[taxed2death]

“Grabbing a 12-gauge shotgun, he fired at the fleeing teens.”

Dummy. If they are in fact fleeing, they pose no threat of grave bodily harm or death.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

“fleeing”

Yep. Key word in this article. He’s in trouble.

[Clemenza]

He made what I like to call the "Bernie Goetz Mistake" ie shooting someone in the back.

This is the reason, btw, that the French Connection was so controversial when it was released. In real life Doyle/Eagen could not legally get away with shooting even a perp in the back if they were not in the process of causing bodily harm to another.

[7thOF7th]

It seems to me, he could have just been trying to stop the THEIF from getting away with his stuff:-)

[FormerLib]

That’s one of the first things they taught us during the NRA course on defense. You can’t shoot at someone who’s committed a property crime if they are fleeing.

[LIConFem]

If someone is in my house uninvited and armed, he's a threat, regardless of what he's doing or which direction he's heading.

Better judged by 12, and all that...

[Paleo Conservative]

Dummy. If they are in fact fleeing, they pose no threat of grave bodily harm or death.

He'd be perfectly justified shooting them in Texas

[lakeman]

Yes that is key. No imminent threat.

[Doc Savage]

Let me see if I can somehow set you straight (although you seemed taxex to death!)! These mutants BROKE into a man's home. There is no assurance that these two genetic miscreants WOULD NOT HAVE killed him with the BB bat. Since they brought a weapon that was easily seen as an actual gun, had they pointed it at him or his family they could have HELD immobilized at bay while they RAPED his female family members.

These rectail cavities should be arrested and sentenced to life in prison. I follow the law,...I expect all others to do likewise. When they don't, seek maximum injury and revenge!

[Deguello]

“Grabbing a 12-gauge shotgun, he fired at the fleeing teens.”

There is nothing in the story that states if the actors were inside or outside the home when he fired upon them.

A good statement from the homeowner would have been: 'As I was chasing them out of my house, one pointed his firearm back towards me and I feared for my life.'

[Lurking in Kansas]

If they are in fact fleeing, they pose no threat of grave bodily harm or death.

Yeah, even though I feel for the guy, he was wrong.

...and I'm sure the 'teens' are getting lawyered up. :-(

[weegee]

Different laws for different states. I believe that you could still fire in Texas.

Perhaps a perp might have even more firepower or “muscle” waiting back at the getaway car.

[DoughtyOne]

Yes that is the problem. You fire at people when you’re in fear for your life, or the lives of people around you. You can’t fire at a person who is fleeing the scene.

Mind you if you’ve just been robbed, it sure would be tempting! I know I’d want to.

[Anonymous Rex]

Not true, I would expect them to come back later thereby posing a threat of grave bodily harm or death.