jetski thief shot dead.

[scipper77]

Re: jetski thief shot dead.

This reminds me of the story where a Police officer ended up killing an exchange student that he thought was robbing a house. It turned out that the student just couldn't understand the officer. I believe he was japanese.

(Speculation after this point)

If the father being the savvy lawyer that he was told the son to say specifically that the theif both claimed to be armed and made threats, what were the odds that the theif was a deaf mute?!?!? I could see from a legal perspective the father advising his son to say that. Even if the son was justified those two facts would have made the legal proceedings much, much cleaner. Now it looks like it's going to be a huge mess. The fact that the son is only 14 and has a record of being a good kid makes me think that even if he is at fault he will not be tried as an adult and will not see a life ruining punishment.

Also, I bet that many adults would have made the wrong decision here. We had a similar case in Rochester a year or so ago where a homeowner shot someone he caught robbing someones car. Same claim of self defense. I don't remember how that one turned out but this shooter was no where near 14 years old and made the exact same decision.

 

[sasto]

Re: jetski thief shot dead.

But he was not armed. Everyone else understands that, why don't you?

I appreciate you concern for human life, Bubba......but.....nothing has been said by the police yet about the intruder not being armed. Yet!

 

[badkins50]

Re: jetski thief shot dead.

No-one truely knows what happen except the people involved. We don't know what exactly transpired up to the shooting. The theif could have acted aggressively after he was busted, he could have been all hopped up on drugs, he could have been crazy in the head, he could have been just looking for a thrill and picked the wrong house. Something did however make this 14 year old scared enough to pull the trigger and pay the price. I doubt he is a trained professional shooter or a special ops or shooting instructor or a snipper or a master hunter. This 14 year old doesn't sound or look like he is a gang banger looking for any reason to just shot someone. Is the jetski (or any materiallistic thing) worth killing over? Probably not. But who knows what the buglar was thinking or acting like. It's all articles we are reading in the paper and we all know that the writers are not bias, nor do they twist storys for drama and ratings either (yeah right ). The only thing we can do is try and put ourself in the shooters place and speculate what we would do (while we are sitting in front of computer all cosy, with the exception of our soldiers, without a burglar in front of us doing and looking like god only knows). We all know what they say about opinions........

 

[2 Eagles]

Re: jetski thief shot dead.

The question is did anyone call the police before Jr. went outside or did they wait intel Jr. shot the man to call the police?

And nothing says the that if the police had to handle these the man still wouldn't be died. Only thing is it would have been a police officer that shot him insted of Jr.

I'm sorry to say if it came done to it I'd protect my family and property. I hope I never have to.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: jetski thief shot dead.

A home on waterfront property in Lauderdale with a boat lift and the victims don't have enough money or insurance to replace the jet-flea???

... get real, this was pretty much murder by and idiot!

Teenagers shouldn't have access to firearms... remember Columbine???

People that play "judge, jury, and executioner" don't usually get too far.

Call 911, that's what they're there for!!!

 

[wifisher]

Re: jetski thief shot dead.

A home on waterfront property in Lauderdale with a boat lift and the victims don't have enough money or insurance to replace the jet-flea???

... get real, this was pretty much murder by and idiot!

Teenagers shouldn't have access to firearms... remember Columbine???

People that play "judge, jury, and executioner" don't usually get too far.

Call 911, that's what they're there for!!!

From the little information that I have, the shooting was not fully justified in my mind. Murder by an idiot is far from where I would put it though.

The amount of money that the family has or controls is not an issue in a situation like this. A street bum and Bill Gates both have equal rights to protect themselves and their property.

This is nothing like columbine, and should not be compared to it. The shooting at Columbine was two sociopaths who wanted to inflict harm on as many people as they could. This was a child trying to protect his possessions. I do not believe that he should have taken the course of action that he did, but it is up to the DA's office to determine that, and to determine what action should be taken against him.

Teenagers having access to firearms is not the problem here. My entire teenage life I had access to firearms, and used them on a regular basis. So did almost all of my friends. Now that is not saying that the kid should have taken the gun and confronted anybody with it unless it was an absolute last resort. Which none of us can say that it was or was not.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: jetski thief shot dead.

From the little information that I have, the shooting was not fully justified in my mind. Murder by an idiot is far from where I would put it though.

The amount of money that the family has or controls is not an issue in a situation like this. A street bum and Bill Gates both have equal rights to protect themselves and their property.

