Oregon Police Charge Veteran For Firing A Warning Shot Against Home Invader

[twyacht]

Oh and they, of course, seized his firearm. It was an "evil" AR15 to boot. I wonder what the result would have been in another more gun friendly state.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/05/29/police-confiscate-vets-rifle-charge-him-because-he-fired-warning-shot-at-wanted-felon-trying-to-break-into-his-home/


Police Confiscate Vet’s Rifle, Charge Him Because He Fired Warning Shot at Wanted Felon Trying to Break Into His Home
May. 29, 2013 7:03pm Jason Howerton

Veteran Charged After He Fired Warning Shot at Felon

Corey Thompson (KDRV)

An Oregon man has had rifle confiscated and is facing criminal charges after he attempted to stop a wanted felon from breaking into his home by firing a warning shot.

Police in Medford, Ore., say the incident occurred at around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday. Officers responded to an apartment complex in the area after receiving a disturbance call. During their investigation, cops heard a gun shot and a man running away toward the complex’s parking lot.

Authorities say 40-year-old Jonathon Kinsella, a wanted felon, was attempting to flee the scene when he was arrested on outstanding warrants, including for burglary and assault.

Military veteran Corey Thompson, 36, told KDRV-TV that the wanted felon was trying to beak into his home via the back door. Defending his property, Thompson said he warned the criminal that he was armed and he was giving him his one and only warning shot.

“This is the end result. You break into someone’s house, there’s consequences,” Thompson said.

Wielding his AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, the veteran made good on his threat and fired one warning shot. The bullet did not strike the suspect or anyone else.

“When I’m dealt with a stressful situation, being a veteran from Iraq and the Afghanistan war, it’s natural. I just jump into combat mode. I told him I’m going to give you a warning shot,” Thompson explained.

However, police later determined he wasn’t justified in firing his weapon. Medford Police Lt. Mike Budreau said “there was nothing that the suspect was doing that was aggressive enough to justify the shooting.”

Apparently, for police in Medford, a wanted felon trying to break into a law-abiding citizen’s home isn’t enough to justify a warning shot.

Thompson was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, menacing and reckless endangering. The veteran’s AR-15 was seized by police because they claim it was used in the commission of a crime.

Thompson said he doesn’t agree with the police’s decision in this case.

“I can see where they’re coming from, with those kinds of  ordinances and stuff. I understand yes, I did discharge my weapon but I was careful not to fire it at any body’s residence. It was at the ground specifically,” he added.

Attempts by TheBlaze to contact Thompson were unsuccessful.

****

I do not agree with warning shots personally, but this is BS. I soon hope to see even the folks in Oregon, drop the damn charges and give him his AR back.

[TAB]

a couple of things, we have no idea what was going on from the story or how things played out.  2. Cops on scene, hear a gun shot, see a man fleeing,  they are going to disarm you.  Maybe for a few mins, maybe take it with them. It depends on alot of things.  3 where did the warning shot go?  If he fired up in the air, that is recless endangerment, Under Or law.    4 warning shots are always a bad idea.

[doc misalot]

How can a liberal state prosecute the man for doing what Joe Biden told us all to do? 
I don't agree with warning shots either, but a FELON was in process of attacking him (breaking into his house). Here in GA the felon is fair game!

[twyacht]

TAB, the article states he fired into the ground,....considering the great restraint he showed, (as promoted by Joe Biden), thanks doc misalot..

I'll ask again, if this happened in Texas, or another more pro gun state, how do you think the story would have been re-written?

Felon Picks Wrong HouseTo Break Into, would have been the headline, with no charges, no seizing, and a "chalk one up for the good guys moment"....

[Magoo541]

A few years back, almost 8 now, another vet shot and killed a kid that jumped in his window while running from the cops.  No charges were filed and the civil case was dismissed (after $$$$ spent defending himself).  The cops were literally in front of the guys house when the single shot was fired and once he found out they were on scene (in his tighty whities in the front yard with his XD at the low ready) he figured he was going to jail.  BUT they made the right call.  DA didn't press charges, probably because the officers on scene saw no wrong doing.  

I think what happened here was some officers were leery of letting a man fire an evil black rifle with no ramifications.  Warning shots are not advised but if you fire one you had better know two things: 1) you own every round coming out of your rifle and 2) where that round is when it comes to rest.

BTW Medford almost qualifies as Norther Kalifornia.

[Sponsor]

[TAB]

northern ca is great,  medford is like portland west.

[Magoo541]

Tab I agree, I used to live and work around Yreka but its still Kalifornia.  I don't understand why Medford is the way it is other than the sheeple that live there.

[tombogan03884]

If the situation worries you enough to "go to guns" go all the way, if it is not bad enough to kill the threat it is not time to talk about, or brandish a gun .
The only threat that should be made is," if you continue to be a threat to me I will shoot you again" .

[mkm]

Not sure of all the details in this case, but it seems fishy.

Can't say for sure that I would have to shoot if I pull the gun, but, odds are good that I would. For instance, someone trying to break in the house would unknowingly have a gun pointed at them while I call the cops. As long as they stay outside and don't do anything that could actually harm me or mine, my finger stays off the trigger. Once they get a body part through, things change. One thing I can say is that the first shot will be aimed at the target. If you get a warning shot, consider yourself lucky; I missed. More shots are on the way.

[billt]

Between this and the idiot 911 operator who told the caller to, "ask the intruder to leave", it seems Oregon is quickly going the way of Colorado. Dope is grand, and guns should be outlawed. Or at least persecute anyone who owns them at every opportunity that is afforded.