Springville homeowner shoots, kills intruder

[Common Sense Party]

Martinez entered the master bedroom and threatened the couple sleeping there, saying he had a gun. He demanded that they retrieve their wallets and keys and drive him to an ATM, according to the lieutenant.

The homeowner walked into a closet under the guise of getting ready to leave, Caron said. Instead, he took a 9 mm handgun from the closet and shot Martinez, striking him once in the chest. The homeowner and his wife were uninjured.

Martinez never actually produced a weapon, and police reported that while he claimed to have stolen a gun, none was found at the crime scene...

"I don't see any reason to think it's anything but (self-defense)," Caron said. "They don't know this guy. This guy came into the house, threatened them, claimed he had a gun and, to protect his family, (the homeowner) took that action."

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865551247/Springville-homeowner-shoots-kills-intruder.html?pg=2

Well, what would YOU do?

[burf]

1. Sounds as though the homeowner

was well within his rights. Mr Martinez should have taken up a different line of work. I wonder how many he got away with before this incident.

[Common Sense Party]

2. He was a diligent burglar. Went to about 20 homes in the neighborhood.

At least he didn't have to die with an empty tummy.

[rl6214]

3. I would probably raise my weapon on the intruder and order him to the ground BUT

I would not have fired unless he produced a weapon or I thought I was in imminent danger. I would not have just come out firing.

[saras]

4. If I felt that threatened but didn't see a weapon and saw both hands, I'd shoot him in the gut.

Very painful and incapacitating, very likely to survive if medical assistance arrives in time, easy to shoot him again if he reaches for a weapon.

But my first thought, in that situation, would be to shoot the ground at his feet and order him to put his hands high in the air and lean against a wall. Then, while he's in frisk position and can't move quickly, call 911.

[Common Sense Party]

5. I doubt you'd be thinking that methodically at 3:00 a.m. when you've just been

awakened by some strange man in your house, wearing your clothing, claiming he has a gun and demanding money. Your children are asleep in the next room. And you'd shoot at the floor? Really?

[DonP]

7. That would generate a hell of an adrenaline dump into your system

Tunnel vision, heart pounding, heavy breathing and possible tremors.

I have to give the homeowner credit for being able to find his gun and use it, let along shoot accurately

[saras]

9. That part of me wakes pretty much instantly. Compassion takes a while.

He did have time to go in the closet and get the gun.

There's a sign on my fridge (I didn't put it there) that says "I'm sorry for the unkind words I spoke out of hunger." I can be a morning person, but no one wants me to. That's the only part of me that would have made a good Marine.

But it's definitely not for everyone. And the real problem is that I would have been as likely to leap at him, naked and screaming, swinging a floor lamp with one hand and a blanket like a bullfighter with the other, as calmly going off and getting my own gun. And I'm over 50. My appearance alone might have stunned him as effectively as a Taser.

[PavePusher]

8. Very bad tactics, legally and practically. n/t

[chrisa]

11. That would be greatly underestimating a potential threat

The first thing you want to do is, obviously, remove the threat to your life. Trying to create a flesh wound wouldn't exactly be helpful in that instance.

Second, if shot in the stomach, he could still die. With a hole in your stomach, the contents spill out - very bad and painful - and lethal.

If you're close enough where you can put a round into his feet, you're endangering yourself to get overpowered or shot (unless if you're an incredible shot with an amazingly cool head).

When in a "frisk" position, someone is still incredibly dangerous - the threat would not be removed at all. His hands and feet are still free - he can still grab for a weapon, or quickly run away before you can react (or cause you to re-actively shoot (usually terribly)).

The homeowner did the best thing in this situation, imo. It's terrible that a life was lost, but the burglar forced his hand.

[slackmaster]

6. I would have shot him twice

Just to be sure.

[DWC]

10. Solid Defense. Sorry it had to happen. n/t