This is nothing like columbine, and should not be compared to it. The shooting at Columbine was two sociopaths who wanted to inflict harm on as many people as they could. This was a child trying to protect his possessions. I do not believe that he should have taken the course of action that he did, but it is up to the DA's office to determine that, and to determine what action should be taken against him.

Teenagers having access to firearms is not the problem here. My entire teenage life I had access to firearms, and used them on a regular basis. So did almost all of my friends. Now that is not saying that the kid should have taken the gun and confronted anybody with it unless it was an absolute last resort. Which none of us can say that it was or was not.

Like I said, water front property in Lauderdale isn't penny ante stuff! If you've never been there you don't know! We're talking about properties in the millions of $$$.

The 14 yr. old with a shotgun is just plain stupid!!!... and I'm sure he accessed the firearm the same way the Columbine killers did, through his mommy and daddies collection!

... anyone that leaves a firearm and ammo around a juvenile that doesn't realize that if they have water front property in Lauderdale, they can afford a brand new jet-flea while they wait for the insurance to settle needs more training than the juvy.

I'm thinkin' "little man" thought he was playing Mr. Badazz and got really really burnt... had his parents had the firearms under lock and key, I feel pretty sure 911 would've been called and the proper steps would've been taken.

I feel the parents should be held just as accountable as Jr., for letting him have access to the firearm.


All y'all parents remember this now... they don't sell trigger locks as a novelty item yanno!!!

 

[wifisher]

Re: jetski thief shot dead.

Well, I have been to ft. slaughterdale, and pretty much every other major city in the United States. The property value has no meaning in a case like this though. The law does not say that the right to defend life, limb and property only applies to those that can't afford waterfront property.

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: jetski thief shot dead.

Like I said, water front property in Lauderdale isn't penny ante stuff! If you've never been there you don't know! We're talking about properties in the millions of $$$.

The 14 yr. old with a shotgun is just plain stupid!!!... and I'm sure he accessed the firearm the same way the Columbine killers did, through his mommy and daddies collection!

... anyone that leaves a firearm and ammo around a juvenile that doesn't realize that if they have water front property in Lauderdale, they can afford a brand new jet-flea while they wait for the insurance to settle needs more training than the juvy.

I'm thinkin' "little man" thought he was playing Mr. Badazz and got really really burnt... had his parents had the firearms under lock and key, I feel pretty sure 911 would've been called and the proper steps would've been taken.

I feel the parents should be held just as accountable as Jr., for letting him have access to the firearm.


All y'all parents remember this now... they don't sell trigger locks as a novelty item yanno!!!

Sorry.....I find you to be way off on the subject of guns, locks, and teenagers. I live in a rural area and most boys have their own guns, ammo, and locks well before the age of 14. They are trained hunters and know how to use a weapon. They are not immature little boys incapable of understanding the value of life or the consequences of pulling the trigger, as you seem to believe. They understand the value of life because they have taken life, and they respect the animals they harvest for the food they provide and thank God for providing it. I have no problem with what this kid did, and unlike you, I don't judge the situation by how many BMW's are in the driveways of the neighborhood. Your logic is totally flawed. What you want us to believe is that if you can afford to replace the item being taken you're supposed to cower in the house until the cops get there. So this leads to the logic that rich people have different rights and must just allow the poor to take what they have. Lunacy! We're all supposed to lockup our guns so the thieves have the upper hand when they come in....why? Because of people who believe guns are terrible and should be hidden from kids instead of teaching them what they are, what they do, and how to use them.

Hind sight is always 20/20. You were not in there. You can say coulda, shulda, wouda...all day long...but you were not there. You call the parents stupid for educating the young man on how to handle a fire arm because you can't comprehend a 14 year old mature enough to do so. It's not the value of the property or the amount of money the family has that's in question here. It's the principle. You judge the young man for acting in a situation you don't have first hand knowledge of. The only one you blame for the loss of life are the parents and the young man. You blame them for being rich and protecting their property. The only one you don't blame is the one person who could have prevented his own death. This guy got up that morning and made a choice. He made a choice to take from others. He made a choice that the $2000 he'd gain outweighed the odds of getting caught or killed in the process. He chose poorly.

 

[2 Eagles]

Re: jetski thief shot dead.

