The young fellow would have been well served to have been locked up for his first infraction thus protecting him from the dangerous public.
A senior citizen is much more likely to kill a bad guy because they know they can not beat him in a physical fight. The senior citizen was attacked and he defended himself. The good guy lived and the bad guy died.
It should also be noted that the bad guy was a serial offender. Do you think he would have let his victim live after attacking him? If the victim lived he could identify his attacker and send him away for a long time.
Beware of old men carrying weapons, as a rule they are kind, courteous and respectful and know how to kill you. They have probably been shooting for many many many years. They do not wish to be hurt or die. They will kill you.
I have a lot of difficulty with the concept of probation for violent offenses, or offenses with the potential of violence, such as armed robbery. IMO, you are offering the offender the opportunity to continue to commit other crimes.
Defense attorneys don't care much for that point of view.
Uh, may I say something about the young fellow?
“It all happened last Wednesday. Prosecutors say Johnson, who was already on probation for aggravated assault,”
HE WAS ALREADY A CAREER CRIMINAL!