I won't pretend to be an expert on "castle law" but my understanding is that there has to be a threat. I don't see simply being in the yard as a justification. I think there's a case in TX now dealing with that where the victim was shot while running away.

 

I agree. However, you have to look at the facts of the case. There was a 6 foot high fence blocking access to this property. The kid jumped that. This occurred at 2 in the morning. I think any reasonable person, especially one with a young child and a pregnant wife, would feel threatened in that situation.

Yea because what would ever make people think you've got bad intentions when you come invading their privacy at 2 am. His parents should be ashamed, I know that sounds harsh but I really mean that. There's no reason a young boy should be out at that time of night.

 

You ever run the neighborhood when you were a kid? I've cut through people's yards late at night on my way to some other spot. Smart? Maybe not. However, it's not justification in and of itself for a shooting. Too many unanswered questions need to be answered before we make definitive statements. There was obviously something there for the police/DA to charge. Article said "conflicting evidence."

I agree. However, you have to look at the facts of the case. There was a 6 foot high fence blocking access to this property. The kid jumped that. This occurred at 2 in the morning. I think any reasonable person, especially one with a young child and a pregnant wife, would feel threatened in that situation.

 

The written word matters when it comes to law. Facts then matter as well. We don't know the facts.

 

Kid may have had bad intentions but until we get an idea of the evidence we can't make any decisions. Being on someone's property does not justify getting shot. There has to be more to it.

You ever run the neighborhood when you were a kid? I've cut through people's yards late at night on my way to some other spot. Smart? Maybe not. However, it's not justification in and of itself for a shooting. Too many unanswered questions need to be answered before we make definitive statements. There was obviously something there for the police/DA to charge. Article said "conflicting evidence."

 

Major difference; he had to jump a 6 ft fence to be there. That's not even remotely similar to the just run through someone's yard angle.

Major difference; he had to jump a 6 ft fence to be there. That's not even remotely similar to the just run through someone's yard angle.

 

In the matter of law I don't think it will have a bearing. A 6 foot fence is higher than usual but it's not as if you have to get a ladder or helicopter into the yard to overcome it.

 

Again, where was he when he got shot? Do we know that yet?

 

What is the "conflicting evidence" mentioned in the article?

Re-read the article. While this doesn't tell us where the kid was it does show some discrepancy in the facts vs the story given.

 

Landry, 33, was arrested after police said his explanation of what happened that night conflicted with a witness's statement, and evidence at the scene -- namely, the casing from the bullet of his gun, found about 30 feet from Coulter's body.

Landry had told police he and the teen were both near his car when Coulter made a sudden movement, prompting Landry to shoot, a police report states.

You ever run the neighborhood when you were a kid? I've cut through people's yards late at night on my way to some other spot. Smart? Maybe not. However, it's not justification in and of itself for a shooting. Too many unanswered questions need to be answered before we make definitive statements. There was obviously something there for the police/DA to charge. Article said "conflicting evidence."

 

Did you jump a 6 foot fence to do it? We're not talking about a little 4 foot keep the small children in the yard fence. That's a 6 foot keep everyone else out of my yard, protecting my family from the rest of the world, I want my privacy fence. I can honestly say at 14 years old I was never cutting through peoples yards hopping fences @ 2am.

 

Had I gotten caught doing something like that my parents would've kicked my butt, mostly because of how embarrassed they would have been that I was out at that time of night acting like an idiot. That fence is there for a reason, it may be to protect who ever is inside of the fence line or it could even be to protect whoever is outside of it. Kid could've been jumping a fence with dogs on the other side, just not a smart move.

You ever run the neighborhood when you were a kid? I've cut through people's yards late at night on my way to some other spot. Smart? Maybe not. However, it's not justification in and of itself for a shooting. Too many unanswered questions need to be answered before we make definitive statements. There was obviously something there for the police/DA to charge. Article said "conflicting evidence."

At 2:00am if you keep on running your out of the yard before they even realize that you were there, let alone have enough time to get a gun and come out to confront you. I really don't think your taking a short cut home theory holds water in this case. If Someone was going through my yard at 2:00 am I might see them from the window before they are out of my yard. For me to be able to go out and confront them at that time in the morning, they have got to be lingering doing something while on my property than other than just running through.

Re-read the article. While this doesn't tell us where the kid was it does show some discrepancy in the facts vs the story given.

 

Landry, 33, was arrested after police said his explanation of what happened that night conflicted with a witness's statement, and evidence at the scene -- namely, the casing from the bullet of his gun, found about 30 feet from Coulter's body.

Landry had told police he and the teen were both near his car when Coulter made a sudden movement, prompting Landry to shoot, a police report states.

 

I don't understand how the casing being 30ft away is an issue with the police. I could be 10feet from a target and my shell casing might fly 10 to 15 feet then roll even further if on a driveway. Try collecting your brass after shooting, you'll find that it flies every where.

I think it's fair to question whether the shooting was right, or warranted, but I think it (IMO at least) seems pretty cut and dry that it was within his rights to do.

 

Also, we can all agree that the comparison to the Trayvon Martin incident and racial accusations are ridiculous, right?

I think it's fair to question whether the shooting was right, or warranted, but I think it (IMO at least) seems pretty cut and dry that it was within his rights to do.

 

Also, we can all agree that the comparison to the Trayvon Martin incident and racial accusations are ridiculous, right?

Yes

I would be interested in knowing if there was any interaction between the two.

 

As Jumper said, the kid HAD to be lingering in the yard. If he was just passing through the yard he'd have been gone by the time the owner had got his gun and made his way outside.

Did you jump a 6 foot fence to do it? We're not talking about a little 4 foot keep the small children in the yard fence. That's a 6 foot keep everyone else out of my yard, protecting my family from the rest of the world, I want my privacy fence. I can honestly say at 14 years old I was never cutting through peoples yards hopping fences @ 2am.

 

Had I gotten caught doing something like that my parents would've kicked my butt, mostly because of how embarrassed they would have been that I was out at that time of night acting like an idiot. That fence is there for a reason, it may be to protect who ever is inside of the fence line or it could even be to protect whoever is outside of it. Kid could've been jumping a fence with dogs on the other side, just not a smart move.

 

Because your parents would have (rightly) kicked your butt doesn't mean shooting the is justified.

I would be interested in knowing if there was any interaction between the two.

 

As Jumper said, the kid HAD to be lingering in the yard. If he was just passing through the yard he'd have been gone by the time the owner had got his gun and made his way outside.

 

Fair questions to ask. We just don't know enough. Guy said he was right on top of him. Casings were 10 yards away. Questions abound.

Also, we can all agree that the comparison to the Trayvon Martin incident and racial accusations are ridiculous, right?

 

Most likely, yes.