and wife did a great job for the situation. I doubt that my wife would be that calm, but then she has surprised me before.