be careful what you ask for!

[eatsnopaste]

Unarmed thief allegedly raised hands, asked 'what are you going to do, shoot me?'

By COREY WILLIAMS
Associated Press Writer

DETROIT — A burglary victim was charged Wednesday with second-degree murder after he fatally shot a man who he disturbed during a suspected break-in at his Detroit home.

Detroit's 36th District Court arraigned 31-year-old Tigh Croff on a charge of killing Herbert Silas on Dec. 28 and using a firearm during a felony.


Croff arrived home in the dead of night to discover the 53-year-old Silas and another m

Croff arrived home in the dead of night to discover the 53-year-old Silas and another man in his yard but did not know if they had been inside the house, police spokesman John Roach said.

<img src=http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/shz.southbendtribune/loclstry;pos=300x250_1;sz=300x250;ord=123456789? border=0 /> The prosecutor's office said the incident happened 12:30 a.m. Monday.

The Detroit Free Press, WWJ-AM and WJBK-TV said the other man escaped but that Silas of Detroit turned to Croff, raised his hands and asked the licensed gun-carrier: "What are you going to do, shoot me?" he reports said Croff replied "absolutely" and fired.

Roach, however, could not confirm those statements were made. Croff has a permit to carry a handgun, he said.

Police officer Leon Rahmaan said Croff's home had been broken into on previous occasions but he did not specify how many times. News reports said burglars had broken in three times in a single week.

Croff wore what appeared to be a security guard's uniform at his arraignment and he was not represented by an attorney. Prosecutors were not present at the hearing.

Magistrate Steve Lockhart entered a not guilty plea. A preliminary examination was set for Jan. 11.

Lockhart noted "an arguable defense claim," "imperfect self-defense" and "manslaughter" as mitigating factors in setting Croff's bond at $40,000. Typically, defendants arraigned on second-degree murder charges are held without bond pending a preliminary examination. ed.

I'm not really sure where I stand on this one...if he was truly giving himself up..then the shooter is in trouble, if the guy was walking towards him as he said it, good riddance.

 

[Shadowbeach]

.

 

[shibumiseeker]

Legally the guy is probably screwed. Morally I'm not sure where I stand. I feel that responses should fit the crime, but then I'm all for erring on the part of the victim. It was the criminal who decided to commit the crime afterall.

 

[AFA1CY]

The alleged perp was outside in the yard at the time of the encounter. I'm leaning towards calling this one a bad shoot.

+1 if the news reported it correctly.

 

[Chuck26287]

I sure don't see anything in this that would make me fear for my life or someone else's life. I think the guy is in serious trouble. If the perp made no threat, he should have never been shot.

So sad that one life is over, and another will never be the same again.

 

[drgnrobo]

If he was unarmed & non threatning & not resisting him ,He should have just held him for police. He could argue that he was in fear of a retaliation from him or his accomplice & felt very threatened because of the previous break ins but if there is no proof that he said what was reported ,it could go either way depending on how far the prosecuting attorney wants to take it

 

[civilwar]

I agree that this is one bad shooting. If said burgulars are in the owners yard upon confrontation then the owner just took it upon himself to assume they had robbed his house.
I feel he should have held the assumed robbers at gunpoint and contacted authorities to get the situation figured out, instead of being judge and jury finding the man guilty and taking his life.

I was not there so it is just my . He very well may have felt threatened but without a good witness he will probably serve some time.

Terry

 

[BloodEclipse]

The Detroit Free Press, WWJ-AM and WJBK-TV said the other man escaped but that Silas of Detroit turned to Croff, raised his hands and asked the licensed gun-carrier: "What are you going to do, shoot me?" he reports said Croff replied "absolutely" and fired.

Roach, however, could not confirm those statements were made.

Who confirmed that this is what happened?
Sounds like bad reporting.

 

[LPMan59]

Who confirmed that this is what happened?
Sounds like bad reporting.

exactly.

the 2nd guy escaped and the 1st guy is dead. sounds to me like the only one who knows what happened is the gun owner. perhaps he was running his mouth?

 

[groovatron]

I agree...this article bites.....the only way that they would know what was said is if they got a statement from the shooter......and I highly doubt that.

 

[StrayDog]

Seems a little strange to me too. Sounds like he's a wanna be cop or something. It only takes one gun nut to give the rest of the gun nuts a bad name..

 

[Hornett]

This caught my attention:

but that Silas of Detroit turned to Croff, raised his hands and asked the licensed gun-carrier: "What are you going to do, shoot me?"

from that line, it sounds like the robber had started the interview portion of a mugging right in the guys own yard.
I think the appropriate reply would be "Yes, I will shoot you and kill you if you take one more step"
Two on one at 12:30 am in the dark would definitely put me in fear for my life.

 

[LPMan59]

This caught my attention:
from that line, it sounds like the robber had started the interview portion of a mugging right in the guys own yard.
I think the appropriate reply would be "Yes, I will shoot you and kill you if you take one more step"
Two on one at 12:30 am in the dark would definitely put me in fear for my life.

another good observation.

this story is clearly lacking. i am surprised some of you are so quick to declare it a bad shoot.