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originally posted by: vonclod
a reply to: worldstarcountry
So they are working to subvert rule of law? tsk, tsk.
LAKELAND — A Lakeland city commissioner surrendered Friday to face a second-degree murder charge in the Oct. 3 fatal shooting of a suspected shoplifter at a military surplus store.
Michael Dunn, who has served on the City Commission since January, arrived at the Polk County Jail in Bartow shortly after 6 p.m., accompanied by detectives in an unmarked car.
At a news conference a half-hour later, Polk State Attorney Brian Haas said he doesn’t believe the killing of 50-year-old Christobal Lopez was premeditated. But he also doesn’t see grounds for a self-defense claim. So he took the matter to a grand jury, which indicted Dunn.
"Let me be clear: It is the policy of my office to comply with and abide by the stand your ground law," Haas said. "However, I have determined that this case and the actions of Mr. Dunn fall outside the protection of the stand your ground law."
Dunn’s attorney, Rusty Franklin, has previously told reporters that Dunn was justified in shooting Lopez because he was holding a hatchet during the scuffle. In the video, an object is visible in Lopez’s right hand.
Just nine days passed before the Lakeland Police Department referred a criminal complaint affidavit to the State Attorney’s Office, Police Chief Larry Giddens said, joining Haas at the news conference.
"In those few days," Giddens said, "the scene was processed, all witnesses were interviewed, the victim’s family was interviewed, the defendant’s statement was obtained, multiple reports were written.
"The Medical Examiner’s Office conducted their investigation, the surveillance video was downloaded and then compiled so it could be viewed."
The arrest came 16 days after the shooting.
originally posted by: worldstarcountry
would anyone's opinion change if the lethally armed shoplifter had a history of violent and/or criminal behavior?? Although I doubt it to be the case or the news would have reported it by now.
I honestly think maybe it is time to revisit lethal force for property crimes if you ask me. Maybe shoot the next idiot that tries to yank flags off peoples' property too. Maybe people will start having better manners and behave then.
originally posted by: sdcigarpig
Having looked at the video and read the article the following can be stated:
What the person did, who got shot, was wrong, stealing is a crime and should not be tolerated or accepted. However, the shop owner is equally wrong here. There is no justice here. Only death.
The person who had the gun, who shot the other guy, did not think about justice, when he pulled the trigger on his weapon. He acted as judge, jury and executioner. While the guy who stole deserved to be punished, but did he deserve to die? And the man who killed him, is he not suppose to uphold the laws of the community and state?
would anyone's opinion change if the lethally armed shoplifter had a history of violent and/or criminal behavior?? Although I doubt it to be the case or the news would have reported it by now. I honestly think maybe it is time to revisit lethal force for property crimes if you ask me. Maybe shoot the next idiot that tries to yank flags off peoples' property too. Maybe people will start having better manners and behave then.
As general rule, the law leans in the opposite way of psychologists when it comes to predictive behavior, and past criminal behavior cannot be used to prove that you committed a crime. Even if you've been convicted of a DUI, prosecutors can't use that to say you drove drunk again.
Past and prior convictions do not dictate criminality for life.
said from the beginning that we would settle for criminal negligence.