Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

In Freelance Star this morning:


BY PORTSIA SMITH / THE FREE LANCE–STAR
A juvenile is charged with malicious wounding in connection with an attempted vehicle break-in during which a man was stabbed multiple times.

According to Capt. Jeff Pearce of the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the 12000 block of Plantation Drive in the Lake Wilderness area around 10 p.m. last Sunday for a reported stabbing.

According to Pearce, the victim had approached a small group that appeared to be stealing items from cars.

He yelled at them to stop and was attacked by the group and stabbed several times, Pearce said.

The group then ran off, Pearce said. They did not get away with any stolen property, he said.

A juvenile later confessed to the crime, Pearce said, and was taken to a juvenile facility. He has since been turned over to the custody of his parents, Pearce said.

He is charged with malicious wounding and conspiracy to commit larceny from a vehicle.

Two other juveniles have been identified as being involved, but have not yet been charged.

The victim was transported to Mary Washington Hospital with non-life threatening injuries to his arms and legs.

The identities of the juveniles are being withheld due to their ages, Pearce said.

Portsia Smith: 540/374-5419

psmith@fredericksburg.com

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

"Yeah, but he's alive because they only had knives. This guy would probably be dead if they had guns."

Who needs a gun while on a leisurely stroll? Every honorable citizen.

MarcSpaz wrote:Who needs a gun while on a leisurely stroll? Every honorable citizen.

Yup! I carry all the time.

Absolutely. My hand was "in the air" when I read the question. Since you're not the only thing out for a stroll going unarmed is taking chances.

Dogs, rabid animals, people looking to do other people harm, etc. Carrying a cell phone, and having the time to use it before you are injured/attacked only mean a few minutes wait from the time the attack starts till the local LE arrives to protect you. Just a few minutes, and we all know what can happen in a few minutes. He's lucky they didn't hit any arteries while stabbing his arms and legs.

My wife and I do lot of walking around our neighborhood. We both carry a walking stick , mainly for when we go down to the River Trail. There is always a loose dog or two. I carry my Derringer ALL the time ...It has become part of getting dressed to me. My wife has gotten to where she carries about 80% of the time and always when she walks wth the Girls. She even has a friend that shoots with us and is taking a Safety Class and has purchased a .380 and an 870 for home defense.

The punk kid assaulting someone with a deadly weapon doesnt even stay in juve? He gets released to his parents? Did no one even raise an eyebrow to how stupid that is?

But, but, but... it's not the kid's fault! Knives are eeeeeee-vile! Society is to blame! Being picked last in gym class forever damaged self esteem! Didn't get the new game console, a nice new pair of Nikes, or a cool jacket! The PINO (parents in name only) just tried and tried and tried! They kept saying, "No, you can't go out this late at night" but that resulted in nothing. <add all kinds of dramatic hand wringing>

so how would that work out in court? you challenge a bunch of hoodlums, rather than just calling the cops and/or turning around and heading away from trouble. then when the punks come at you, you defend yourself and shoot them.

serious question.

I haven't found the actual code, but I looked. I'll have to check again later.

According to the Lynchburg police, Virginia law allows for citizen's arrest, which is the holding of a person for a crime by someone other than a law enforcement official. Virginia state law also stipulates that citizen’s arrests are permitted if and only if the crime committed is a felony level offense. Assaulting someone during the commissioning of another crime is a felony. So basically it would hold the same weight as a police officer being attacked under the same circumstances.

2-4
Arrest by private persons. A private person may make a citizen's arrest, as at common law. When empowered to execute a warrant, a private citizen is clothed with the authority of a law officer while acting in this capacity.

davsco wrote:so how would that work out in court? you challenge a bunch of hoodlums, rather than just calling the cops and/or turning around and heading away from trouble. then when the punks come at you, you defend yourself and shoot them.

serious question.

It would be fine. Private citizens are not required to cower in fear because criminals are committing crimes. You couldn't draw your gun simply because they are vandalizing/stealing, but if they then turn to attack you (AOI met + fear for life/limb), SD is justified. You only have to retreat when you are part of the initial problem and/or escalated it. e.g. an argument.

A citizen may reasonably interfere with the commission of a crime just like a LEO. However, when and how to do so you must evaluate.