Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
A homeowner in Missouri fatally shot a burglar last week after hearing him enter through the backdoor.
What Happened
The Scott City Police posted a statement on Facebook. They reported getting a 911 call on Saturday around 2:30 pm. The caller reported a burglary in progress.
The homeowner reported that “someone had kicked in this back door.” He confronted the suspect and eventually “was forced to defend himself using a handgun.”
Police arrived at the scene and the homeowner showed them the suspect. Police identified the suspect as Jason L Vermillion, a 42-year-old man. They found him in critical condition.
Aftermath
“Officers immediately began life-saving measures,” according to their report. They took Vermillion to St Francis Medical Center. The suspect died there.
According to police, they initially treated the scene as a homicide.
A homicide is any death of one person caused by another person. Technically, every time someone shoots another person in self-defense it is homicide.
After the investigation, USA Carry reported that the police deemed the case a self-defense incident.
“At this time, we are not seeking charges on the homeowner;” Chief Christopher M Griggs of the SCPD said.
“With the efforts of the officers as they thoroughly investigated the scene, the homeowner was acting in self-defense and was protecting himself and his property,” he added.
What The Homeowner Did Right
This story is an excellent example of what to do after acting in self-defense.
Let’s go through what the homeowner did right:
-First off, he shot in self-defense. So it was a justifiable shooting.
-As soon as he was safe, he called the police and reported what had happened. He clearly stated what had happened from the start.
-When police arrived, he cooperated and helped the police complete their investigation.
What you shouldn’t do in this situation:
-Don’t shoot when it isn’t the last resort. Several criteria must be met for a shooting to be in self-defense.
-Don’t lie to the police or hide information. You didn’t do anything wrong by defending yourself, but be respectful while the police investigate.
Conclusion
Dealing with police can be intimidating. We hear stories from time to time of people who got in trouble for defending themselves.
READ MORE: Homeowner Uses Shotgun on Man Who Refused to Leave
If you are in this situation, don’t hesitate to ask for a lawyer’s presence. It does not imply guilt. A lawyer can help you gather your words, to be straight to the point with the police.
This homeowner treated the situation right. As long as you keep a level head, you can as well.
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