Law Shield wants to point out an important concept contained in a KHOU-TV story:
The details as reported: A Houston homeowner shot and wounded a suspected burglar in the head around 10:30 a.m. on a mid-November day.
According to KHOU-TV: “Shaken up after, the homeowner reportedly told police he fired his handgun because he thought the man was trying to break in.”
Sr. Ofc. Willis Huff, an investigator with the Houston Police Department’s Homicide Division, told the station, “He [the homeowner] heard noises in his backyard, came out, saw a ladder along the side of this fence. And next thing you know, he says the male (was) coming up the ladder trying to come over the fence, and that’s when he shot his weapon.”
Sr. Ofc. Huff says there are no charges pending against the homeowner.
Here’s what we want to point out in the KHOU-TV story:
“The owner of the Sumpter St. home had no comment as police led him to a squad car on Wednesday afternoon to head downtown for more questioning. ‘He’s still a little nervous and upset,’ said officers.”
YES! Have no comment! If you’re in this predicament, we always recommend cooperating with authorities who arrive on the scene, but politely decline to answer any potentially incriminating questions when you’re “a little nervous and upset….”
The procedure: Make sure the threat(s) are stopped and that you and your loved ones are safe. Call 911 and ask for an ambulance and police to respond. Give your name and address. Hang up.
Call an attorney. Law Shield members should call the emergency hotline to speak with a program attorney directly. When officers arrive, make sure you pose no threat whatsoever — that is, make sure you’re not holding a gun. Tell the responding officers your name, but that you’d prefer to speak with your attorney before making any statements.
Your freedom may depend on your ability to keep quite.
The post Homeowner Shoots Burglary Suspect; Has No Comment appeared first on U.S. & Texas LawShield.