I hate thieves as much as anyone. However, you've got to keep your cool in situations where use of your firearm may not be justified. Just because you see someone fleeing from police, it doesn't mean you're free to shoot at them.

Link

"As deputies were chasing the suspect on foot, officials said a homeowner shot at the suspect, but wasn't struck."

Well that was a stupid move by that homeowner........

Yes, if police officers don't have their guns drawn on a fleeing suspect, it's probably not a good idea to draw and fire yours.

Was this at night? If at night the homeowner has a better chance of no charges being filed.

I don't think it is a good idea regardless if the Police have their guns drawn or not. Let the professionals handle it. Even if a police officer was wrestling on the ground with a suspect and losing I wouldn't pull my gun. I'd definitely help the officer out with a good Daniel Penny choke on the suspect.

Wait...you mean he's not being hailed as a "hero" for trying to stop a criminal?

Ugh. If the criminal were approaching the homeowner, I could see a reasonable claim of self-defense. But if the perp was running some direction away from the homeowner - ESPECIALLY with the police in pursuit - then, well, he may be quite screwed.

On a practical level, in a situation where the police are visible, it's not generally a good idea to be shooting a gun unless there is truly an imminent threat. Makes you look like a threat to the cops and they could give you a dose of lead poisoning.

9:30pm, it was a woman who was in her driveway and thought the man was running up to steal her car

And until she started shooting be very well could have been since immediately thereafter he stole another vehicle….

I'd kick'em in the nutz.

Facts

facts matter. No DA out side of Austin that would proceed with this

Try fake news. Still daylight and definitely not 9:30pm when these crime scene photos was taken.

Link

I’ve seen this game played successfully before. “I was pointing my firearm at the fleeing suspect in case he produced a weapon to use against the officer. I lost my footing and balance because I was concentrating on the suspect. Because I was in fear of falling, I had a natural sympathetic muscle response to grasp and because I was holding a firearm, the trigger was depressed and it discharged.”

Unfortunately, in this case the homeowner fired two shots.

Actually an accidental double tap strengthens the defense I described. Of course you think a loaded firearm shouldn’t even be inside a vehicle. You’re way out of your league on this one. You might learn something by typing less and reading more on this one though.

Keep trying.

Zombieland Rule number 2: Double Tap

I don’t have to try. I’ve investigated 1000+ shootings and you’ve done exactly zero. I know it, you know it, everybody knows it.

I worked with a guy we nicknamed “ double tap”. We were al in narcotics and he decided to show why carrying his UC gun with no round in the chamber was a good idea. He showed, it left 2 bullet holes in his windshield. We all fled.

Oh I thought we were just assuming we knew the homeowners intentions, my bad