Tag Archives: Indiana

Self-defense Is Legal in Indiana

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Even if the DA doesn’t want it to be. Prosecutor closes Henderson shooting death case, ruling it self defense.

6 months to decide that shooting someone, threatening you with a baseball bat inside your own home is OK. Was this DA hoping he could charge the homeowner with something?

Nash said the prosecutor’s office believes the use of force by the homeowner in the confrontation was justifiable, legal self-defense. “We have nothing at this point to suggest otherwise in this case,” Nash said.

Nash, the prosecutor, sounds incredibly disappointed.

He Suffered a Failure of the Victim-selection Process

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He thought breaking into an occupied dwelling was a good idea. Homeowner on Indy’s south side shoots robber trying to break in, police say.

The incident occurred just before 3 a.m. in the 800 block of Lawrence Avenue which is near East Hanna Avenue and Madison Avenue.

Detectives with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department say a man attempted to break into a house, but the homeowner shot the man.

He was listed in critical condition. The investigation continues.

Self-defense is a human-right.

Because Keeping Violent Offenders in Prison is Unfair

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I thought that the point of the Criminal Justice System was supposed to be the protection of Society. It is starting to look like a jobs program for lawyers. Ex-boyfriend out on bond for shooting woman 6 times returned to home and killed her, prosecutors say. Hammond mayor says justice system failed her..

In November he shot her 6 times and was arrested for attempted murder. Later in November he was released on bail.

Last Thursday, he came back and shot her 5 times, killing her.

How’s that bail reform working out? How long before you blame the gun? No blame for the criminal? No blame for the judge? If it was anyone but a .gov bureaucrat making these awful decisions you could charge them with depraved indifference. This outcome was completely predictable, and so “The System” has to have some responsibility. There will be no accountability. (They work for the government.)

On Facebook, [Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr.] on Friday criticized Goforth’s release in the November case, saying the justice system “failed” Williams. Lake Superior Magistrate Natalie Bokota, assigned to the case, approved a request on Dec. 11, allowing him to continue living in Missouri, records show.

And this judge doesn’t appear to have a good record vis a vie recidivism.

In an unrelated case, Bokota accepted a plea agreement in 2018 for James McGhee, charged with beating his pregnant girlfriend, killing two of four fetuses. He later kidnapped her for about a month, records allege. He received three years probation.

McGhee was later charged with killing another girlfriend.

I understand no wanting to keep people in jail ahead of a trial just because they are poor. But violent criminals being free is not a good thing.

He Suffered a Failure of the Victim-selection Process

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He thought robbery was a good idea. He was wrong. Police: Man says he shot teen in self-defense.

He was just sitting in his car, when a teen walked up to him and tried to rob him.

Steffler was found in the roadway of Laurel Street, near the 1500 block of Nichol Avenue, with gunshot wounds, [Joel] Sandefur [with the Anderson Police Department.] said. Parkhurst stayed at the scene of the shooting until police arrived, then was taken to the police department for questioning. Police said he was not under arrest.

The guy who got shot was taken to a regional trauma center.

Self-defense is a human-right.

Don’t Bring a Baseball Bat to a Gunfight

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Things won’t go well for you. Columbus homeowner fatally shoots man he says confronted him with baseball bat.

The homeowner told police he was confronted inside his own home by an unknown person with a baseball bat and discharged a firearm a short time later, striking the man, police said.

The guy who got shot was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The investigation continues.

Yet Another Failure of a Victim-selection Process

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He thought it was a good idea to rob a hotel. Lafayette hotel clerk fires shot when thief threatens him with weapon.

The night clerk at a Hampton Inn in Lafayette chased two thieves from the hotel early Thursday, firing a shot at them when one of them threaten him, according to police.

The bad guy thought it was a good idea to threaten the clerk with a bolt-cutter. There is no indication that the shot hit anyone, but it did make the bad guys beat a hasty retreat.

Neighbors Were Shocked

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Because they always are. Homeowner shoots through front door at would-be intruders.

A resident told police at about one Thursday afternoon, he heard two men singing Christmas carols as they knocked on the door, then tried to kick it in.

The homeowner shot at the men, who took off — one possibly in an older model teal car.

As for the neighbors?

“Kinda scary considering there was a gunshot about 200 yards, if that, from where I’m standing,” Lance Turner says.

Neighbors like Turner in the Lincoln Village neighborhood on the city’s north side off Cook Road are concerned.