Sorry.....I find you to be way off on the subject of guns, locks, and teenagers. I live in a rural area and most boys have their own guns, ammo, and locks well before the age of 14. They are trained hunters and know how to use a weapon. They are not immature little boys incapable of understanding the value of life or the consequences of pulling the trigger, as you seem to believe. They understand the value of life because they have taken life, and they respect the animals they harvest for the food they provide and thank God for providing it. I have no problem with what this kid did, and unlike you, I don't judge the situation by how many BMW's are in the driveways of the neighborhood. Your logic is totally flawed. What you want us to believe is that if you can afford to replace the item being taken you're supposed to cower in the house until the cops get there. So this leads to the logic that rich people have different rights and must just allow the poor to take what they have. Lunacy! We're all supposed to lockup our guns so the thieves have the upper hand when they come in....why? Because of people who believe guns are terrible and should be hidden from kids instead of teaching them what they are, what they do, and how to use them.

Hind sight is always 20/20. You were not in there. You can say coulda, shulda, wouda...all day long...but you were not there. You call the parents stupid for educating the young man on how to handle a fire arm because you can't comprehend a 14 year old mature enough to do so. It's not the value of the property or the amount of money the family has that's in question here. It's the principle. You judge the young man for acting in a situation you don't have first hand knowledge of. The only one you blame for the loss of life are the parents and the young man. You blame them for being rich and protecting their property. The only one you don't blame is the one person who could have prevented his own death. This guy got up that morning and made a choice. He made a choice to take from others. He made a choice that the $2000 he'd gain outweighed the odds of getting caught or killed in the process. He chose poorly.

I agree. But would like to and something.

They are saying that he was using an extension cord to power the lift. So he had to plan the out some or he had tried it before. Other wise he wouldn't have known the power was needed. I'm saying this because verybody I know that has a lift has power ran to it and some sort of shut off box and that makes me sure they had the same (and maybe a lockable shut off box) with power shut off. So this guy knew the chances he was taking and may have taken them more that once at the same location.

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: jetski thief shot dead.

Hmm, I think I see conundrum in your statements.

This whole situation is a tragic conundrum. There are only two people who know the answer. The accomplice girl friend already charged with the death, and the young man who was forced to make a choice. Legal nuances aside, the blame lies solely with the thief. He alone placed the chain of events in motion that will forever affect the lives of three entire families. The thief is not the victim in my opinion. Many of the posts I've read try to place some element of blame on the 14 year old, his parents, their wealth, and then victimize the thief. The conundrum being, there was no good choice.

 

[emoney]

Re: jetski thief shot dead.

And for those of you that don't live in the great state of Florida, I've seen the "Castle Doctrine" used to defend an individual in the following situtation;

Two guys having way too much to drink in a bar. Something gets said, argument turns into a shoving match. One of the participants is a very large fellow; 6'4 350lbs, with other being of average size. The "little" guy, leaves the bar, goes to his car, retrieves his firearm, and returns to the front of the bar. At this point, the "large" guy, decideds to step outside the bar onto the sidewalk. The little guy shot him twice, and the big guy died. The shooter, was cleared of any charges in front of a Grand Jury under this law. I was friends with the big guy. He had a 3 year old son that he loved very much.

Lots of us have been in battle before. The real moral to this story was that the father that "just buried his son", albeit deaf & mute, raised a thief. Two kids lost their lives in this thing, because the 14 year old will now not be allowed to be "just a kid". Heck, he's already being prosecuted and convicted in an internet forum that he probably doesn't even know exists. Everybody lost here. But, the law is the law. If I had to make a wager, my money would be on the kid never getting charged.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: jetski thief shot dead.

... anyone that leaves a firearm and ammo around a juvenile that doesn't realize that if they have water front property in Lauderdale, they can afford a brand new jet-flea while they wait for the insurance to settle needs more training than the juvy.

I'm thinkin' "little man" thought he was playing Mr. Badazz and got really really burnt... had his parents had the firearms under lock and key, I feel pretty sure 911 would've been called and the proper steps would've been taken.

I feel the parents should be held just as accountable as Jr., for letting him have access to the firearm.

Accountable for what?

I suppose I am not following you here......


Who is the victim in this case then?

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: jetski thief shot dead.

I find you to be way off on the subject of guns, locks, and teenagers. I live in a rural area and most boys have their own guns, ammo, and locks well before the age of 14. They are trained hunters and know how to use a weapon. They are not immature little boys incapable of understanding the value of life or the consequences of pulling the trigger, as you seem to believe. They understand the value of life because they have taken life, and they respect the animals they harvest for the food they provide and thank God for providing it.

