Florida Man Hops Fence to Kill —Then Claims Self Defense

[Tom Joad]

Florida again.

Just when you think it can't get any worse, it does.

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-pol...s-self-defense

On Thursday, an Orlando man shot and killed a 21-year-old who was fleeing his yard. He didn’t appear to be stealing anything, according to witness accounts. He didn’t appear to be threatening anybody. But Claudius Smith said he feared he was a burglar, followed him over the fence to a neighboring apartment complex, where he shot him after he said he felt threatened, according to a confession documented in an Orlando Police Department report. Smith even said he feared victim Ricardo Sanes was armed “because his pants were falling down” and his hands were in his hoodie pockets, according to a report obtained by the Orlando Sentinel.

Now, questions are emerging about whether Smith will also invoke the state’s Stand Your Ground law, which gained notoriety over the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, shot in a Florida residential development while wearing a hoodie. Law enforcement officials don’t seem to believe Stand Your Ground applies. Smith has already been charged with second-degree murder. But that doesn’t stop a judge from granting Stand Your Ground immunity later. In one of the most recent Florida court decisions on Stand Your Ground, an appeals court granted Stand Your Ground immunity to a man who went to his car to get a gun before the fatal incident.

According to statements by Smith’s girlfriend, Angela Kemraj, to police, the incident started when she saw a man in the yard on surveillance cameras and reported it to Smith. She said they saw the individual in dark clothes and a hoodie leaving their yard without anything in his hands, and climbing over the fence to a neighboring apartment complex. Smith then left the apartment and climbed over the fence. Two minutes later, Kemraj said she heard gunshots. Soon after, Smith came back to the apartment and said Sanes tried to rob him, without mentioning the shooting. During initial police questioning, Smith later denied knowledge about the shooting, and only later confessed, claiming he shot in self-defense.

[Zeke]

Obviously, there are more facts to be discovered but Zims getting away with sanctioned murder has emboldened the loons.

[finnbow]

The retired fellow who gunned down a guy for texting during movie previews is also trying to use Stand Your Ground as a defense.

[Tom Joad]

It's pretty obvious to me that stand your ground was a bad idea.

When the Chamber of Commerce Republicans start losing money because of all the bad publicity I suspect it will be repealed.

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by Tom Joad

It's pretty obvious to me that stand your ground was a bad idea.

When the Chamber of Commerce Republicans start losing money because of all the bad publicity I suspect it will be repealed.

So was the second ammendment.

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by merrylander

So was the second ammendment.

nothing wrong with he second amendment a proper interpretation would not solve

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Obviously, there are more facts to be discovered but Zims getting away with sanctioned murder has emboldened the loons.

Originally Posted by finnbow

The retired fellow who gunned down a guy for texting during movie previews is also trying to use Stand Your Ground as a defense.

Originally Posted by Tom Joad

It's pretty obvious to me that stand your ground was a bad idea.

When the Chamber of Commerce Republicans start losing money because of all the bad publicity I suspect it will be repealed.

Who could have seen this coming?

There will be more.

Dave

[bobabode]

It appears that it's not even safe at Purdue. Don't like your grades? Settle things with a gun.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/nation...#axzz2r9wCzzEl

[barbara]

Originally Posted by bobabode

It appears that it's not even safe at Purdue. Don't like your grades? Settle things with a gun.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/nation...#axzz2r9wCzzEl

I was sad to hear about that. I have three siblings that graduated from Purdue.

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by barbara

I was sad to hear about that. I have three siblings that graduated from Purdue.

As a tinkerer of old musty electronic tube gear it kind of blew my mind that this happened in the electronic's department at Purdue.

I'm left wondering, when will these crazy as hell 2nd amendment advocates get it that they are making the world a much more dangerous place for the rest of us?

It's truly sad that we've become almost inured to this daily gun violence in the 21st century.