Posted on 03/02/2010 4:18:40 AM PST by marktwain
A north Toledo homeowner and concealed handgun license (CHL)-holder was the victim of an attempted home robbery last week, and yet in an article covering the homeowner's act of defending himself and shooting two intruders, the Toledo Blade refers only to the dead robber as a "victim."
From the story:
Toledo police Sunday identified the victim of Saturday night's fatal shooting on Galena Street in North Toledo as Christopher Childress, 21, of North Toledo.
Sgt. William Wauford said Mr. Childress was shot once in the chest when he was confronted by the homeowner, whom police declined to immediately identify over "concerns about his safety."
The resident had just arrived home at 811 Galena St. about 8:30 p.m. and saw signs that his home had been burglarized.
Investigators say two other people may have been inside at the time and a second person may have been wounded, Sergeant Wauford said.
Sergeant Wauford said the homeowner had a revolver and used it to shoot at the intruders. The shooting occurred toward the rear of the home on the first floor.
"He [the resident] had just come home when he saw some lights on" and noticed the house was in disarray, the sergeant said.
"He was within his rights to have the weapon," Sergeant Wauford told the Blade, also noting that homeowner has a CHL.
After he was shot, Mr. Childress ran from the home and collapsed near Galena and Michigan streets. He was taken to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 9:07 p.m.
Police said the victim lived in the area where the shooting occurred but they did not release his address.
Earlier yesterday, friends and family members of the shooting victim placed candles and left written messages on a poster where he fell.
Officers went to at least two addresses on North Ontario Street as they looked for another person who may have been shot.
Sergeant Wauford said police were following up on a report that a second person went to a hospital for treatment, but police did not have an identity.
Chris Bacome, who lives two doors away, said he heard gunshots and then saw the victim run west before collapsing near the corner of Galena and Michigan Street.
"It looked like some kids tried to break into the house and then I heard gunshots," Mr. Bacome said. "He went down right over there and the police came and they were doing CPR on him. He wasn't moving when they took him away in an ambulance."
Under Ohio's Castle Doctrine law, if someone unlawfully enters an occupied home or temporary habitation, or occupied car, citizens have an initial presumption that they may act in self defense, and will not be second-guessed by the State.
The Toledo Blade, which prohibits its newspaper carriers from exercising their right to self-defense even after several instances where employees suffered rape and or aggravated robbery, has editorialized against concealed carry both before and after it became law. One editorial board member went so far as theorize on how he would disarm the entire American population. (As if on cue, the Blade's latest editorial, "Get a handle on guns," is a rant against HB203, Ohio's restaurant carry bill.) The anti-gun views of writers at the Blade have clearly crept into this news article, which refers to the perpetrator as the "victim" no less than four times.
In a follow-up article, the Blade notes that the homeowner who was victimized in this home robbery has been a guard at the Toledo Correctional Institute since 2000.
According to the updated report, police say there were three robbers in the home. Two have been identified: Childress and Michael Brown, 19, a man with a lengthy criminal record. Brown also suffered gunshot wounds, and has been arrested.
Emergency dispatchers were still on the line as the homeowner fired his gun. Deputy Chief Derrick Diggs is quoted as saying "based on the investigation, and the interview with the homeowner, the investigation determined that this individual should not be charged."
A complete list of known incidences involving Ohio CHL-holders defending themselves is available here.
Should have put two rounds down range; it would have saved the police a trip around the neighborhood looking for the “victim.”
Years ago I read a judge’s statement that a burglar had a right to shoot a homeowner if the homeowner had a gun. The burglar had a right to defend himself in the home he was robbing.
The police are worried about the homeowner’s safety, but they list his address?!
Did the police release that or did the paper release that information?
Remember, liberals want you to die!
Either by NOT defending yourself or by marking you for revenge after you do defend yourself.
Good shooting, Citizen. Civilization thanks you.
Kids? KIDS?
The one shot and killed was 21.
The other was 19.
These ain't kids.
“He was a good boy. Always well-behaved. He never robbed from the poor, only the rich. Society forced him into a life of drugs and crime. Sure, he had the IQ of a kumquat but now he’s in Hell where he was always meant to be!”
I can almost hear what you would say about this.
It’s Toledo. There’s no reason to ever go there. If you’re in Toledo,,,, leave.
Haven't you heard? Under the new Obamacare bill, they're kids until they're 27!
Even if a state DOESN’T abide by the Castle Doctrine, I always say that it is better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6...
I used to be a Toledo cop (retired), chances are the “reporter” took the information off the crime report log that was located up in the detective bureau. The log and police reports are considered public documents and any information on them the press can use. The only report that isn’t is the Supplemental, which contains in-depth suspect and witness interviews and while filed with the crime report is not avaiable to the press.
The Blade used to send a “reporter” up to the detective bureau daily to scan the logs for stories, if it was a big story they would follow up on it, otherwise it would wait until the next day.
And technically the deceased suspect/burglar was a victim.....a victim of lead poisoning, which occurred because of his chosen line of work.
Revolting ... He was a "good boy", right" Just trying to "turn his life around", right? "They didn't have to kill my BAYBEEEEEE!!!!!!", right?
Raise your kids right, and they're a lot less likely to end up like this.
ROFL!!!
The biggest problem will be for the home owner proving that he was acting in self defense and the fact that one of the burglars died several blocks away from the home. Witnesses are 3 to 1 and the courts will gladly overlook their criminal records and behavior in order to put this homeowner away for life.
At least manslaughter charges will stick with 5 to 20 years and punitive damages will be awarded to the families of the “innocent”, “misguided” little demons.
I’d like to see a “freep that inbox” thing for items like this where the email address of the paper is included so I can easily share my opinion on their use of “victim” with the editor.
Doc, quit insulting kumquats. They have a higher IQ than the Perp. LOL
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