Posted on 04/28/2010 5:04:54 AM PDT by marktwain
RIPON -- A man who heard banging outside his apartment confronted three suspected burglars and scared them off by firing a pistol, police said today. Officers arrested two of them a short while later.
Police said the incident happened just before 10 p.m. Sunday near West Washington Street and Key Avenue.
The resident told police he confronted three men outside his apartment building and as they advanced on him, he retreated and fired a semi-automatic pistol into the ground. bang KRT - handgun illustration.
*
The men backed off but stayed in the area. Police responding to the possible burglary report captured two of the men about two blocks away: Lamberto Godina, 18, of Ripon and Jose Mendoza, 19, of Salida.
They were booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on charges of assault, trespassing, and creating a disturbance.
Officers are trying to locate the third suspect. All three are documented members of the Norteño street gang.
The police department will ask the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office to review the case for possible charges against the victim for discharging a firearm within city limits, under the suspicion that the victim needlessly escalated the situation, police said.
(Excerpt) Read more at modbee.com ...
Subtitle: How to prevent a Rip-off in Ripon.
Here in CT, if you fire a warning shot the DA will throw the book at you. How could it have been a deadly threat if you fired into the ground/air and not at the threat itself?
BS CT laws favor the perp.
Good thing that wasn’t Arizona. The cops might have asked them about their immigration status.
Reminds me of giving my .357 to my sister when she lived alone in an apartment at college. She said she couldn't actually shoot someone.
I told her to "Shoot it into the air then. Anyone hearing that and seeing that six-inch ball of fire will NOT PROCEED."
Of course, no one lived above her apt.
In my opinion, if you are not able to shoot someone in self defense, you should find another way to protect yourself.
“Citing an increase in criminal activity, most of it gang-related, in the area, police urge ......”
Police urge that the DA investigate the homeowner for possible firearms charges.
How about 'defused the situation', you moron.
A warning shot should be fired into the ground in a specific spot, not into the air.
A shot into the ground can be defended as safe, but throwing bullets into the air, and at unknown angles can be made to look extremely dangerous in a court and can be dangerous.
Gun laws are so screwed up and favor the criminal in almost every way.
The scene we discussed is her alone in her apartment on the second floor and an intruder breaking in. No ground to shoot into...
I assume the roof was above her unit.
In that case I have to agree with the guys that say shoot to kill would be her only option.
Waking up to a man already inside of her little apartment means that she needs to eliminate the threat, talking and shooting bullets into the ceiling when the guy has already broken in and is in the room with you ready to jump you is insane, if he wants her, then when she raises her gun hand to the sky and is dealing with the shock of the firing, she can easily be disarmed.
Agreed. We have to share the planet with so many people and we’re lucky enough to rent or own a tiny little part of it that’s our safety zone, our sanctuary. Anyone crazy enough to go our of their way to invade the one place we are allowed to call home has given up their rights.
A terrifed girl with a gun isn't someone to antagonize unless one were suicidal.
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.