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June 7, 2012, 02:17 PM | #1 | |
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Retired Firefighter Shoots Neighbor, Claims Self Defense
In 2010, retired firefighter Raul Rodriguez killed P.E. teacher Kelly Danaher and shot two other men in a dispute over a loud party. According to Rodriguez's account, he went outside with a video camera, flashlight and gun to document the noise. As a result, the first shot of this confrontation and some of the events leading up to it are shown on tape.
http://www.kvue.com/news/state/157807135.html (has link to edited video of shooting) http://www.chron.com/news/houston-te...to-3611376.php (Houston Chronicle coverage - better details) Rodriguez is currently on trial for murder. The original video is 22 minutes long and jurors were shown the last 7 minutes in which several partygoers ask Rodriguez why he is standing in Danaher's driveway filming. According to some reports, Rodriguez filmed for approximately 10 minutes before he was even noticed by partygoers. The edited version in the link above appears to be a 2 minute edited version of the 7 minute tape. Obviously, the situation could have been handled better. I thought it would make for good discussion because apparently Rodriguez thought he was handling it well and is now facing murder charges. The presence of the video offers us a chance to see a bit of what Rodriguez saw right up to the first shot. Additionally, here is Texas law regarding use of deadly force in self-defense: Quote:
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June 7, 2012, 02:37 PM | #2 |
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If I read this correctly and watching the video - the shooter went on another's man property. Then he displayed or made known he had a gun. He refused requests to leave another man's property.
There was a police car already there. He didn't go over to it. He announced SYG as it is a magic excuse. He announces that he is in fear of his life as a magic excuse he got from some gun source - when he could leave. The victims clearly respond to a threat from his gun by saying they will get their own. Stupid drunk behavior - they should have simply told the law there is a madman threatening them with a gun. He feels he can reason with the alcohol fogged reasoning of several people. Or was he posturing for some bizarre reason. This is exactly the problem with the misinterpretation of SYG that we are seeing from some. It is also an indication of a lack of understanding the use of the firearm which is not to SYG but to protect you. Leaving is a better option. Not staying there and instead showing off the gun as it will deter the irrational (sound familar from another thread). For what it is worth - it seems the shooter wanted the confrontation and was driven by some stupid dominance factor to stay there. Or he was thinking he had an excuse to shoot? And wanted to on some level? Did he think he was justified? Even if a group charged him - recall (if I read it correctly) he was on another man's land acting threatenly with a firearm. Did they not have the right to SYG which trumps his non-existant SYG claim? So my quick take (and facts can prove me wrong) that he is to blame. Here's a good take from Mas Ayoob http://www.glocktalk.com/forums/show....php?t=1419141
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NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens Last edited by Glenn E. Meyer; June 7, 2012 at 03:03 PM. |
June 7, 2012, 02:45 PM | #3 |
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Not an easy case.
Shooter almost seems to be trying too hard to justify lethal force: filming it; on the phone to 911; repeatedly saying "I am in fear ..." I assume he can stand his ground, but it would have been very simple (apparently) for him to back off and avoid it all.
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June 7, 2012, 02:51 PM | #4 |
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From a legal standpoint, Rodriguez may have trouble with (2) ("did not provoke the person against whom force was used"), for the reasons stated by Dr. Meyer.
From a tactical standpoint, he had every opportunity to disengage and de-escalate. A noisy party is something to call law enforcement about. I personally would call non-emergency dispatch rather than 911. Definitely not a reason to put yourself in a position to use deadly force and defend such use in the legal theater. |
June 7, 2012, 03:10 PM | #5 |
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Based on that video, he's a murderer and should go to jail.
As Glenn said, he's chanting "I'm in fear of my life" and "I'm standing my ground" as if they're some kind of magic talisman that gives him the right to kill people. Trespassing, threatening, refusal to leave, stupid, stupid, stupid. Is there any fear in his voice? None that I hear. He sounds like he's dictating a video on paint drying. He doesn't understand the law. He thinks he does. He thinks he's tough. He's not. Now he's a murderer.
