Man Fires at Getaway Car

[CT-Mike]

Victim Shoots Getaway Vehicle

LARGO - A man fired a gun Wednesday at the getaway vehicle of a burglar who had just broken into his home, and he managed to hit a tire, police said. Authorities say they identified and charged the burglar.

Now they are looking for the vehicle, described as a dark blue GMC Envoy, Lt. Mike Loux said.

The burglary victim and his wife arrived home in the 1500 block of North Peaceful Lane and spotted a sport utility vehicle in their driveway, Loux said.

The wife looked into the unfamiliar vehicle to see whether anyone was inside, Loux said. Nobody was.

The husband thought something was wrong and retrieved a .357-caliber firearm from his glove box, Loux said. The man is licensed to carry a concealed firearm.

The husband opened the garage door and at about the same time noticed someone coming from a side yard toward the driveway, Loux said.

The person hopped into the Envoy and began to back out of the driveway, Loux said. The couple's car was behind the Envoy, and the husband thought the Envoy was going to hit him, his wife or their car, Loux said.

The husband shot twice at the driver's side front tire as the Envoy sped away. Investigators determined the driver of the Envoy had burglarized the couple's home, Loux said.

On Thursday, Largo authorities learned of an arrest by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. The man, identified by Largo police as Robert Jacobs, 48, told authorities he burglarized the home and was unaware anyone had fired at the Envoy, Loux said.

Authorities, who did not identify the couple, are still looking for the Envoy. Its Florida license plate number is X835WY.

Detectives also are trying to determine whether Jacobs committed any other burglaries, Loux said.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Ram Rod]

Interesting! Learn something new every day. I wasn't aware that shooting at a front tire on a vehicle speeding away was a 'self defensive shooting'. I guess things worked out considering. Glad to know there would be no charges filed against the home owner for recklessly discharging a firearm.

[USPnTX]

Largo -- is that Florida??

[Sticks]

Interesting! Learn something new every day. I wasn't aware that shooting at a front tire on a vehicle speeding away was a 'self defensive shooting'. I guess things worked out considering. Glad to know there would be no charges filed against the home owner for recklessly discharging a firearm.

It is food for thought, but the report does not state whether or not the homeowner got charged with anything. Illegal discharge of a firearm in city limits, reckless endangerment...

[CT-Mike]

Largo -- is that Florida??

Evidently it is in the Tampa Bay area, as the story is posted on TBO - Tampa Bay Online.

[press1280]

I got excited there for a minute when I saw Largo (thinking Largo,MD). A CCW(someone actually got one!) defending himself! Shucks,its only FL.
I guess the only MD threads we will see will be the BAD or UGLY.

[JonInNY]

He's lucky he didn't get arrested for assault, after the fact. Technically you can only take deadly action when threatened, not after the threat is over and the BG has departed!

[OPFOR]

Well, we all know my thoughts on shooting at fleeing vehicles (it's right up there with kicking puppies, IMO), but this one is even more interesting. The shooter said he was afraid the vehicle might hit him or his wife - OK, now the vehicle isn't fleeing, it's being used as a deadle weapon; take whatever action is necessary. BUT, the guy also said he was by the garage door, and the vehicle was backing out of the driveway...in most cases, the garage is at the end of the driveway (by the house), not the beginning of it (by the road). So, this is an unusual property layout, or something is a little fishy...

[tegemu]

Bad Shoot!!!

[walvord]

Seems like the first thing to do when you arrive at your residence and something doesn't look right and the house is empty, call 911 and wait for the police. Otherwise, trying to check for burglars in your house could be asking for trouble - literally. You have no idea how many there may be and could get ambushed. If the BG's aren't running out of the house shooting at you, wait for the police. I'm thinking he's lucky not to have been charged with something.

[Janq]

If his fear was of the vehicle backing into his wife (property is not defensible) then he should have shot at the driver, not the vehicles tire. Any sized car will continue to move even with a tire flattened. Such an action would have zero real world not on TV effect on the ability of the driver to continue operating the vehicle in a purposeful manner.

Agreed Walvord ^^
It's very simple.
If you suspect trouble then leave and do not go into it (duh!). Drive up the street and dial 911.
Had there been two or three burglars and just one armed muchless them all then Mr. Homeowner would be looking at serious injury if not death, and his wife left defenseless...

- Janq would not fire at a vehicle, but would do so at it's operator

[citizen510]

He's lucky he didn't get arrested for assault, after the fact. Technically you can only take deadly action when threatened, not after the threat is over and the BG has departed!

FLORIDA CASTLE DOCTRINE may be different than New York law.

[MattInFla]

FLORIDA CASTLE DOCTRINE means he can shoot to stop the perp! Very much UNLIKE if it was in New York. YMMV

Sorry, but no.

Florida's "castle doctrine" only applies inside your residence or vehicle.

The only way the "castle doctrine" in Florida applies to shooting at the getaway vehicle is if it is driving through your living room.

Matt

[Sticks]

Sorry, but no.

Florida's "castle doctrine" only applies inside your residence or vehicle.

The only way the "castle doctrine" in Florida applies to shooting at the getaway vehicle is if it is driving through your living room.

Matt

Unless there is a statute that allows use of force to stop a fleeing suspect. I'd say shooting the tire would qualify as that, although the radiator would have had a better effect.

[glock27mark]

yeah, he'lucky he wont be charged. i personelly would have let him go
and then call police. be a whole lot cheaper for a new car then a legal
issue.