Car Owner Fatally Shoots Teen During Alleged Robbery Attempt (New Orleans)

WWL-TV ^ | August 27, 2002

[Shermy]

New Orleans Police arrested and charged a man for the shooting death of a teenager who was allegedly trying to steal his car.

Sean Minor, 29, was charged with manslaughter in the shooting, because officers say he wasn’t in danger at the time of the incident.

Police say that Minor shot the alleged burglar from his balcony while observing the victim and another man trying to break in to his car.

In the New Orleans East neighborhood where the incident occurred, some residents say what Minor did was justified.

"I feel he was justified,” said one unidentified resident. “Because that was someone else’s property and he was only protecting what was his.”

Meanwhile, at the coroner’s office, the victim’s family said they were pleased that Minor had been arrested.

“He didn't have no right to kill him,” said Wanda Munoz, the victim’s mother. “If he was doing what they said he was doing, he should have just called the police and reported it. Why kill him."

But local defense attorneys said that even if Minor were taken to trial in the shooting, it would be hard to get a jury to convict.

“The problem comes in cause many citizens will tell you that you have a right to protect your property and if they get to a jury they'll say they would do the same thing," said Robert Jenkins, a local defense attorney.

The NOPD will continue to gather evidence in the case and turn over the findings to the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office. That office will make the ultimate determination on whether Minor is brought to trial.

[SunStar]

“He didn't have no right to kill him,” said Wanda Munoz, the victim’s mother. “If he was doing what they said he was doing, he should have just called the police and reported it. Why kill him."

Oh, probably because the police would have shown up 10 minutes late, his car would have been destroyed and the perps wouldn't have been caught.

[Poohbah]

I would've moseyed on down, politely asked the lads if they needed some help, and then covered the little SOBs.

[drypowder]

Second Amendment again supports the 4th, the right to secure your effects and personal property. YES!!! This country needs more of this kind of citizen.

[Ohioan]

“The problem comes in cause many citizens will tell you that you have a right to protect your property and if they get to a jury they'll say they would do the same thing," said Robert Jenkins, a local defense attorney.

Well, I must say that Robert Jenkins and I do not see eye to eye as lawyers. What he calls a "problem," I call common sense. The right to defend one's property is very basic to most Americans. The idea that one's property is somehow in a different class from one's life, shows a misconception. One's property reflects a segment of one's life, or the life of one's ancestor. Property does not grow on trees. It reflects the labor and ingenuity of one who secured by labor and ingenuity the means to acquire it. When you steal a man's property, you steal a segment of his life. No man should have to submit to that.

Hopefully, the local Prosecutor will decline this Prosecution. Let the thieves of the world, beware!

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[calvin sun]

Correct me if I'm wrong , but I think I read somewhere that in the old West, horse theft was a capital offense. Thanks.

[southern rock]

“He didn't have no right to kill him,” said Wanda Munoz, the victim’s mother. “If he was doing what they said he was doing, he should have just called the police and reported it. Why kill him."

Well Wanda, if your little degenerate wasn't doing what they said he was doing, it wouldn't be an issue, now would it??

[Michael Barnes]

You know, your damned if you do, damned if you don't. Now, I don't know if I was fed a line here, but I asked my insurance guy what would happen if I caught some Adam Henry stealing my truck and I shot the tires out. Could I turn that into insurance. He said no, it would be considered willfull destruction of personal property. So I proceeded to ask him what would happen if I watched the perp drive away and he wrecks my rig. He says, we replace it, and your rates go up.

So, can't shoot the SOB, you'll goto jail. Can't prevent 'em from driving away with well palced shots, that's willfull destruction (and probably still get's you in jail for discharging your weapon and endangering the life of the poor misguided perp). Watch them take your earned property (and if they wreck it), your penalized with higher rates..

I wonder how much I can get a silencer for? That would give me the crucial time needed to just drive away myself with the perp in the backseat...dump their asses somewhere else.

[southern rock]

“The problem comes in cause many citizens will tell you that you have a right to protect your property and if they get to a jury they'll say they would do the same thing," said Robert Jenkins, a local defense attorney.

Well actually, Robert, that is not technically a problem. That's JUSTICE.

[the bottle let me down]

He's still facing one heckuva wrongful death civil suit.

[spodefly]

“He didn't have no right to kill him,” said Wanda Munoz, the victim’s mother.

Good, then we are in agreement.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

He didn't have no right to kill him,” said Wanda Munoz, the victim’s mother. “If he was doing what they said he was doing, he should have just called the police and reported it. Why kill him."

here comes the lawsuit

[Paleo Conservative]

Good Riddence!

[PoorMuttly]

Ever considered a crossbow with a deep sea fishing reel on it...motorized?

Just a thought.

I don't think you'd need a license for it, though.

[sinkspur]

He's still facing one heckuva wrongful death civil suit.

Maybe. But he may get the same jurors who would let him off in a criminal case.

In Texas, we're justified in protecting our property, at night, with lethal force.

[Ohioan]

But Louisiana is not the Bronx. My guess is that a Louisiana Jury would come in with a Defense verdict, or else they would award the Mom, who obviously failed to teach her son anything of great value, all of $1.

Jurors are not stupid. It is not hard to grasp that this sort of citizen protection of property, makes every other property owner just a tad safer. Now if we had a shooting like this every day, there would soon be a very noticeable fall in car thefts!

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[TexRef]

Beat me by 7 posts!

[Ohioan]

Correct me if I'm wrong , but I think I read somewhere that in the old West, horse theft was a capital offense. Thanks.

I am not sure whether that was on the statute books, or just the practical result. It does seem fair, though, doesn't it! The idea that a thief has the right to strand an honest man is not tolerable.

William Flax

[Dimensio]

Well maybe he can argue that he was aiming for the leg. I would have done that, because I believe that someone trying to steal my property deserves pain before death.