Big Time
New member
This article got to me....guy was defending himself and now is facing murder charges...
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...hooting_29tex.ART.State.Edition1.50b463a.html
Pharmacist who shot would-be robber posts bail
12:00 AM CDT on Friday, May 29, 2009
The Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY – A pharmacist accused of first-degree murder in the shooting of a would-be robber was released on $100,000 bail Thursday in a case that has stirred debate about self-defense rights.
A condition of Jerome Ersland's release is that he have no access to guns.
Ersland, 57, is charged in the May 19 shooting of Antwun Parker, 16.
Prosecutors said Parker was on the floor in the pharmacy, unconscious and unarmed after being shot once by the pharmacist, when Ersland shot him five more times.
A 14-year-old boy, whose name was not released, was arrested Thursday, accused of involvement in the robbery attempt.
Ersland's attorney, Irven Box, said the pharmacist's actions came out of a sense of self-preservation at the time of a life-threatening crime.
District Attorney David Prater said Ersland was justified in shooting Parker once in the head. But Prater said Ersland went too far when he shot Parker five more times while Parker lay unconscious.
Defense attorneys said the case will test self-defense laws adopted in Oklahoma and other states that have expanded people's right to use deadly force when attacked in their homes, cars and businesses.
State Rep. Randy Terrill, known for his tough stance against crime, criticized the district attorney.
"This charge is absolutely wrong, wrong, wrong," he said. "It is Monday morning quarterbacking at its worst. It gives more deference to armed robbers than to the man acting in self-defense."
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...hooting_29tex.ART.State.Edition1.50b463a.html
Pharmacist who shot would-be robber posts bail
12:00 AM CDT on Friday, May 29, 2009
The Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY – A pharmacist accused of first-degree murder in the shooting of a would-be robber was released on $100,000 bail Thursday in a case that has stirred debate about self-defense rights.
A condition of Jerome Ersland's release is that he have no access to guns.
Ersland, 57, is charged in the May 19 shooting of Antwun Parker, 16.
Prosecutors said Parker was on the floor in the pharmacy, unconscious and unarmed after being shot once by the pharmacist, when Ersland shot him five more times.
A 14-year-old boy, whose name was not released, was arrested Thursday, accused of involvement in the robbery attempt.
Ersland's attorney, Irven Box, said the pharmacist's actions came out of a sense of self-preservation at the time of a life-threatening crime.
District Attorney David Prater said Ersland was justified in shooting Parker once in the head. But Prater said Ersland went too far when he shot Parker five more times while Parker lay unconscious.
Defense attorneys said the case will test self-defense laws adopted in Oklahoma and other states that have expanded people's right to use deadly force when attacked in their homes, cars and businesses.
State Rep. Randy Terrill, known for his tough stance against crime, criticized the district attorney.
"This charge is absolutely wrong, wrong, wrong," he said. "It is Monday morning quarterbacking at its worst. It gives more deference to armed robbers than to the man acting in self-defense."