....statistically, not even close.....respectfully.
14 year old boys (and girls) are, now more than ever, no where near mature or responsible enough to be making decisions like the one he chose to make.
This is why the parents have a certain amount of (legal) accountability in this....at least until the age of adult hood which is...what 17 years old these days?

Now that said, it's a shame the guy on the receiving end wasn't more of a real thief....like a young Bernie Madoff

Interesting situation all in all and it I guess we'll see how it plays out for them.
BP

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: jetski thief shot dead.

god i love florida and georgias castle laws !!!- used to be they had to be in your house now if theyre breaking into your neighbors house and you see them on your neighbors property you can bust a cap its assumed in fl that if you break into or onto someones property and someones home that you are there to do bodily harm

i can tell some of you guys dont live down here and cant fathom the level or brazeness of criminals here this to me is one of the best laws EVER inacted and here it is at work nothing deters crime like the risk of getting your head blown off for it and noone will ask ANY questions and im REALLY glad theyre going after the girlfriend the sad thing is its gonna cost the sate

 

[emoney]

Re: jetski thief shot dead.

You know, Levi, with the number of good police officers getting shot down here, I'm starting to think that we should all be packing and move to a "shoot first, ask questions later" way of thinking. Anybody that doesn't think these "just a jet ski" thieves are capable of shooting to kill is being very naive. I think it's rather interesting that so many of the press are quick to point out that the would-be thief was "deaf". Last I checked, you'll find an entire community of deaf people that will tell you any time you ask, that hearing impairment makes them no less normal than male pattern baldness.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: jetski thief shot dead.

Wow....I was looking at the murder rate for Fort Lauderdale being something in the range of 71 per 100,000 people, supposedly similar to Detroit.
Our city (Victoria) is about....350-500,000 people with our murder rate something like 3 per 100,000 and that might be a bit high.
I guess in an area with that kind of lifestyle (ironic term).....maybe I'd be shooting first too.
Thats a serious difference in everyday life (and death) for the way things unfold around these parts where violence is just not something you see or hear that much about.
We have our share of break/enter stuff, petty crime....but not much in the way of any (consistent) violent crime.
This kind of incident, info and the insight that this forum and it's members offer is why I personally find it pretty interesting. Definitely sheds some light on different cultures and so forth.
My two bits.
BP

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: jetski thief shot dead.

The 14 yr. old with a shotgun is just plain stupid!!!... and I'm sure he accessed the firearm the same way the Columbine killers did, through his mommy and daddies collection!

uh no, Harris and Klebold actually bought the weapons they used in Columbine through illegal straw purchases(illegal since they were underage). The parents of Dylan Klebold are huge anti gun advocates, even before the tragedy they were anti gun, they are filled with an enormous wealth of misinformation, spewing their opinions to all that will listen, the plain truth to the Columbine tragedy is that parents simply need to be parents, Harris and Klebold were accessories to their parents lifestyle not children.

If you want to discuss guns then educate yourself, I have, I have three daughters, 20-14 years of age and they are all experienced in the proper use and safe handling of firearms. Once they turned 18 they have been educated to make their own choices no matter what the issue is carrying a gun, politics, joining the military whatever.

If you do not want to get shot do not steal my things, or jeopardize the safety of those I hold dear to my heart. Is a jet ski worth taking the life of another human being? I don't think of it that way, I think of it as Is stealing my jet ski worth dieing for?

 

[444]

Re: jetski thief shot dead.

Even with the Castle Doctrine you may only use deadly force if you feel your or someone else's life is being threatened. You cannot use deadly force on trespassers to protect your personal property.

If the shooter would have went after and pulled out his pocket knife and threw it in the water, then told the cops "he had a knife" would any of us shed any tears?

I feel pretty sure 911 would've been called and the proper steps would've been taken.

When seconds count, the police are only minutes away. I have no patience or sympathy for thieves. If you commit yourself to stealing, you deserve whatever you get. No exceptions, no bleeding heart here, just the way it should be.

 

[tommays]

Re: jetski thief shot dead.

As i try and wrap my head around this i am thankful i was able to move to a part of Long Island were there is pretty much no gun crime

BUT as was said it depends on were you live and if i was still living in my old south-shore home there were and still are shooting most everyday