Posted on 04/27/2009 8:16:36 PM PDT by Chet 99
SHADY HILLS — One day after he was charged in the shooting death of his neighbor, 81-year-old John Croft was released from the Land O'Lakes jail on $50,000 bail and sent home.
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office says "ongoing disputes" culminated Saturday with Croft pulling out a .22 caliber revolver and shooting Seth Sigmon, 29, three times.
Croft, of 17654 Connie Court, was charged with manslaughter. Why not murder?
"The suspect felt threatened by the victim, and from the evidence we had, we don't think it was premeditated," said sheriff's spokesman Kevin Doll. "They (the State Attorney's Office) can always change that charge by the time the case goes to trial."
Neighbors say trouble began brewing when Sigmon's pit bull got loose one day, went into Croft's yard and killed his three pet goats. A report was filed with the Sheriff's Office when Croft's goats were killed, but nothing in the paperwork indicates who owned the dog or dogs responsible.
Witnesses told the Sheriff's Office that Sigmon approached Croft about 1 p.m. Saturday at the property line between their houses, the report said. When Croft pulled out the gun, witnesses said, Sigmon asked if Croft was going to shoot him.
Then Croft fired once, according to the sheriff's report, causing Sigmon to fall to one knee. Croft fired at least two more times while Sigmon was on the ground, the report said, shooting the man in the chest and back.
Witnesses said after the shooting, Croft went back inside his home.
After his arrest, Croft told deputies he pulled the gun out of his left pocket and pointed it at Sigmon after his neighbor nudged him and cursed at him.
Croft told deputies he shot Sigmon because he was "angry and scared."
Camille C. Spencer can be reached at (727) 992-5203 or cspencer@sptimes.com.
what’s this?? Another dog story?
This is the case where the paper said the old man was a republican and the other a democrat. Sorry situation however it came to be. As someone who’s owned a fair amount of livestock I know how annoying semi-feral dogs can be. Shot a few of them myself. Wait till they’re on your property though, then 3 S the mutt. Going to the neighbors is worse than useless - the won’t believe it or think it’s a joke (as in most of the trashy pit bull owners) when their dog kills livestock.
Well, angry and scared is no way to go through life......
Who’s angry and scared? The dude in the story, or the dude that posted it?
Looks like Seth Pitbull effed with the wrong old man.
If this is true, I think the geezer gets off. The younger man struck him and tried to put him in fear. His aggression got him shot. I would vote for acquittal.
Now, to see my dogs, click on my name.
I believe in the second amendment with every bone of my body, but this is not adding up. The right to keep and bear arms carries with it the responsibility to not shred your neighbors over a non potentially lethal assault. If I am carrying and someone assaults me in a way that is not potentially lethal, I have no right to take a life. They are on opposite sides of the fence and the second shot was off target and the third was in the back. The neighbor got an attitude and the other shot him for it. This is not the battle to take up, the shooter in this case should see the inside of a jail.
Well we have one neighbor whom we have never liked, and he is moving! He put for sale sign out. So I guess I won’t have to shoot him! LOL
0h, blam. I LOVE your dogs! Black Labs are the best!
“This is not the battle to take up, the shooter in this case should see the inside of a jail.”
I agree, his story stinks.
Really figured I would get flamed for that. Thanks for the solidarity.
“Get off my lawn.” Walt Kowalski
I am so sick of the elderly not paying for their crimes...
they run people down on a sidewalk...the accelerator "stuck"....
they drive they wrong lane in traffic....they were "confused" by the signage...
now this case....he shot not just once, but three times....the young man was on his knees, and he shot him cold dead...
the old man should be charged with murder.....the first shot might have been a mistake or being "scared"....the 2nd and 3rd were murder....
Not sure what this is. There was a story posted sourced from a Florida newspaper. Where the shooter aged 80+ had his 7 goats attacked and killed by a the dead neighbor’s dog (Pit Bull ?) The neighbor was a youmg 20-30 something neighbor with a bunch of kids (probably were terrorizing the old geezer).
The newspaper (Palm Beach ?) Florida something or other went on to gratuitously report that the old man was a Republican. Where I suggested that kind of reporting deserves a bag filled with garbage with the clipping and the coment highlighted dropped off at the papers door step.
Correction
After reviewing the posting I’m still not sure of the state location bur the initial source was the St Petersburg Times.
The number of goats killed mentioned were 3, there was one child mentioned but don’t forget kids have friends, and Papa sounds like he had an attitude
I don't really see an alternative here. I think you are correct.
A punch to a brittle old man, delivered by a younger man in the prime of his life, can be lethal. I vote for the old man: not guilty!
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