82-year-old Robert Wallace said in February that he looked out his window and saw two men hooking his flatbed trailer up to their pickup. He yelled at them to stop, but they sped away, stealing his trailer. He told police he fired two shots at the pickup.

The Jefferson County DA's office said that neither Torres nor Cardona have been charged with anything at this point, even though Torres confessed to the crime. However, the homeowner, Wallace is facing twelve felony counts, including four counts of attempted first degree murder. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Originally posted by ThaLoccster
This almost exact thing happened in the city I live in earlier this year.

A man looked outside, or heard noises that caught his attention. On looking outside he saw a man stealing his 4 wheeler and proceeded to shoot and kill the thief.

He is now being charged with murder.

I have to say I agree. Your personal property is not more valuable than someones life. And laws are put in place to keep this type of thing from happening, you can't shoot someone who is trespassing on your yard anymore than you can shoot someone for stealing your garden gnomes.

If a person is inside your house, you do have the right (to an extent) to shoot the person.

His life wasn't threatened and he has no right to murder someone over a trailer.

I can't believe people think its ok to murder someone over property loss, sure they should be punished. But not murdered.

Whats next? Killing a guy who stole your newspaper? Shooting kids taking shortcuts through your yard, cause they might steal your lawn jockey?

Link to earlier mentioned story...

Deputy prosecuting attorney Joe Graham says citizens can defend themselves inside their own home and on their property outside their home but they can't use deadly force solely in defense of property.

Pearcy homeowner shoots, kills robber

Pearcy man arrested for fatally shooting thief

In the end, this guy shot his friend over his four wheeler.

While I'm not defending the thief, its sad that material possessions are held to a higher value than life.

I hope everyone here who downloads illegal gets shot in the face by whoever owns the rights to what you download.

(not really, but hopefully you get my point)

Originally posted by MrWendal
reply to post by ThaLoccster

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In the situation you are describing I agree it is murder. The shooter gave no chance to the thief to walk away with his life, he just shot him. Even in my state, that would be a murder a charge. It is one thing to protect yourself and your property, it is another thing to shoot first and ask questions later. Even in my state I would have to warn the thief to stop or I will shoot. I have to notify him that I am armed. If that thief were to continue, I can shoot. If the thief were to turn and run away, I can not shoot. If that thief were to come towards me, I can shoot. Even in the most gun loving states, there are guidelines and the main one is "imminent threat"