shot #1: justified? shot #2: manslaughter?

[shootist26]

https://www.gazettenet.com/Suspect-in-Chesterfield-slaying-arraigned-on-manslaughter-charge-51187047

This was a recent shooting in a rural town in western MA. Shooter is a licensed gun owner with LTC being charged with manslaughter after shooting a home invader in the back of the head 8 minutes after shooting him initially in the torso.


Awakened by stairs creaking, Camp confronted Letendre and a struggle ensued, Gagne said. At some point, Camp, who lawfully owned several firearms, grabbed a Sig Sauer P365 semiautomatic pistol and shot Letendre in the torso. Letendre then fell to the floor, where investigators believe he remained. Neither Camp nor his girlfriend reported that Letendre said anything about what he was doing there.

Camp’s girlfriend had already called 911, and Gagne said the line remained open for several minutes.

“We contend you can hear the first gunshot,” he said. After 8½ minutes, the girlfriend can be heard screaming that another shot has been fired, Gagne said, though audio evidence of the shot is unclear.

That second shot, to the back of the head while Camp was lying on the kitchen floor, which Gagne termed “extremely troubling,” was the focus of the investigation.

“The grand jury was asked to consider the legality of the second shot,” he said, because the first shot was considered to be self-defense.

Was Camp holding the wounded suspect at gunpoint and negligently discharged into the back of Letendre's head as a result of adrenaline/stress? Did Camp shoot the 2nd shot as a result of anger/aggression? Either way, looks like he is boned. Even in MA, the first shot could have been considered a legal self defense shooting as the DA mentioned.

[camel]

https://www.gazettenet.com/Suspect-in-Chesterfield-slaying-arraigned-on-manslaughter-charge-51187047

This was a recent shooting in a rural town in western MA. Shooter is a licensed gun owner with LTC being charged with manslaughter after shooting a home invader in the back of the head 8 minutes after shooting him initially in the torso.



Was Camp holding the wounded suspect at gunpoint and negligently discharged into the back of Letendre's head as a result of adrenaline/stress? Did Camp shoot the 2nd shot as a result of anger/aggression? Either way, looks like he is boned. Even in MA, the first shot would have been considered a legal self defense shooting as the DA mentioned.

I might be a dick. But you are responsible when you take a life.

[Navin Johnson]

So, without knowing state laws, and without any other information given, everything else is speculation.

It’s a great lesson about knowing your own states laws, and keeping your mouth shut. Video cameras inside your house could be a friend or a foe.

This could’ve been a re-engagement by the intruder

This could’ve been a lack of trigger finger discipline, and an unforgiving trigger

[okie john]

Not enough info to form an opinion.


Okie John

[camel]

So, without knowing state laws, and without any other information given, everything else is speculation.

It’s a great lesson about knowing your own states laws, and keeping your mouth shut. Video cameras inside your house could be a friend or a foe.

This could’ve been a re-engagement by the intruder

This could’ve been a lack of trigger finger discipline, and an unforgiving trigger

An unforgiving trigger is just that. You made a
Decision.

[camel]

Not enough info to form an opinion.


Okie John

Agreed.

[camel]

I do not know the specifics of this eventual shit show.
Other than someone got shot in the back of the head.

[camel]

So, without knowing state laws, and without any other information given, everything else is speculation.

It’s a great lesson about knowing your own states laws, and keeping your mouth shut. Video cameras inside your house could be a friend or a foe.

This could’ve been a re-engagement by the intruder

This could’ve been a lack of trigger finger discipline, and an unforgiving trigger

Tell me when it’s a reingament of a shooter.and not some bullshit of. something

[HCM]

Not enough info to form an opinion.


Okie John


This ^^^.

[feudist]

An unforgiving trigger is just that. You made a
Decision.

At the P-F enthusiasts level there is some thought provoking truth to that.
For the average pistol toter, not so much. Witness the fully tensioned striker trend, The vast Glock trigger aftermarket, the lack of TDA traction across the decades, and the immortal 1911 trigger.
As Ayoob said "The good news is that it's easier to shoot. The bad news is that it's easier to shoot."

[Hambo]

Not enough info to form an opinion.

Okie John

True, but, this is also true.


But you are responsible when you take a life.

I've said over and over again on this forum: manslaughter is a low legal bar.

[feudist]

True, but, this is also true.



I've said over and over again on this forum: manslaughter is a low legal bar.

In the 90s, the DAs around here had a penchant for offering Manslaughter/Time served/Probation on dealer v dealer killings.
I guess the Community Service aspect offset the Discharging in City Limits. And it cleared the backlog. And nobody gave a single shit.
I personally knew a couple of mid-level guys that had 2 each.
Good times.

[kwb377]

In the 90s, the DAs around here had a penchant for offering Manslaughter/Time served/Probation on dealer v dealer killings.
I guess the Community Service aspect offset the Discharging in City Limits. And it cleared the backlog. And nobody gave a single shit.
I personally knew a couple of mid-level guys that had 2 each.
Good times.

I had a buddy that worked Montgomery PD who said they referred to that as "Misdemeanor Homicide" and invested time investigating as such....figuring it'd "work itself out" and the suspect would be next week's victim.

[vcdgrips]

It is moderately ironic that because the new story roughly corresponds with “our” view of the world re defensive firearms use, at least with regard the the first shot, that “we” do not have enough information to offer an opinion because “we” can see “ourselves” in that position.

Yet and still, “we” are frequently not remotely shy about offering more definitive opinions on a whole variety of matters, particularly when they pertain to the law, law enforcement, the military and medicine… and the actions of politicians, particularly, but not exclusively, democrats.