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June 7, 2012, 03:16 PM | #6 |
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Just wanted to add that I think we have two different tactical discussions here:
1. What could Rodriguez have done better? 2. How could Danaher have handled that in a way that turned out better for him? I think that last one is worth thinking about. According to testimony, Danaher tackled Rodriguez and was shot. Not sure who is on the video; but you can hear them laughing as they approach. Pretty clearly, they thought they an easy problem to solve. The result of that estimation was one man dead and two others shot. It seems both parties in this missed several good opportunities to avoid, deescalate or disengage. |
June 7, 2012, 03:23 PM | #7 |
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1)Stay off your neighbors property if you're not invited. Leave when asked. Don't start confrontations. Dont be a posturing jackass. Call the police about loud parties. Understand the law.
2)Call the police about trespassers. Don't be a posturing jackass. Don't get drunk if you can't control yourself. Don't have parties that are unreasonable. Don't tackle people, especially people who have guns. When someone has a gun, go away.
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June 7, 2012, 04:08 PM | #8 |
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One more reminder that the best practice for most any confrontation (at least in the self defense world) is retreat, if possible. I agree, with the limited info that was linked and that I found, it looks to me like he was mad about being ignored and went too far, and in his mind he would be justified saying the right things and going for it...
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June 7, 2012, 04:15 PM | #9 |
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This guy seems to be operating with the mental aptitude of Homer Simpson. The fact that he thinks that what he did was okay is just sign of how many stupid people there are in the world.
This not SYG, this is not SD, this is just someone mad at his neighbor with a chip on his shoulder. If he doesn't get a needle I will be shocked. 1- Already covered. 2- Mostly covered. Sure you might have a reason to tackle someone with a gun but not in this case. Seeing how he was not behaving entirely rational it is of no surprise he choose a stupid move. Get along well with your neighbors if at all possible. Go out of the way to do so. That way they will be less likely to come to your house in the middle of the night with a gun looking to kill you.
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June 7, 2012, 04:22 PM | #10 |
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Jerks like this guy do more to skew public opinion against gun owners and SYG laws than all of the anti gun activists put together.
SYG laws are in my opinion - and probably the opinions of most informed people - very reasonable. However, when public opinion starts associating SYG with "if you have a gun you can use it to win a fight" I think we'll find we have a much harder time getting them added to the books, or keeping them. Sadly, in our public opinion driven political system, what people think usually trumps the truth. Most people don't have a vested interest in gun rights, and don't bother to find out what SYG laws actually do. They believe what they see on the news. When we have cases like this guy (and the one-who-shall-not-be-named in FL), people are going to start to think that this is what SYG laws are about. And when that happens who would blame them for voting against them? Frankly, I would vote against any law that would actually make this guys actions legal. |
June 7, 2012, 04:30 PM | #11 |
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Seems like he started the whole confrontation. He should have continued to phone the police until they resolved it or filed a complaint with them the next day. He was foolish to walk down there and demand that they quiet down.
Unfortunately this man has made his bed and now he must face the consequences. A CCW permit does not make you a police officer nor does it give you the right to unjustly shoot someone. He was a retired firefighter, I would have expected better restraint from him. What an idiot...
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June 7, 2012, 04:35 PM | #12 |
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Stick a fork in him, he's done.
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June 7, 2012, 05:35 PM | #13 |
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It would have been different if he was on his property. He should be convicted for his actions.
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June 7, 2012, 10:33 PM | #14 |
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This shooter may have believed that his possession and display of his gun was going to act as a magic talisman to keep him safe. However, his magic was not effective against a drunk.
One additional factor in the risky behavior (moving closer to an armed man who is warning you away) of the people who were drinking at the party beyond intoxication, may have been peer pressure. The people who were shot probably did not assess the risk properly because they were impaired and also did not want to appear cowardly in front of their friends. I think that the prosecution can argue that a reasonable person who was actually in fear of their life would have taken the opportunity to leave the confrontation; rather than stand there arguing and continuing to record a video. A series of bad choices resulting in bad results.
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June 7, 2012, 10:42 PM | #15 | |
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This is not "Stand Your Ground": It's not his ground, and he was asked to leave it, therefore he was trespassing.
Quote:
He also failed the "has not provoked" standard, in that walking onto somebody's property with a video camera, and refusing to leave, is a provocation in my book..... Murder. Possibly premeditated/malice aforethought. Last edited by jimbob86; June 7, 2012 at 10:49 PM. |
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June 8, 2012, 06:56 AM | #16 |
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Was he on their property? Looks to me like in the video there is a section of road or sidewalk between him and the driveway. People coming down the driveway towards him while he is in what appears to be the street. Hard to tell.