The didn’t realize that they lived in The Real World™ where crime can, and all too often, does happen. Oh, and people defend themselves. I’m sure Mr. Turner would have been happy if his neighbor had been injured or killed, as long as no firearms were involved. Or something.

Self-defense In Indiana

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Or how would you react to someone forcing entry to your home? Police: Elkhart man shot during attempted home invasion in Cass County.

Police say the 35-year-old homeowner got into a fight with the Elkhart man after he forced his way into the home. The homeowner then shot the man, who drove and was later found at Elkhart General Hospital.

Investigation continues. DA is reviewing. But my guess is that the guy who got shot will be arrested once he is out of the hospital.

Self-defense is a human-right, and in Indiana it is mostly your legal right.

Some People Have Difficulty With the “Ex” Part of Ex-boyfriend

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The “How dare you live without me!” attitude never works out in the long run. Police: ‘Domestic situation’ leads to man’s deadly shooting in east side home.

Friends and witnesses who live in the home say an ex-boyfriend broke into the house and tried to kill his ex-girlfriend. That’s when the intruder was shot and killed.

Police would only confirm the case appears to involve a domestic relationship.

The investigation continues, but self-defense is a human-right. Good Guys 1, Bad Guys 0.

Self-defense Is Legal in Indiana

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Though prosecutors hate that. Jury finds Gary auto lot owner not guilty of murder, intimidation.

While I don’t have a particular problem with the DA trying this case, I do have a problem with some of his arguments. Well, one argument.

Square was found with a pistol in his back jeans pocket. Prosecutors alleged he never took the gun out of his pocket, and no round was ever put in the chamber, so it wouldn’t make sense that Square threatened Ocampo with it.

As if no one in the world ever threatened anyone with an empty gun, or a fake gun, or no gun at all.

Anyway I don’t think there was ever really a chance to overcome “reasonable doubt,” but that doesn’t mean that prosecutors aren’t going to try, because Justice takes a back seat to winning.

Self-defense and Don’t Talk to Police in One Story

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You have the right to shut up. EPD: Fatal shooting behind Sportsman’s being investigated as possible self defense.

Because of the convoluted nature of our legal system, you can’t just remain quite, it’s my understanding (I’m not a lawyer) that you need to actually say something, like you would like to talk to them, but you are going to wait to confer with your attorney before answering questions as is your right under the 5th Amendment.

One witness, an employee on break at the restaurant, reported seeing a man fall to the ground and being beaten up before shots were fired.

The “shooter” (victim?) was taken to a local hospital.

Police are not releasing the identity of the man with the gun because he is the subject of an ongoing investigation. The man has not spoken to police, invoking his fifth amendment rights, Cullum said.

As for not talking to the police… The video below is worth watching, particularly if you carry a concealed weapon, but really for everyone.

I love this video. A lawyer (and maybe a law-school professor, certainly he is speaking at a law school) tells you why you should never talk to police. The first 7 minutes contain some laughs that are also worth your time, and the whole thing is less than 30 minutes, and includes all of your reasons why talking to the police is OK in your case, and why those reasons are wrong. Really 100 percent wrong.

Cops STILL Haven’t Realized They Are on Video

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This happened at a high school. Where 99.9999% of the population has a cellphone. So his actions got recorded. Indianapolis cop charged with punching teen in face, lying about it.

He did some stuff to a student (who was never charged with a crime) and then he wrote a report and signed it. That makes it “an official action.” There is just one problem.

“These statements are believed to be false and contrary to video evidence, which appears to show Officer Lawson striking the juvenile with a closed fist and continuing to use force, including a knee strike to the juvenile’s abdomen or chest area.”

Because of course there is video. And that video contradicts his official report. So he’s charged with 3 felonies, including perjury, and misdemeanor battery. Felony stupidity is not among the charges filed.

Is it so hard to fathom that video is everywhere? In a place like Indianapolis, in a place like a high school people have cellphones and cellphone cameras, and about 2 seconds after a cop starts “interacting” with someone, people will be taking video of the encounter, and the longer it goes on, the more video there will be. Oh, and if the cops try to confiscate the phones/cameras, there will be video of that as well. This didn’t just happen yesterday, it has been the case for years.

Another Local Municipality Makes Ransomware Payment

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I’m sure the taxpayers are just fine with the $130K payment. La Porte County Pays $130,000 Ransom To Ryuk Ransomware.

Another public administration in the U.S. surrenders cybercriminal demands as La Porte County, Indiana, pays $130,000 to recover data on computer systems impacted by ransomware.

