Elderly Oakland Homeowner Arrested After Fatal Shooting of Robbery Suspect

An elderly homeowner in Oakland, aged 77, was taken into custody under suspicion of murder following the fatal shooting of an alleged robbery suspect earlier this week, as disclosed by KTVU-TV.

Presently, it is uncertain whether the homeowner, whose identity has not been disclosed by KTVU, will face formal charges, and whether the fatal shooting is justified under the grounds of self-defense.

‘If you are in imminent fear of your life or someone else’s life in your home, you have every right to take necessary means for self-defense against the invaders.’

Reportedly, two men and a woman parked a stolen Infiniti Q40 near a property in the vicinity of 98th Avenue and Burr Street in East Oakland around 6 p.m. on Monday.

According to a witness’s statement to the police, the threesome trespassed onto the property, with one man wielding a crowbar. The witness then reported hearing a gunshot, with East Bay Times also reporting an eyewitness account of the group breaking into the man’s house.

Local residents reported hearing multiple gunshots in the area of 98th Avenue and Burr Street to the station.

Upon their arrival, the police found the homeowner holding a stolen Colt Python revolver aimed at the female suspect, as per court documents cited by KTVU. The female suspect informed the cops that her accomplice was shot by the homeowner. Despite the efforts of firefighters and paramedics, the unnamed suspect succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

The third suspect, found at the scene with a replica firearm, was arrested under suspicion of burglary. As of Wednesday morning, Alameda County prosecutors have not yet charged the third suspect, as reported by the Times.

The homeowner is reportedly being held without bail since Wednesday morning, according to the Times. The decision to charge or release the homeowner lies with the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, which has until Thursday to make a decision.

KTVU legal analyst Michael Cardoza highlighted, “You’re not supposed to chase them. If you chase them and shoot them, for example, in the back, that is unlawful.” He further stated that despite this, the homeowner could still argue self-defense, depending on the facts: “If you are in imminent fear of your life or someone else’s life in your home, you have every right to take necessary means for self-defense against the invaders.”

Watch a local news report about the incident below:

Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source