Self defense or murder? Retired firefighter on trial for teacher's death | khou.com Houston
I would be inclined to give the guy a pass on the murder charge, based solely on the video. If there is other evidence that he had made threats to the victims, I might think differently. He has plenty of right to go into the public right-of-way and film whatever is in the public realm. Those guys flanked him, then they did approach him. He was there first and they could have just drove or walked away. He should have fled though after they initially backed off, however, he didn't have too legally, as it seems he was still in a public right-of-way. Then there appears to be more distance between him and the others, but it is the others that again go towards the shooter. I do think that the fact we have three current government employees on the payroll as "victims" has something to do with carrying this case forward, but it could have also been a grand jury thing (if Texas has that).
With all that being said, I think a more proper charge would be something like reckless homicide, or criminal recklessness causing death. While the shooter had a legal right to be where he was, doing what he was doing, when he factors into account it is a dispute, not just out for a nightly jog, and that the others are likely drunk, he should have known better. He definitely should have went home after the first time they rushed towards him.
This reminds me of what Kirk has posted, the phrase that every bullet comes with a lawyer.
I would be inclined to give the guy a pass on the murder charge, based solely on the video. If there is other evidence that he had made threats to the victims, I might think differently. He has plenty of right to go into the public right-of-way and film whatever is in the public realm. Those guys flanked him, then they did approach him. He was there first and they could have just drove or walked away. He should have fled though after they initially backed off, however, he didn't have too legally, as it seems he was still in a public right-of-way. Then there appears to be more distance between him and the others, but it is the others that again go towards the shooter. I do think that the fact we have three current government employees on the payroll as "victims" has something to do with carrying this case forward, but it could have also been a grand jury thing (if Texas has that).
With all that being said, I think a more proper charge would be something like reckless homicide, or criminal recklessness causing death. While the shooter had a legal right to be where he was, doing what he was doing, when he factors into account it is a dispute, not just out for a nightly jog, and that the others are likely drunk, he should have known better. He definitely should have went home after the first time they rushed towards him.
This reminds me of what Kirk has posted, the phrase that every bullet comes with a lawyer.