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Woman Shot While Looking for Dog
allen griggs
Member Posts: 35,687 ✭✭✭✭
Florida woman looking for lost dog fatally shot by 83-year-old neighbor
BY JESSICA SCHLADEBECK
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Wednesday, January 11, 2017, 11:30 AM
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A 65-year-old Florida woman was shot and killed Tuesday night while searching the streets for her missing dog.
Rebecca Rawson, accompanied by her brother-in-law and daughter, showed up at a Manatee County home just after 7 p.m. in hopes of being reunited with her lost pup, Bart, ABC Action News reported.
The group was met by 83-year-old Eugene Matthews, who opened the door and fired a handgun into the air before shooting a single round into the trio's vehicle, through the front windshield.
The bullet struck Rawson - who was seated in the driver's seat at the time - in the face, ABC reported.
She was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead, the sheriff's office told the news station.
Matthews' home along Pritchart Rd. is surrounded by a fence and signs intended to ward off trespassers. A message on the driveway warns people they'll be shot and that 911 will not be called should they wrongfully enter the property, according to WFLA.
Looking over Matthews' house from a watch tower is a mannequin decked out military gear, and it's surrounded by three machine guns.
Matthews was charged with second degree murder and is due in court Wednesday afternoon.
BY JESSICA SCHLADEBECK
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Wednesday, January 11, 2017, 11:30 AM
Tweet
A 65-year-old Florida woman was shot and killed Tuesday night while searching the streets for her missing dog.
Rebecca Rawson, accompanied by her brother-in-law and daughter, showed up at a Manatee County home just after 7 p.m. in hopes of being reunited with her lost pup, Bart, ABC Action News reported.
The group was met by 83-year-old Eugene Matthews, who opened the door and fired a handgun into the air before shooting a single round into the trio's vehicle, through the front windshield.
The bullet struck Rawson - who was seated in the driver's seat at the time - in the face, ABC reported.
She was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead, the sheriff's office told the news station.
Matthews' home along Pritchart Rd. is surrounded by a fence and signs intended to ward off trespassers. A message on the driveway warns people they'll be shot and that 911 will not be called should they wrongfully enter the property, according to WFLA.
Looking over Matthews' house from a watch tower is a mannequin decked out military gear, and it's surrounded by three machine guns.
Matthews was charged with second degree murder and is due in court Wednesday afternoon.
Comments
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however its also exactly what I have told people I use to work with those cute signs will be used against you if any thing happens
obvious this fellow had a loose screw or two , but they are still using his sign in the article
Matthews' home along Pritchart Rd. is surrounded by a fence and signs intended to ward off trespassers. A message on the driveway warns people they'll be shot and that 911 will not be called should they wrongfully enter the property, according to WFLA.
If not competent he should be institutionalized and all of his assets sold to give to the woman's family.
You do NOT shoot people sitting in car in your driveway. You do not post signs like his EVER.
sorry for all involved terrible event
however its also exactly what I have told people I use to work with those cute signs will be used against you if any thing happens
obvious this fellow had a loose screw or two , but they are still using his sign in the article
Matthews' home along Pritchart Rd. is surrounded by a fence and signs intended to ward off trespassers. A message on the driveway warns people they'll be shot and that 911 will not be called should they wrongfully enter the property, according to WFLA.
been saying that for years, signs, clothing, bumper stickers can be used against you, and even make a justifiable shooting questionable
NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
So they were stealing his dog, at night, on private property.
Almost sounds like there was a fued prior to this. Also wonder what killed the estranged husband.
Headline could just as easily have read " Gang of hoodlems thwarted by ARMED CITIZEN while breaking into his property and stealing his dog.
From the link:
The victim, Rebecca Rawson, along with Kathryn Rawson (her daughter) and Rodney Rawson (her brother in law), went to Matthews' home on Pritchart Street to retrieve a yellow lab, Bart.
Bart previously belonged to Rodney Rawson's brother, who died last week.
According to Rodney Raswon, he gave the dog to Matthews after he asked for it, but Kathryn, his niece, told him she wanted her dad's dog.
Deputies say when Rawson went to the door and knocked, Juanita Sills answered the door. Rawson called the dog's name and the dog came to the door. Rawson picked up the dog and took him back to the car.
Eugene Matthews came out of the house and fired a handgun into the air twice. Then he pointed the gun at the vehicle and a single round went through the windshield and hit Rebecca Rawson, 65, in the face. Rodney grabbed the gun from Williams and a struggle ensued and one round was fired before Rawson could get the gun from the suspect.
Most outlets report that they were just out searching for the dog, which is obviously a distortion of the event.
A sad deal all around. These people knew Matthews had the dog, and it would appear that Matthews did not want to return the dog. They took the dog and grandma became dead. Can't justify any of it.
