Georgia’s “stand your ground law” could come into play after a man shot and killed a suspected car thief who was trying to take his car from a gas station. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that Atlanta police are now securing murder warrants against 25-year-old Rasheem Scott, who allegedly opened fire against the car thieves.
Witnesses tell WSB-TV that the man left his car running outside the gas station, when he saw a couple get in his car. The gas station owner says they watched as the man opened fire on a man who climbed into his black sedan, according to the television station.
“I heard five shots, and I look back, and the girl is screaming, ‘Don’t shoot him no more,'” a witness told the television station, “She just screaming, ‘Don’t shoot him no more. Please don’t shoot him no more.'”
Immediately after the incident, 25-year-old Scott walked back into the store and asked employees to call 911, WSBTV reports, he immediately turned himself into police custody. Atlanta police were securing murder warrants against him Sunday afternoon, according to The Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Georgia’s stand your ground law was adopted from case law into legislation in 2006. Here is what it says:
§ 16-3-23.1. No duty to retreat prior to use of force in self-defense
A person who uses threats or force in accordance with Code Section 16-3-21, relating to the use of force in defense of self or others, Code Section 16-3-23, relating to the use of force in defense of a habitation, or Code Section 16-3-24, relating to the use of force in defense of property other than a habitation, has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and use force as provided in said Code sections, including deadly force.
It is not clear if the man’s case would fit into this category, but it is certainly something both prosecutors and defense will consider.
[h/t and screengrab via WSB-TV]
Follow Law&Crime:
