“But in nearly all states, you can’t generally use deadly force merely to defend your property. (Texas appears to be an exception,”
This incident took place in Arizona. And, according to the article deadly force is allowed to protect property in Arizona. If this is in fact the case then, the judge must be aware of this and incarcerated the old man with a ridiculous bail amount knowing that his action was lawful in the state.
Once the old man is released and acquitted in accordance with state law he should sue for unlawful imprisonment, pain, anguish, etc...
I don’t think shooting unarmed people is ever a good idea. There must be more to the story.