Brad Steele
Under certain limited circumstances, you can kill someone illegally entering your home while you are inside.
But, never forget that police, fire, & certain other government employees can enter your property & your home without your permission, due to "exigent circumstances". Harm any of them, & you have screwed the pooch.
Neal
I just don't understand why any person needs to Murder someone, that is unarmed and not a threat to their life, just to prove a point. Oh, well it is my right to kill you for pulling in my driveway, walking on my lawn, ect. Where the hell is their brains???? Rhetorical question. Oakie
Wait a sec, if the property is surrounded by a gate, and there are signs that essentially say no trespassing, aren't these people trespassing on his property? At night no less? I thought this was a classic case of self-defense/property defense. It is tragic that this happened, but I don't see how he broke the law. Can someone explain?
Every state is different, however generally speaking deadly force is reserved for when someone has entered your home (not land) and you can reasonably demonstrate that you had reason to fear for your life.
Just because there is a picture a now closed gate, does not mean the gate was closed at the time they drove up the driveway( I am assuming that, he could have shot at the car at the end of the driveway by the street for all we know). For the exception of Texas (which may have changed) and maybe a few other states, in most states you are NOT justified in using deadly force to protect property, but rather only to protect yourself or a third party from imminent death or serious * injury.
It will be a challenge for his legal team to argue that he was in fear for his life when he shot her through the windshield as they were trying to leave with his dog. I am also going to go out out on a limb and bet that based on the pictures of his compound that his statements to responding officers likely demonstrated a lack of remorse, and malice aforethought.
This story obviously has several other "issues" but regardless, the guy was not within his rights when he fired the gun.
My job requires that I "attempt to contact" individuals "on my list". If this means driving past No Trespassing signs and/or opening gates(as long as there's no real evidence that the gate was intentionally locked) in the attempt to contact folks who have already refused to respond to mail or phone, that's just part of the job. I'm not aware of any situation in which a property owner can shoot at non-threatening trespassers.
This story obviously has several other "issues" but regardless, the guy was not within his rights when he fired the gun.
Does your job "require" you to trespass and break the law?
Arizona, per A.R.S. ?13-1502, ?13-1503 and ?13-1504, "Trespass" is generally when a person knowingly enters or remains unlawfully on a piece of property after they have been requested to leave, or without the expressed permission of the owner, or in violation of a posted sign warning of Trespass.
quote:Originally posted by RugerNiner
ANYONE that enters there without an invite is just asking for trouble.
No excuse ...... but some people, more than a reasonable number, have zero sense and zero common sense...which can and in this case, cost the persons life.
Not only did they enter without invite, they attempted to steal the mans dog. And no doubt with such disrespectful azzhats, the mouthed off to the deranged old geezer. Stupid people and the stupid consequences of their stupid actions.
All parties involved seemed OK to take the law into their own hands. Wonder how that is working out for them now?
I wonder how big and scary the son in law was and if he was threatening the old coot, and the old coot just missed and the bullet hit the car by accident. Of course, the only photo we get of old guy makes him look deranged, but where are the other photos of the same old guy in his suit and tie? (if they exist).
Sounds like the Travon crap again. I doubt we will get the facts in a timely manner.
A car in a driveway and two people stealing a dog.
Two shots in the air and one into the car's windshield at dusk.
No reason to think the old guy even know there was someone left in the car. A series of unforced errors that resulted in a death.
The guy that pulled the trigger is responsible. The three that challenged him are irresponsible.
Brad Steele
Too easy to jump to conclusions.
A car in a driveway and two people stealing a dog.
Two shots in the air and one into the car's windshield at dusk.
No reason to think the old guy even know there was someone left in the car. A series of unforced errors that resulted in a death.
The guy that pulled the trigger is responsible. The three that challenged him are irresponsible.
In Arizona, some trespass is considered a felony. In Arizona, you can use deadly force when witnessing a felony. You can even shoot the fleeing felon in the back. The cops can't, but a citizen can. The caveat is your life will be ruined trying to clear yourself.
Thing is, because a person defends his rights does not make him a crackpot. His gate looked like it had been rammed. (if it is his gate), and the pieces of the puzzle indicate there may have been a fued, as he was friends with the "estranged husband".
The old buzzard may very well be justified in fearing for his life. See if somebody can find pictures of the son in law and family stealing the dog. They chose to break the law. The home owner was put in a bind by them.
The media biased the story from the start. They demonized the guy, because he had a gun and wishes to protect his property and life. The media did this with George Zimmerman as well.
Maybe in a week or so Trump can order a grand jury investigation. I would love to see all the history this family has with the, dare I say, Patriot? Media had it out for him because of his tower. Or maybe he really is a whackadoodle.