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June 8, 2012, 07:40 AM | #17 |
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I think he maybe in trouble, since he went to another man's house armed and this could be construed as he is the instigator. He went to the trouble, the trouble did not come to him. The whole thing could have been avoided had he waited for the police. Loud music is not a threat to anyone's life. Also the party goers were drunk and you never argue with a drunk person.
Just my opinion, maybe I am wrong. But one dead and two wounded over loud music and noise ? I wouldn't consider loud music and noise as a threat of personal injury. He should have waited at his own house for the police and let them handle it.. |
June 8, 2012, 08:03 AM | #18 |
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If this was in Texas his first mistake is going off his own property to another man's property. If the noise disturbed him he should have called the law.
You do not have the right to go to another man's property and start filming it in Texas. |
June 8, 2012, 08:25 AM | #19 |
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I'm just not sure who was the bigger jackass the party goers or the fireman.
From my perspective why argue with a bunch of drunks? Its a no brainier parties will fizzle out with time, just let it go and let the police handle it. Going down the street with a gun and a camera what did you think would happen? If you feel compelled to go, do it with a smile like you would like to be part of the party and reason gently and leave with your smile. I would not have gone at all without knowing the host before the party. This is a case of dumb and dumber! This is in Texas and according to Ron White they're putting in an express lane for murders! I guess the firefighter just wanted to be in the express lane.
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June 8, 2012, 08:57 AM | #20 | ||||
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
If Glenn's comprehension of the situation is correct that he was on the other guy's land when he was attacked after brandishing, then the attack may be considered self defense by the party-goers to handle a threat. They have the right to self defense as well. Quote:
I don't see anything in the video to indicate that he was actually in fear for his life, especially since he said he was, brandished his gun, but did nothing else to get him to safety. His actions do not appear to be of a person who is in fear for his life. I am not certain from the video that his brandishing was legal. The 'expert' in the first video, Jim Pruett, says that Texas CHL holder are taught to do is to announce that you have a gun, are in fear for your life and that you will use if. That is a crock. He may teach that but announcing you have a gun isn't an aspect covered by other CHL instructors that I know of. I have never heard it in my CHL classes and the two guys that I shoot with who are CHL instructors don't teach to announce that you have a gun. http://www.kvue.com/news/state/157807135.html
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June 8, 2012, 09:17 AM | #21 |
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It still doesn't look like he was ever on anybody's property. He is standing in the middle of the street next to a truck. One partygoer even says he's standing in the middle of the street with a gun.
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June 8, 2012, 09:29 AM | #22 |
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I guess we'll soon see what the jury thinks.
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June 8, 2012, 09:43 AM | #23 |
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"Prosecutors said Rodriguez was not in fear for his life and had ample opportunity to leave the confrontation he started....
...Prosecutors said Rodriguez fatally shot Kelly Danaher, a physical education teacher at Sorters Mill Elementary in New Caney ISD, in his own driveway at his wife's birthday party in northeast Harris County. Rodriguez also shot two other men, one a Houston Fire Department captain, just afterward. " [B. Rogers, Houston Chronicle, Updated June 7, 2012] Wow...poor guy was shot (and killed) at his wife's birthday party, Mr. Rodriguez also wounded 2 other good people...its not like he shot three crack-heads breaking down his front door. Unbelieveable. When there's a loud party I simply put in my ear-plugs and go to bed. "I guess we'll soon see what the jury thinks. " Indeed.
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June 8, 2012, 10:11 AM | #24 |
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You do not get to claim SYG if you are in a place you are not legally entitled to be.
Like trespassing on someone else's property after being told to leave. |
June 8, 2012, 11:22 AM | #25 |
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"The 'expert' in the first video, Jim Pruett"
Jim Pruett was a radio disc jockey for years here in the Houston, Texas area before he sold guns. He has a spot on our local Channel 39 most nights and in my opinion is a embarrassment to the local gun community. Quoteing him for any real facts is a huge stretch of the imagination. Even my wife asks me if the guy is for real with some of the statements he makes on tv. |
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