Two St. Thomas Moore and one Tuerlings Catholic high school freshmen here in Lafayette, LA were shot by 18 year old who thought they were trying to break into a neighbor's car. One is dead and the other two still in the hospital. Shooter said he just wanted to scare them by shooting at their vehicle. He is charged with first degree murder and two counts of attempted first degree murder. The freshmen were up to no good, should not have even been on the road at 3 am and without an adult driver.

One cannot shoot another person unless he is in eminent danger by confrontation with deadly force. In other words, only if one is about to be shot or severely beaten with a bat can he defend himself with deadly force. One cannot shoot at a vehicle to scare someone. As soon as the deadly threat is removed one can no longer use deadly force. So if one gets his ass kicked in a bar he can't go to his truck, pull a weapon and shoot the one who beat him.

What is legal in Texas might get one life in prison in Louisiana.

This case will likely go to a grand jury and the 18 year old will end up with manslaughter or negligent homicide charges, but for now the investigating officers see it as first degree murder.

Tragic.

regardless of if the 15 year olds are the the wrong

the 18year old is in the wrong for shooting into a moving vehicle... thats murder

One shoots in the air to scare someone.

One normally shoots at the target he plans to HIT!
just sayin

Agree with Guidry here. Shooter was not in danger. Should have picked up the phone and called the lawman to come and handle it.

Send him to jail and throw the book at him.

breaking into cars aint worth dying over and if we were allowed to shoot at bad people like this, then maybe they would think twice......kuddos to the 18yr old, too bad he is going to have to deal with the law......I bet there are a bunch of 15 yr old punks that could be culled......

In the state of Louisiana, you can use "deadly force" to protect your life and/or your body from harm.

Louisiana adopted the "meet force with force" castle doctrine therefore you no longer have to fear for your life and retreat the scene prior to using deadly force.

In fact, current law states that a person may use deadly force to prevent ANY felony from being committed against him.

I smell doo doo on this one.

So what is the legal age to drive a vehicle in La? Everywhere I have lived, 15 year olds can only have a permit, and are not legal to drive without a parent until 16.

What were 3 fifteen year olds doing out at that time in the morning?

Were drugs involved? What color are the three teens? Do they have previous arrest records? What previous record does the 18 year old have? how did he get a handgun, when anywhere in the US, one has to be 21 to own one?

Where were the parents?

Notice that this is not nation wide news? generally, the MSM will jump on any gun violence, unless it is gang, drug, or minority related. The 500 plus murders where black gang members in Chicago killed each other does not fit the agenda that the MSM is trying to push.

Still don't know what the weapon was. Could have been shotgun.

No question that the 15 year olds should not have had access to a vehicle. But I think they all lived nearby.

I have pulled my gun twice in the 3 years I've had a CHL.

1. Lady jumped my fence and was going through my stuff. I stepped outside with a loaded shotgun. Never fired a shot but I did track her down in my car and the 3 prior warrants sent her to jail.

2. Guy rear-ended me, gets out of his car and rips my door handle off my Tahoe, then turns to break my glass or continue his assault. When he saw me he stopped and I will say if the window had shattered he would not still be with us.

Both thanked me for not shooting and honestly nothing on my front porch in scenario #1 was worth shooting someone over. $500-$1,000 is not worth it either. Sorry, it's just not. In scenario #2 if the window had been compromised things may have ended different. I couldn't get away from the scene because he was stuck on my trailer hitch and roads wet leaving no traction to pull a car in park. In that scenario I wouldn't let him do me any harm. It went from an accident to vandalism as soon as he destroyed my car door handle.

I looked it up online. The 18 year old did the shooting with a pistol. It was found in his vehicle at work.

That means he did not own it legally

The 15 year olds were not legal to be operating a motor vehicle.

Sounds like some serious lack of parenting here.

the entire story is messed up..

from what I do know is that supposedly they were 4 houses down from where it happened

a guy I hunt withs son went to school with the 2 from STM

In this day, in this climate of 2nd amendment fever and zealous debate, we all have to be careful of our words and actions. The fringe elements on both sides of the debate will cause some to reacted without reason or pause. I for one, have tried to be less confrontational in my posts and communications with collegues and the public. I've been rather cavalier at times and regret for instance tracking down that driver who flicked me off because of my bumper sticker. He could have easily pulled out a gun and shot me.

^^^ Def a different feel to people these days. Lack of respect for life in itself I find. Just reckless

You're right. I realize that and its prolly not the smartest tbing but it beats shooting at them to achieve the same effect

Know the fam well, wife just got back from paying respects. Our kids all went to same school. These are good people w a short stroke of bad circumstances, that could happen to any of us. Pray it doesn't. Heartbreaking....

please define "short stroke of bad circumstances"