Aug 8 - Teen Who Shot Man, Won't Face Homicide Charges Under 'Stand Your Ground

BelovedAfeni
BelovedAfeni Members Posts: 8,647 ✭✭✭✭✭
A Florida teen who k#lled a man during a confrontation last month will not face homicide charges under the state's controversial "Stand Your Ground" law.

In a release Tuesday, prosecutors said that Tyrone Pierson, 17, was justified in using deadly force on Julius Jerome Jacobs.

Witnesses told police that Jacobs, a 40-year-old community choir director, came after Pierson and two other teens with a large stick following an argument over alleged speeding July 5. According to authorities, Pierson shot Jacobs in the head, k#lling him.

Under Florida law, it is illegal for minors under 18 to possess a concealed firearm, other than an unloaded one in their home, but "Stand Your Ground" "qualifies [Pierson] for immunity from any homicide charges even though he illegally possessed the gun as a minor without a concealed carry permit," Think Progress noted.

Pierson will face two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, and an additional charge of evidence tampering, because he initially lied about the location of the gun, prosecutors said.

The Ocala Star Banner reported that Pierson's friends, who were with him during the altercation that lead to Jacobs' [rip], avoided conflict by running away.

Although the paper noted that Pierson fired a shot while fleeing, he had no duty to retreat because of the "Stand Your Ground" law.

"Stand Your Ground" has been heavily criticized in the wake of the Trayvon Martin shooting. Scrutiny of the law intensified after neighborhood watch coordinator George Zimmerman was found not guilty in the [rip] of the unarmed teenager.

Last week, Florida lawmakers agreed to hold hearings on the controversial self-defense law this fall.

Although the move was initially perceived to be a major concession to protesters by Florida conservatives, the appointment of Rep. Matt Gaetz, a staunch backer of the law, to oversee the hearings tempered expectations.

Gaetz told the Tampa Bay Times that he's looking forward to the hearings so that he can offer a "full-throated defense of the law."

"I don't support changing one damn comma of the 'Stand Your Ground' law," Gaetz told the newspaper on Friday. "It would be reactionary and dangerous to make Floridians less safe to pacify uninformed protesters."

Comments

  • xxCivicxx
    xxCivicxx Members Posts: 6,927 ✭✭✭✭✭
    They only did this to ease emotions over the Trayvon ruling and to make SYG seem like it benefits everyone
  • janklow
    janklow Members, Moderators Posts: 8,613 Regulator
    xxCivicxx wrote: »
    They only did this to ease emotions over the Trayvon ruling and to make SYG seem like it benefits everyone
    one day we'll get that there's a difference between a law and how it's applied

  • kzzl
    kzzl Members Posts: 7,548 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Was this a case of a black kid killing a white man and under SYG? If not, don't drink the kool aid.
  • SneakDZA
    SneakDZA Members Posts: 11,223 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Under Florida law, it is illegal for minors under 18 to possess a concealed firearm, other than an unloaded one in their home, but "Stand Your Ground" "qualifies [Pierson] for immunity from any homicide charges even though he illegally possessed the gun as a minor without a concealed carry permit," Think Progress noted.

    So basically in Florida it's illegal for a minor to carry a concealed, unlicensed firearm unless he kills somebody with it.
  • janklow
    janklow Members, Moderators Posts: 8,613 Regulator
    So basically in Florida it's illegal for a minor to carry a concealed, unlicensed firearm unless he kills somebody with it.
    if you're under 18 and it's a handgun, it's basically illegal ANYWHERE ... but traditionally courts have allowed you the right of self-defense despite breaking the law in that respect.

  • Swiffness!
    Swiffness! Members Posts: 10,128 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 2013
    janklow is a white crakkker that wants to gun down 100 black babies w/ his Calico and claim Stand Your Ground defense, those ? babies were endangering his life
  • janklow
    janklow Members, Moderators Posts: 8,613 Regulator
    Swiffness! wrote: »
    janklow is a white crakkker that wants to gun down 100 black babies w/ his Calico and claim Stand Your Ground defense, those ? babies were endangering his life
    reason you can tell this post is totally inaccurate: like janklow would even be caught dead with one of those ? Calicos!

  • DarcSkies
    DarcSkies Members Posts: 13,791 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 2013
    slickone wrote: »
    I'm confused

    How come President Obama and the attorney general aren't speaking out about this senseless murder of an Australian citizen? Where are the race hustlers? I guess the hip hop crowd/community just decided to avoid it and hope it goes away -- some of you hypocrite's really need to grow-up.
    Because the president is a big fat racist thats why!

    Waaaaa!

    ? ? .
  • prettygirl_26
    prettygirl_26 Members Posts: 2
    Welp, darc hasn't changed I see. LOL smh
  • Swiffness!
    Swiffness! Members Posts: 10,128 ✭✭✭✭✭
    janklow wrote: »
    Swiffness! wrote: »
    janklow is a white crakkker that wants to gun down 100 black babies w/ his Calico and claim Stand Your Ground defense, those ? babies were endangering his life
    reason you can tell this post is totally inaccurate: like janklow would even be caught dead with one of those ? Calicos!

    well see i remembered you said you could ? 100 rabbits maybe so i figured a baby's not too much bigger than that.....
  • janklow
    janklow Members, Moderators Posts: 8,613 Regulator
    Swiffness! wrote: »
    well see i remembered you said you could ? 100 rabbits maybe so i figured a baby's not too much bigger than that.....
    seems inaccurate in that i would expect that ? Calico to jam LONG before rabbit #100, if not before rabbit #3