Pregnant woman shoots would-be burglar

[Hoopla Phil]

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7097122

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston police say a pregnant woman shot and killed a man trying to break into her car.

The shooting happened on Pinemont near Alabonson in northwest Houston last night. Investigators say a woman who is eight months pregnant saw a group of men breaking into one of her neighbor's car and then, the crooks turned toward her vehicle.

The woman hit one of the men with her shotgun, killing him instantly. The others got away. The case is expected to be referred to a grand jury without charges.




She is legal on the shoot but is she covered on civil liability?

[Craftsman]

1. You would think Joe Horn would have taught them a lesson

Burglary can get real expensive in TX.

[krispos42]

2. In Texas I believe she's in the clear legally

After dark you can use lethal force to protect both life/safety and personal property, IIRC.

[Craftsman]

3. And as for civil liablity, I heard on the NBC new station she had 5 other kids

and lived in an apartment, my guess is she does not have much to sue for.

[Hoopla Phil]

5. Wow. Sounds like she is just getting by. Glad she was able to stop the bad guys.

[GreenStormCloud]

4. If the Grand Jury no-bills her, then the goblin's family is out-of-luck.

Joe Horn was in the Houston area too. I guess it takes a while for word to get around on the street.

[Craftsman]

6. Homeowner firearm related natural selection

[Craftsman]

7. New term Homeowner Assisted Suicide

Anyone stupid enough to break into a home in TX.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

13. As it should be.

[proteus_lives]

8. No great loss.

I think she's covered. Can people sue if they get injured/killed while engaging in criminal activity?

[GreenStormCloud]

9. Decision delayed on killer's suit to recover damages from victim

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/10/decision_delayed_on_killers_su.html

By Aimee Green, The Oregonian
October 28, 2009, 9:54AM
A decision whether to award an Oregon inmate and convicted killer $38,000 in his lawsuit against one of his victims will be delayed at least until November.

(Snip)

In December 2005, Durham had ordered a soft-serve ice-cream truck from Chambers, who’d recently started a custom truck-building business. Durham paid Chambers nearly $18,000, but later changed his mind and demanded a refund. Chambers said after he refused but told Durham he’d still get his truck, Durham traveled from his home in New York to Oregon in June 2006 to seek revenge.


Durham shot to death a former employee, Adam Calbreath. Twelve days later he showed up at Chambers’ home with the murder weapon, handcuffs, duct tape and a cloth bag big enough to cover someone’s head. Chambers escaped after about two hours.


Durham was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of release after 30 years.

Earlier this year, Durham filed a lawsuit seeking $18,000 for the money he put down to order the truck and $20,000 for his troubles, including the costs of traveling across country to kidnap and kill.

[proteus_lives]

11. Thanks for the link.

[Hoopla Phil]

10. Yep, happens much more often than people realize too.

Often when a bad guy is killed by a rich person the family of the bad guy sues for emotional distress and the loss of that persons earnings potential. That is part of what makes these new Castle Doctrine laws so good. They prohibit the bad guys, and their families, from suing if the shoot was legal.

[proteus_lives]

12. That sucks!

It seems to me that a criminal or their family suing for those reasons is morally wrong.

I hope the new Castle Doctrine spreads far and wide.

[one-eyed fat man]

14. What's worse...............

Is a jury full of blubbering babushkas who awarded "compensation" to a burglar who sued for being "disabled" after being shot by his intended victim. The experience left him fearful and unable to continue "earning" (sic) a living by breaking into people's houses.

[taurus145]

16. Sure can

It's been done to death. Some win, most lose.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

15. Kick.