Justified Homicides Up 50% In Memphis
Date: Apr 12, 2008 11:00 AM
http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=d9391936-4578-45cb-9c10-12a9d75ec243
More armed honest citizens=More honest citizens defending themselves
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Justified Homicides Up 50% In Memphis
Reported by: Sarah Buduson
Email: [email protected]
Last Update: 4/11 9:39 pm

Memphis, TN – More people in Memphis are shooting to kill in
self-defense. Memphis police say the numbers of justified
homicides has risen 50% in 2008.

The most recent justified homicide happened early Tuesday
morning. Police say a security guard shot and killed Andre
McLaren, 38, outside Tony’s Bar and Grill on South
Mendenhall in Southeast Memphis Tuesday.

The security guard told police officers McLaren was driving
towards him when he fired the shots. The Shelby County
District Attorney?s office decided the guard was acting in
self-defense Wednesday.

McLaren?s death marks the 10th time a homicide has been
ruled justified in 2008. That number is double the number
of homicides ruled justified from January 2007 to April
2007. At this time last year, only five homicides were
determined to have been justified. 10 justified homicides is
nearly as many justified homicides as in all of 2006.
During that entire year, just 11 homicides were ruled
justified.

?I think we’ve tried to put our thumb on it and really just
can’t, ? said Major Joe Scott of the Memphis Police
Department. He said Memphis police officers are aware of
the increase in justified homicides, but are unclear why
they are on the rise. Major Scott said, ?It is concerning
over the last couple of years that we’ve had so many, but we
really can’t isolate it to the point where we feel like we
could do anything preventive.?

Out of the 51 homicides in Memphis so far this year, most
have been the result of domestic violence. However, with 10
ruled justified, police say about 20% of the city?s killings
this year were committed in self defense or to protect
another person?s life.

Major Scott said the increase could be tied to a recent rise
in the number of people applying for and receiving handgun
permits in Shelby County. He said the homicides are often
similar to the incident at Tony?s Bar & Grill, in that a
security guard is involved.

Major Scott also said the public should not worry killers
are getting away with murder. He said homicide detectives
thoroughly investigate every homicide in the city. He said
self-defense is a common defense used by killers. More
often than not, Major Scott said, self-defense does not hold
up after detectives investigate a homicide. Major Scott
said, ?We have charged several individuals who have said
they were acting in self-defense.?

However, the circumstances surrounding justified homicides
can be murky. For example, the security guard at Tony?s Bar
& Grill may have been able to run from the car driving
towards him instead of choosing to fire his gun. However,
Major Scott said the legal standard for a justified homicide
is that a ?reasonable, prudent person has fear for their own
safety.? Major Scott said being in the path of an oncoming
car legally qualifies as a valid reason to fear for your
life.

It is up to the Shelby County District Attorney?s office to
decided if a homicide is justified or if a crime was
committed. Homicide detectives investigate their cases,
then detectives present their evidence to prosecutors to
make a determination about the natures of the homicides.

The Second Amendment IS Homeland Security !