The attack occurred on Saturday, July 6 and was spotted before it propagated to all the computer on the network. The IT department reacted was able to confine it to less than 7% of the laptops.

Actually insurance covered 100K leaving the $30,000 to be picked up by taxpayers. Though if it was only laptops, then the question is, “What was on those laptops, why wasn’t anything critical on servers and backed-up?”

The other question is, “How long is insurance going to continue to pay out on this kind of things?”

He Suffered a Failure of the Victim-selection Process

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He thought having a gun made him the most dangerous person in the confrontation. Terre Haute cab driver shoots 17-year-old accused in armed robbery attempt, does not currently face charges.

That wins the award for the least clearly written headline I’ve seen this year. The 17-year-old is accused of armed robbery. The cab driver does not face charges.

According to the Terre Haute Police Department, a cab driver from First Choice Cab picked up Young in downtown Terre Haute and drove him to Greenwood Manor to drop him off.

That is when Young allegedly pulled a gun on the driver and tried to rob him.

Police say the cab driver pulled out a gun and shot Young.

The guy who got shot was picked up by the cops and taken to a local hospital, where he is expected to be OK.

Self-defense is a human-right, and in Indiana it is your legal right. Good Guys 1, Bad Guys 0.

A Domestic-violence Death All The Usual Suspects Will Ignore

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Because while they don’t like domestic violence, they hate and despise self-defense. Woman Claims Self Defense In Shooting Death Of Dustin Abel.

Ex-husband acting in typical stalker-fashion was around in the morning. She called police in the morning, saying that she was afraid of him, but there was nothing the police could do. Then he returned later in the morning.

Police say Abel died from a single gunshot wound to the head as he rushed through the door of the home just before 10:30 a.m.

No charges have been filed, but the case is still being investigated.

Self-defense is a human-right, and in Indiana, it is also your legal right.

Domestic-violence and Self-defense

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This is how guns can help victims. Woman shoots man in self defense.

Upon arrival, officers learned of a verbal domestic dispute which escalated to a physical altercation. According to police, during the fight, a man pointed a handgun at a woman. Then, she used her own firearm to shoot him because she said she feared for her life. The woman stayed at the home while the male got a ride to IU Health Methodist Hospital suffering from at least one gun shot wound.

Without the means of self-defense – namely, firearms – the small would be at the mercy of the large, the weak at the mercy of the strong, … That list can be quite long.

Self-defense is a human-right, and the cops are investigating this as self-defense.

Darwin Award Winner of the Week

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The beautiful thing is the safe was empty when he was trying to steal it. Indiana Man Finds Burglar Crushed by 900-Pound Safe in His Home.

The homeowner was checking his property—located about 70 miles north of Indianapolis—to determine what had been stolen after the robbery and was “cleaning the clutter in his garage.” That’s when Hollingsworth discovered his safe—which was suspended by a floor jack—had been knocked over.

“Upon further inspection Mr. Hollingsworth found a body lying underneath the safe,” the police said.

Karma is a bitch.

Concealed Carry Empowers a Woman to Defend Herself from Attacker

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JusticeOh, and self-defense is legal in Indianapolis. Downtown fatal shooting will not lead to criminal charges.

“Immediately prior to the shooting, the driver asked Mr. Sullivan multiple times to exit her vehicle,” said Michael Leffler, spokesman for the prosecutor’s office. “Mr. Sullivan instigated a physical altercation in an attempt to take the driver’s handgun from where she had it secured on her person.”

One shot and he died in the vehicle.

The only really surprising thing is how quickly the DA made the determination. The shooting was in January of this year. It can take some jurisdictions close to a year to make this determination.

The shooting is one of four fatal self-defense shootings in Indianapolis this year. Two occurred during apparent home invasions; the other happened during an alleged armed robbery of a pawn shop.

Self-defense is a human-right. Good Guys 1, Bad Guys 0.

Good Guys 3, Bad Guys 0

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They apparently never heard of the saying, “Quit while you’re ahead.” 2 arrested in burglary, shooting at southeast side home.

Three guys break into house. It was unoccupied at the time. The homeowner alerts police, and gets someone to stay at the house in case the guys come back. They came back.

Around 6:30 p.m. Thursday, officers arrived at that residence on a report of a person shot. The three men who had burglarized the home earlier returned to collect more items, and the man sent by the homeowner shot at them, killing one man and possibly injuring another, [Capt. Robert Troutt with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department] said.

One guy died from gunshot wounds. The other 2 were arrested and face Felony Murder charges.

While the case remains under investigation, self-defense is a human-right.