11 year old shoots at robber

[Sage Ninja]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/%e2...b7Kz&ocid=iehp

Chris Gaither was home alone “petting the dogs” on Wednesday morning when he heard a noise upstairs.

The 11-year-old boy from Talladega, Ala., told NBC affiliate WVTM-TV that he was scared, so he grabbed a knife and steadied himself.

Chris said that a man appeared on the stairwell, but when confronted, he ran back up upstairs. When the man reappeared moments later, the boy told WVTM-TV, the individual was holding a gun.

“When he was coming down the stairs, that’s when he told me he was going to kill me, f-you and all that,” Chris said.

Instead of running, Chris told the station, he upgraded his weaponry, picking up a 9mm handgun that was in the home.

Chris said he threatened to kill the man and ordered him to get out of the house.

“I guess when I pulled the gun out on him he didn’t think it was a real gun cause he didn’t worry about it,” Chris told the station. “He just kept on walking.”

Not only was Chris holding a real gun, the boy knew how to use it. His stepfather had been giving him shooting lessons, he told WVTM-TV.

Once the man made it outside, Chris fired a warning shot. The man, who was carrying a stolen laundry hamper, began running. Chris emptied the magazine, firing off 12 shots by the time the intruder neared a fence in the family’s front yard, the 11-year-old told the station.

The final shot hit the man in the leg as he was hopping the fence, the boy said.

“I shot through the hamper he was carrying,” Chris said. “It was a full metal jacket bullet. It went straight through the back of his leg. He started crying like a little baby.”

The man was taken to a local hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

Talladega Police are investigating the incident but have not identified the suspect, according to WVTM-TV.

In 2006, the Hunstville Times reports, Alabama enacted Stand Your Ground, a law that permits the use the use of deadly force against an aggressor if that person is:

About to use unlawful deadly physical force.
A burglar about to use physical force.
Engaged in kidnapping, assault, robbery, or rape.
Unlawfully and forcefully entering a home or car, or attempting to remove a person against their will. (There are exceptions for people who used to live there and are under no injunctions or domestic protection orders.)
Breaking into a nuclear power plant.


A 2013 addition to the law, the paper reports, allows for the use of deadly force against someone who is “using or about to use physical force against an owner, employee, or other person authorized to be on business property when the business is closed to the public while committing or attempting to commit a crime involving death, serious physical injury, robbery, kidnapping, rape, sodomy, or a crime of a sexual nature involving a child under the age of 12.”

Chris and his mother — who was not named by the station during an on-camera interview — told WVTM-TV that they were familiar with the suspected intruder, though they don’t know him well.

Chris referred to the man as “a meth-head” in his 30s who had robbed them before and is known for targeting other homes in the area.

“I hope you learned your lesson from coming to this house trying to steal stuff,” Chris said.

“Be brave, you’ll be okay,” he added. “Trust God.”

I'm not sure how I feel about this...the kid is 11 so he does not have the same judgment capacity an adult does, but empting his gun like that could have been dangerous for bystanders. But at the same time, if this kid did not brandish a gun, what could have happened to him? I know alot of people would say if you have a gun shoot to kill, but would a child be willing to just kill? Shooting a "warning shot" might not be smart, but maybe he did not think of that. Nothing can be scarier for a kid than to have an intruder in the house with an intent to rob you or hurt you, whether they have a weapon or not...although if an intruder is leaving your house can you get away with shooting at the person? Either way I think this poor kid acted out of fear.

[snake]

This kid did nothing wrong and if I had a gun in my house I'd do the exact same thing if someone broke in and was violent

[Powder]

That kid is such a f**king G, wow.

[triplexxx]

This boy sure did his neighborhood a big favor.

[Mayhem]

Well done to the kid for keeping composed, being brave and fending off the attacker.

However, if he'd done what he did in the UK (shoot at a fleeing assailant), he'd be arrested. Defending yourself comes into consideration when being threatened or approached by someone, not when they are running away.

So on one hand, thumbs up for maintaining composure to use a firearm, thumbs down for emptying the entire magazine while the meth-head was trying to get away. But the boy is 11, he's scared, and hopefully never has to do that again, so I'm going to cut him some slack there.

[plastroncafe]

Here's to hoping he didn't hit anything with either the warning shot, or the rest of the clip he discharged.

[mrmaczaps]

Originally Posted by snake

This kid did nothing wrong and if I had a gun in my house I'd do the exact same thing if someone broke in and was violent

Exactly. This kid should get some more lessons and taught what was right and proper as to what unfolded. He was probably scared shitless.

[TheSkeletonMan939]

"He started crying like a little baby.”

This kid's awesome.

Originally Posted by Sage Ninja

although if an intruder is leaving your house can you get away with shooting at the person?

If a dude enters your house and points a gun at you, I think you're entitled to do whatever the hell you want to him, even if he starts running.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

I'm just shocked this news story didn't come out of Texas.

[Redeemer]

Originally Posted by CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy

I'm just shocked this news story didn't come out of Texas.

I know right lol


But seriously can someone correct me if I am wrong, but......

This 11 year old kid shot a fleeing felon in the back "leg" and he is not in any trouble??


I am pretty sure Tennessee vs Garner applies to citizens as well

Honestly though it sounds like the kid handled himself and the situation pretty well, but without knowing everything I really can't say. I am just a little disturbed by the fact the kid is being praised for shooting someone fleeing.

[snake]

Originally Posted by Redeemer

I know right lol


But seriously can someone correct me if I am wrong, but......

This 11 year old kid shot a fleeing felon in the back "leg" and he is not in any trouble??


I am pretty sure Tennessee vs Garner applies to citizens as well

Honestly though it sounds like the kid handled himself and the situation pretty well, but without knowing everything I really can't say. I am just a little disturbed by the fact the kid is being praised for shooting someone fleeing.

Fleeing after pointing a gun and breaking and entering. There is no problem there.

[Storm Eagle]

Originally Posted by CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy

I'm just shocked this news story didn't come out of Texas.

It was still in the south. Close enough.

[Redeemer]

Originally Posted by snake

Fleeing after pointing a gun and breaking and entering. There is no problem there.

No that is a problem. Police are not allowed to do it and neither is anyone else.

Now if he was pointing the gun at the kid while running away then there is no problem.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Originally Posted by Storm Eagle

It was still in the south. Close enough.

When you're a Texan, and a potentially embarrassing story involving guns or racism happens, and it DOESN'T happen in Texas, trust me, we take the wins whenever and however we can.