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Self-defense raised in Pickens case
Josey1
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Self-defense raised in Pickens case
By Stephanie Taylor
Staff Writer
August 15, 2002
Email this story.
GORDO | Pickens County authorities said Wednesday that a man who shot and killed his 35-year-old son during a weekend argument may have acted in self-defense.
Pickens County Sheriff David Abston said John William Booth, 63, shot Perry Michael Booth Saturday in the torso with a .22 caliber pistol after the son physically assaulted his parents at their home.
John Booth has not been arrested, and the case will be presented to a grand jury in September.
The younger Booth had been living with his parents "on and off," Abston said.
He arrived at the home on County Road 49 near Gordo around 6 p.m. Saturday, Abston said. He argued over the telephone with his ex-wife before arguing with his parents, Abston said, and knocked his mother and father to the ground before he was shot.
"It appears to us at this time that it was probably a self-defense-type situation," Abston said.
Deputies have responded to domestic violence calls at the residence before, he said. "Perry had an extensive criminal history," he said. "He'd been in and out of jail since he was a juvenile."
Perry Booth, a lifelong Gordo resident, had two sons, ages 13 and 11.
Pickens County District Attorney Chris McCool said authorities are investigating what happened before John Booth shot his son.
"We can't rule anything out yet," he said. "If he was shot in self-defense, then there is no case."
He said that it is not unusual to hold off on making an arrest and take the case to a grand jury when there is a strong suggestion of self-defense.
McCool said he is a neighbor of the Booths.
"From the standpoint of a neighbor, this is heartwrenching. From a prosecutor's standpoint, we've got to look at it and make sure that what needs to be done is done," he said.
Reach Stephanie Taylor at stephanie.taylor@tuscaloosanews.com or 345-0505, Ext. 258.
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/stories/23351newsarchivedstorypage.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
By Stephanie Taylor
Staff Writer
August 15, 2002
Email this story.
GORDO | Pickens County authorities said Wednesday that a man who shot and killed his 35-year-old son during a weekend argument may have acted in self-defense.
Pickens County Sheriff David Abston said John William Booth, 63, shot Perry Michael Booth Saturday in the torso with a .22 caliber pistol after the son physically assaulted his parents at their home.
John Booth has not been arrested, and the case will be presented to a grand jury in September.
The younger Booth had been living with his parents "on and off," Abston said.
He arrived at the home on County Road 49 near Gordo around 6 p.m. Saturday, Abston said. He argued over the telephone with his ex-wife before arguing with his parents, Abston said, and knocked his mother and father to the ground before he was shot.
"It appears to us at this time that it was probably a self-defense-type situation," Abston said.
Deputies have responded to domestic violence calls at the residence before, he said. "Perry had an extensive criminal history," he said. "He'd been in and out of jail since he was a juvenile."
Perry Booth, a lifelong Gordo resident, had two sons, ages 13 and 11.
Pickens County District Attorney Chris McCool said authorities are investigating what happened before John Booth shot his son.
"We can't rule anything out yet," he said. "If he was shot in self-defense, then there is no case."
He said that it is not unusual to hold off on making an arrest and take the case to a grand jury when there is a strong suggestion of self-defense.
McCool said he is a neighbor of the Booths.
"From the standpoint of a neighbor, this is heartwrenching. From a prosecutor's standpoint, we've got to look at it and make sure that what needs to be done is done," he said.
Reach Stephanie Taylor at stephanie.taylor@tuscaloosanews.com or 345-0505, Ext. 258.
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/stories/23351newsarchivedstorypage.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
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By Denise Nix
DAILY BREEZE
A TRW engineer who shot a man in the face during a confrontation in the aerospace company's Redondo Beach parking lot was freed from jail Wednesday after prosecutors dropped felony charges and he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor.
The District Attorney's Office decided that Angel Colon, 39, had acted in self-defense when he shot Jose Solis, 46, who believed his wife was having a relationship with Colon and had left threatening voice mail messages on Colon's phone at TRW in the weeks before the shooting.
When Colon walked into court Wednesday to enter his plea to illegally possessing a firearm, about 30 supporters from TRW and Cal Poly Pomona, his alma matter, stood up to greet him. At the end of the hearing, they applauded him.
Some of the friends have known Colon for decades, Tina Shelton told a reporter outside of court, dubbing his supporters "Angel fans."
"We could not believe that Angel would harm a single person," said Shelton of Cal Poly Pomona, where Colon received his master's degree in engineering and is a benefactor to the school's engineering program.
Deputy District Attorney Brad McCartt told Torrance Superior Court Judge James M. Ideman that, after a review of TRW security tape that caught the incident on camera, as well as learning the history between Colon and Solis, his office determined Solis had made threats on Colon's life and body.
"Mr. Colon had a valid reason for self-defense," McCartt said.
"I trust your office to do a proper investigation," Ideman said before sentencing Colon to 104 days in jail, with credit for the 104 days he has served since his arrest after the June 6 shooting.
Ideman also declined to order that Colon pay restitution to Solis, finding "compelling and extraordinary reasons" for doing so because the shooting was justified.
McCartt said in court that a civil claim by Solis against Colon was ongoing, but no record of a suit could be found.
Colon's attorney, Gregg S. Laughlin, said his client had filed reports with the Redondo Beach Police Department about the threats Solis was making.
In addition, TRW security recorded voice mail messages Solis left for Colon, including one that was full of profanity.
"You don't (expletive) with my (expletive) woman. OK? I know a lot of people in low places. You understand me? OK?" said the voice on the message that identifies himself as Solis. "Watch your back because it's coming."
Colon has denied having any relationship with Solis' wife, who also worked at TRW.
The confrontation began about 10:30 a.m. in the parking lot at Marine Avenue when Solis threatened Colon as he got out of his vehicle. Solis pushed and shoved Colon and screamed threats at him, Laughlin said.
Colon was planning on going to the firing range that evening, so he had a loaded pistol in his car, which he retrieved, Laughlin said.
Solis eventually charged at Colon, who fired at Solis. The bullet entered Solis's upper jaw, traveled down his throat and lodged in his shoulder. Solis is recovering.
Colon called 911 and waited for emergency personnel to arrive. He was arrested and charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.
"Today is also a great day for the California criminal justice system, because we've seen it work to provide justice to the innocent as well as punishment for those who are found guilty," Laughlin said.
Patrick Dinwiddie, who works with Colon at TRW, said Colon gives a lot to the community by tutoring children and speaking to recruits.
"We need more people in this world like Angel," Dinwiddie added.
http://www.dailybreeze.com/content/bln/nmcolon15.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878