South CarolinaPing
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Posted on 11/15/2012 5:55:07 AM PST by marktwain
A retired S.C. Highway Patrol trooper shot and killed an intruder after a struggle in his Bluffton home early Wednesday, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office.
Former trooper Lt. William "Chuck" Wise was attacked by a man attempting to break into his Palmetto Bluff Road home at 2:15 a.m. when Wise fired several shots, striking and killing him, investigators say.
The body of 39-year-old Paul Edward Rowell was found in the main entryway, the Sheriff's Office said.
Investigators also believe Rowell attacked the owner of a nearby home just 30 minutes before he assaulted Wise at his home.
It is unclear why Rowell was prowling the neighborhood in the early-morning hours, and he was a stranger to both men he attacked, the Sheriff's Office said. No motive has been established, spokeswoman Sgt. Robin McIntosh said.
Rowell has no previous arrests in Beaufort County, according to the Beaufort County Detention Center.
Rowell lived in the area but had a home address in Alabama, according to Beaufort County Coroner Ed Allen. Rowell's body has been sent to Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston for an autopsy, Allen said.
According to the Sheriff's Office, Wise and his wife reported that they were awakened by the sudden barking of their dogs. Wise grabbed a flashlight and looked outside the front door when he saw a white male -- later identified as Rowell -- get out of a truck parked out front, a news release said.
Wise grabbed a handgun as Rowell approached the home. He went back to the door to tell Rowell to leave and said he was armed, but Rowell "continued to insist on coming inside," the release said.
(Excerpt) Read more at islandpacket.com ...
Why does the media give the profession of the homeowner in this case (former LEO), but not in other similar cases (anything else)? Is it to drill into the public’s mind that while LEOs do good things with guns, no one else does?
Ping for SC!
I believe I would have fired before this intruder closed the distance. Anyone looking down a gun muzzle and advances undeterred is already a mad dog.
Sorry for the double ping. Not my doing. Note the timestamp. 35 seconds apart. John?
FWIW, I’ve noticed this on other threads as well.
Excellent question on the (former) profession and I think you have a good point about this being an example of passive-aggressive media bias.
As to the dead perp, just Darwin at work again, culling the herd. Kudos to the homeowner!!
Drunk or drugged out his mind seems most likely in this case. Rowell's lack of a local rapsheet is the only part that doesn't fit.
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