“fled the convenience store in his Volkswagen Jetta after the teenagers left because he was afraid they would return,”
Here is more from his lawyer’s statement, given earlier:
“He was also concerned with leaving the area because he didn’t know if these gang members, what they were, who. He’s in a strange town. He doesn’t know if they’re on their cellphones saying, ‘Hey, come back and get this guy in the Jetta.’ He just wanted to get to a safe place and try and figure out what to do.”
This is very close to the advise that I have taught in my concealed carry course. Do not stay at the scene if you feel you are still in danger. Get to a safe location, then call the police.
There are plenty of neighborhoods where I would “flee the scene” after a shooting so that I would be sure to survive to contact the police.
I know nothing about the neighborhood where the shooting occured, but I think many jurors can relate to the reasonableness of the fear.
Is this guy one of your students??? If so he may want his money back.
Do not stay at the scene if you feel you are still in danger. Get to a safe location, then call the police.
So a store where they have cameras and security and more police presence than most anywhere is safer than a motel room??? And that motel room wasn't safe enough either as he fled from there to his home in Brevard County -- and never called the police.
Do you also teach your students to fire at fleeing vehicles???