Posted on 06/29/2007 6:11:33 AM PDT by Happy Valley Dude
Some are calling a former U.S. Marine a hero for shooting two men — killing one — during the botched robbery of a sandwich shop in Plantation. But the men's friends and family want to know how he could gun them down and not be charged.
John Lovell had just finished dinner at about 11:15 p.m. Wednesday when, Plantation police say, two men armed with guns rushed inside a Subway shop and demanded cash. After robbing the store, the men turned to Lovell. They wanted his money, police said.
But like his attackers, Lovell was armed.
The retired military man opened fire, shooting dead Donicio Arrindell, 22, of North Lauderdale, and critically injuring Fredrick Gadson, 21, of Fort Lauderdale.
Lovell, 71, of Plantation, has a valid concealed weapons permit and is not expected to be charged in the shooting, said police spokesman Detective Robert Rettig. Gadson, however, faces multiple felony charges that could include murder, he said. Under Florida law, anyone who commits a felony such as armed robbery resulting in a death can be held accountable for the capital offense.
"He feared for his life," Rettig said of Lovell. "And if he's in fear for his life, then he has a right to defend himself, even if it means severe bodily injury or death."
Florida law gives people the right of "self-defense without the duty to retreat." That means individuals can use deadly force virtually anywhere to prevent death or serious injury.
Lovell could not be reached for comment despite calls and visits to his home.
(Excerpt) Read more at sun-sentinel.com ...
'nuff said.
m But he was a good boy.S
“But the men’s friends and family want to know how he could gun them down and not be charged.”
Five will get you ten that the surviving perp, surrounded by newly arrived lawyers hoping for a contingency fee, will announce from his taxpayer-funded hospital bed that he’s suing the Marine for being shot while trying to make a living. “That mean ol’ Jarhead — he creatin’ a hostile workplace!”
The family was probably benefiting from the loot of the man's criminal career, which is why they're so upset
Yes, of course, we've all heard that before. But they left out the "aspiring rapper" part. And they also forgot to mention that he was thinking about asking his latest baby-mama if he could move in with her. C'mon Granny, stick to the script!
-ccm
Good catch. Still, it looks like the Vette is almost mandatory for old guys in Florida, and then for their widows when they pass (see post 36).
-—They have zero shame and do not believe that real punishment extends to them, since they are all “victims” of being black.-—
They don’t feel guilt, only a sense that something has unexpectedly gone wrong.
The only time they’ll possibly feel shame is when they are publicly dragged out and hung. It exposes them as powerless failures. Our ancestors realized this very well.
The “friends and family” need to be tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail.
Now the countdown to the arrival of the Justice Brothers with megaphones in South Florida.
VERY good post. Love your tagline. He’d have loved this story.
This is why I’m moving to Florida. If this happened in Maryland, the Marine would be going to jail.
I’m a Canadian, so you can guess how many people I talk to have trouble grasping that concept. They think that you should retreat or cower from armed robbers, and that those armed robbers are just poor, misunderstood folks who come from broken families and poor socio-economic backgrounds and blah blah blah. I don’t know what’s wrong with them that they can’t see that someone sticking a gun or a knife in people’s faces for money is threatening bodily injury or death, and that whatever happens to them they have coming to them. What the heck is wrong with them?
I believe that's aleady the case in most states.
Here in Arizona the relevant statute reads:
"Section 13-406:
A person is justified in threatening or using physical force or deadly physical force against another to protect a third person if:
“Florida law gives people the right of “self-defense without the duty to retreat.” That means individuals can use deadly force virtually anywhere to prevent death or serious injury.”
This is the REAL pi55er here! A principality or power cannot confer a right. A right exists intrinsically and is not a privilege.
Nice shooting Tex!
Stay alert
Dang! That thing shoots micro BB's!
Arrindell was struck twice — once in the head and once in the stomach...
Gadson was hit in the chest...
Nice grouping, and he probably only pulled the trigger 3 times.
No charges files because the DA got a phone call explaining how Mr. Lovell had ably served the Kennedy/Johnson administration aboard Marine 1.
Good deal!
loaded .45 caliber handgun from his holster and fired seven rounds,”
Sorry, I didn’t see this the first time around. Dayam, a 45, he put three giant holes in these dudes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.