Clerk kills fleeing robber

[308Mike]

Linkarooni

Clerk kills fleeing robber
Was the shooting death of a 20-year-old suspect outside a Waukegan grocery store self-defense or vigilantism?

By Emily S. Achenbaum and Courtney Flynn | Chicago Tribune reporters
October 15, 2008

A suburban grocery store clerk fired three shots at an armed robbery suspect fleeing on a bicycle, killing the man and raising difficult questions about the line between self-defense and vigilantism.

Authorities in Waukegan on Tuesday had not decided whether to pursue charges, but others had already made up their minds.

"Any time you point a gun at me and if I've got a gun and I've got the opportunity, I'm going to use it on you," Waukegan Mayor Richard Hyde said. "With society the way it is now and with the number of armed robberies you have, you've got to fight back."

Experts said the difference between self-defense and a crime likely will come down to whether the suspect was posing a threat when the clerk decided to fire.

More..............

This says a LOT: He was paroled from a residential burglary conviction less than a month ago, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

[mekender]

it says that our system of rehabilitation does not work and should be stopped... violent crime should = 10 years +... the + being "we evaluate your crazy ass after 10 years to see if you are still a scumbag"

[Aaron]

Naa, rehabilitation through imprisonment has a lousy track record.

I say any violent crime worse than a fist fight, just hang 'em. Manslaughter through negligence decided on a case by case basis. Maybe a few others like that, but if you make a conscious decision to commit violence upon your fellow man, you gotta go.

Also, bring back floggings,stocks, pillory, etc for lesser offenses. And maybe, just maybe prison for white collar crime, but HARD labor for any and all prisoners.

[rightisright]

Was the shooting death of a 20-year-old suspect outside a Waukegan grocery store self-defense or vigilantism?

Meh. Who cares? As long as he's worm food, it's all good.

[Combat Controller]

The amount of adrenalin pouring through you when someone tries to kill you makes you want to stop them. You even do foolish things like chase an armed thug outside. I think he should get a pass, the bonus is, less crime as Darwin and better sense takes it's toll...

[Bob K]

"Rehabilitation" presumes the subject was "habilitated" (i.e., "socialized") to begin with.

If said individual was not "habilitated", then the world is better off without him.

[Fivetoes]

My guess is he would find another mark to hit, so this was a preemptive strike. Sucks to be a bad guy.

[SoupOrMan]

Huh. And Waukegan isn't exactly known for being Republican Central, either.

[Combat Controller]

Huh, right near my Chicago plant actually....

[Frankingun]

I'm generally uncomfortable with running after a perp like that. On the other hand, if the perp said he was coming back, well... We get to wait and see what the prosecutors do.