Pharmacist Who Shot Robbers, and Shot Them (again) Gets Life.

[twyacht]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43710936/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/?GT1=43001

An Oklahoma pharmacist has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for first-degree murder in the shooting death of a teenager who tried to rob the south Oklahoma City pharmacy where he worked.


Fifty-nine-year-old Jerome Ersland was sentenced Monday after Oklahoma County District Judge Ray Elliott rejected a defense motion to suspend the sentence.

Ersland had no reaction and said nothing as the sentence was handed down. As he left the courtroom, he responded to a reporter's shouted question by calling the sentence "an injustice of a monumental proportion."

A jury convicted Ersland and recommended the life with the possibility of parole sentence for the May 2009 shooting of 16-year-old Antwun Parker. Defense attorney Irven Box said the conviction and sentence will be appealed.

Confronted by two holdup men, Ersland pulled a gun, shot one of them in the head and chased the other away. Then, in a scene recorded by the drugstore's security camera, he went behind the counter, got another gun, and pumped five more bullets into Parker as he lay on the floor unconscious.

At the trial, prosecutors argued that Ersland crossed into the wrong when he shot the unarmed and unconscious Parker five more times.

Ersland contended that he was defending himself and two co-workers from a robber who still posed a threat.

'Please don't give up hope'
Thousands of Ersland's supporters have reportedly signed petitions pushing Gov. Mary Fallin to pardon the pharmacist, or ease his sentence.

***

The video showed the victim shot in the head,...(the first time),....what was the continued threat that required getting another firearm and shooting 5 more times?

just askin'

[billt]

The video showed the victim shot in the head,...(the first time),....what was the continued threat that required getting another firearm and shooting 5 more times? just askin'

There was none. That is where he did himself in. He stopped the threat. There was no reason to "finish him off". This is where "shooting to stop", as opposed to "shooting to kill", plays such an important role. He stopped the threat successfully, which was in his legal right to do. He then set himself up as executioner. That is murder.  Bill T.

[tombogan03884]

There was none. That is where he did himself in. He stopped the threat. There was no reason to "finish him off". This is where "shooting to stop", as opposed to "shooting to kill", plays such an important role. He stopped the threat successfully, which was in his legal right to do. He then set himself up as executioner. That is murder.  Bill T.

+10

[Ulmus]

+100

[TAB]

I'm not shocked at all...

[Sponsor]

[PegLeg45]

There was none. That is where he did himself in. He stopped the threat. There was no reason to "finish him off". This is where "shooting to stop", as opposed to "shooting to kill", plays such an important role. He stopped the threat successfully, which was in his legal right to do. He then set himself up as executioner. That is murder.  Bill T.

Can't put it much plainer than that.

[sledgemeister]

Should have just double tapped him at the beginning and left it there.
Well I suppose thats two people (the robber and the store clerk) out of the gene pool for the forseable future.

[Rastus]

Should have just double tapped him at the beginning and left it there.
Well I suppose thats two people (the robber and the store clerk) out of the gene pool for the forseable future.

He was the owner/pharmacist.

If he had just not run after the fleeing criminal he may have successfully used his older age and back brace defense.  If the guy was so much as wiggling his toes while on the ground the sentence, if any, may have been lighter.  In Oklahoma you get a bit of a pass for being aged, rightfully so because of the physical disparity.  I don't know if he had a concealed carry permit or not, since it was his personal business he could do what he wants here....but if he had a concealed carry permit for outside the store I wonder if he got good instruction.  I have heard of a couple of two hour places that don't take the time and care to instruct you in various scenarios which would have taught this guy what he needed to know to stay out of jail.

It looks like murder when you see it....but then again everything is situational......if the guy threatened to kill him or come back some day and kill him or if there was some history there thug violence was it really murder or taking care of a problem when you had the opportunity "your terms", as it were?  Some bad guys will come back to finish the job later.

[Solus]

He was the owner/pharmacist.

If he had just not run after the fleeing criminal he may have successfully used his older age and back brace defense.  If the guy was so much as wiggling his toes while on the ground the sentence, if any, may have been lighter.  In Oklahoma you get a bit of a pass for being aged, rightfully so because of the physical disparity.  I don't know if he had a concealed carry permit or not, since it was his personal business he could do what he wants here....but if he had a concealed carry permit for outside the store I wonder if he got good instruction.  I have heard of a couple of two hour places that don't take the time and care to instruct you in various scenarios which would have taught this guy what he needed to know to stay out of jail.

It looks like murder when you see it....but then again everything is situational......if the guy threatened to kill him or come back some day and kill him or if there was some history there thug violence was it really murder or taking care of a problem when you had the opportunity "your terms", as it were?  Some bad guys will come back to finish the job later.

I agree, Rastus.

Watching the pharmacist come back, get a fresh loaded gun and shoot the defenseless bad gun sure made me feel like he was committing murder.

However, in thinking about possible self defense scenarios, I always have the thought that if the bad guy is not killed, or even if he is, he or his partners/family are likely to seek revenge....and it will be at a time of their choosing and on their terms.

I also see that I am not in a position to go hunting for them as that is just as much murder as shooting the bad guy after he was down.  

Some tough questions and tougher answers.  You can't "win" if you don't fight by their rules.

[tombogan03884]

Morality aside , if you are going to do that don't do it in front of your own camera.