Self defense or second degree murder?

[her209]

Seattle sound engineer fatally shot as he tried to enter wrong motel room
link to story

Pfaeffle was killed Friday at the Blue Spruce Motel in Twisp. Twisp Police Chief Rick Balam said Pfaeffle and his wife were in town to attend a birthday party when it appeared the couple inadvertently returned to the wrong room at about 10:40 p.m.

Pfaeffle apparently was trying to put his key into Unit 7 when a man inside shot at him, the chief said.

...

Balam said the shooter also fired a bullet that nearly hit a man in adjacent Unit 6. That bullet tore through the wall and a mirror.

The man is to be arraigned today on charges of second-degree murder and assault.

 

[Fayd]

manslaughter at least.

you're in a hotel. there's bound to be people getting the wrong rooms. dont be a dumbass.

 

[miniMUNCH]

murder and assault, definitely.

Why would you shoot someone without verbal warning in this situation or just opening the door with the latch in place and telling them they have the wrong room.

 

[Mo0o]

No warning at all?

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: her209
Self defense or second degree murder? .

How is it self defense? was his life in mortal danger? is there more to the issue that we don't know?

unless the other person was outside saying "let me in you fuck or ill kill you" ... then self defense doesn't hold water

2nd degree definitely..
murder 1 .. if ya got an aggressive prosecutor.

 

[Xylitol]

not 2nd degree murder but 1st degree manslaughter

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Murder.

 

[Venix]

Murder, manslaughter, or whatever is the appropriate charge for gross negligence resulting in death.

This is probably going to be one of the most lopsided polls ever.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: miniMUNCH
murder and assault, definitely.

Why would you shoot someone without verbal warning in this situation or just opening the door with the latch in place and telling them they have the wrong room.

Agreed.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: miniMUNCH
murder and assault, definitely.

Why would you shoot someone without verbal warning in this situation or just opening the door with the latch in place and telling them they have the wrong room.

:thumbsup:

 

[Phokus]

What? He was just trying to defend himself, why do you all hate guns, freedom, and america? </sarcasm>

 

[MotF Bane]

Originally posted by: Phokus
What? He was just trying to defend himself, why do you all hate guns, freedom, and america? </sarcasm>

Hi troll. :disgust:

 

[Mutilator]

You never shoot through a closed door because you don't know who's on the other side.
It's one of the rules of gun ownership... know who/what your target is AND who/what is behind it.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Thank god this country protects the rights of crazy paranoid psychotics to own guns so they can blow away innocent people as punishment for their harmless mistakes. I'm sure the gun nut lobby would argue that Pfaeffle should have been packing heat too so he could have been ready to defend himself at a moments notice.

 

[adairusmc]

Originally posted by: Mutilator
You never shoot through a closed door because you don't know who's on the other side.
It's one of the rules of gun ownership... know who/what your target is AND who/what is behind it.

His target was the door, and there was an intruder behind it.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: miniMUNCH
murder and assault, definitely.

Why would you shoot someone without verbal warning in this situation or just opening the door with the latch in place and telling them they have the wrong room.

so he doesnt get shot first? im not saying it was ok, but i can see someone panicking and firing...obviously, that person doesnt deserve a gun because youre supposed to know what youre firing at.

Originally posted by: Venix
Murder, manslaughter, or whatever is the appropriate charge for gross negligence resulting in death.

yeah im going with this.

 

[shortylickens]

I am generally in favor of using lethal force as self defense, but I dont think a rattling at your hotel door is a situation in which your life is in danger.
And given that Seattle is almost as ultra-liberal as San Francisco, this will be all the evidence those gun-haters need to get a ban on guns in the city limits.

 

[Kelemvor]

In this case, definitely murder, assault, whatever. If they guy had come storming in or something it'd be different. Could have been house keeping coming up for that special massage...

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
I am generally in favor of using lethal force as self defense, but I dont think a rattling at your hotel door is a situation in which your life is in danger.
And given that Seattle is almost as ultra-liberal as San Francisco, this will be all the evidence those gun-haters need to get a ban on guns in the city limits.

go back and read again, it happened in the sticks way over in north central Washington.

 

[tranceport]

Originally posted by: surfsatwerk
Thank god this country protects the rights of crazy paranoid psychotics to own guns so they can blow away innocent people as punishment for their harmless mistakes. I'm sure the gun nut lobby would argue that Pfaeffle should have been packing heat too so he could have been ready to defend himself at a moments notice.

I think you are missing the point here. The shooter was not previously known as a "crazy parnoid psychotic". Now that this information is available you will see our legal system handle it.

We do not have nor do we want precrime.

 

[MotF Bane]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
I am generally in favor of using lethal force as self defense, but I dont think a rattling at your hotel door is a situation in which your life is in danger.
And given that Seattle is almost as ultra-liberal as San Francisco, this will be all the evidence those gun-haters need to get a ban on guns in the city limits.

The ban can't hold. Heller v. DC should apply.

 

[SonnyDaze]

Sure as hell not self defense.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: skyking

Originally posted by: shortylickens
I am generally in favor of using lethal force as self defense, but I dont think a rattling at your hotel door is a situation in which your life is in danger.
And given that Seattle is almost as ultra-liberal as San Francisco, this will be all the evidence those gun-haters need to get a ban on guns in the city limits.

Go back and read again, it happened in the sticks way over in north central Washington.

I honestly think the principle still applies. The folks in Seattle will say "OMG HOW HORRIBLE! We should ban guns before it happens to us!!"

 

[Hoober]

Originally posted by: surfsatwerk
Thank god this country protects the rights of crazy paranoid psychotics to own guns so they can blow away innocent people as punishment for their harmless mistakes. I'm sure the gun nut lobby would argue that Pfaeffle should have been packing heat too so he could have been ready to defend himself at a moments notice.

:roll:

 

[MotF Bane]

Originally posted by: surfsatwerk
Thank god this country protects the rights of crazy paranoid psychotics to own guns so they can blow away innocent people as punishment for their harmless mistakes. I'm sure the gun nut lobby would argue that Pfaeffle should have been packing heat too so he could have been ready to defend himself at a moments notice.

Hi troll. :disgust: