US boy, 13, shot dead for stealing
Chicago - A man who shot and killed a 13-year-old boy as he
was stealing from an unlocked car was arrested but US
prosecutors declined to press charges, police said Monday.
Martinez Smith-Payne, was found unconscious and bleeding in
a back alley when police were called about a shooting in St
Louis, Missouri at 00:47 on Sunday. He died in hospital.
"Investigation revealed the victim, along with two other
juveniles, was attempting to steal items from an unlocked
parked vehicle when the suspect confronted them, then fired
shots at the juveniles," St Louis police said in a statement.
The shooter, who was identified as a 60-year-old man, was
immediately taken into custody. He was released after
prosecutors "refused" a police request to press charges, the
statement said.
Also Read: No more baby parts - Planned Parenthood gunman
It was unclear if he was threatened by the teenagers prior to
opening fire.
Police declined to provide further details about the incident.
Prosecutors called the boy's death "a terrible tragedy" but said
"Missouri law regarding a homeowner's right to protect
himself and his property is complicated."
Both the boy and the man were black, in this case.
Lethal force
Like many US states, Missouri's so-called castle doctrine
allows for the use of lethal force without the "duty to retreat" if
someone feels threatened. Such laws have been interpreted to
also allow for the use of deadly force to defend property and
have been used to justify shooting fleeing thieves, with varying
degrees of success.
"We are reviewing the evidence, witness accounts and case
law to ensure we are protecting the rights of both the victim
and the homeowner," St Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce
said in a statement.
"All individuals deserve a thoughtful review of the facts."
The shooting comes as the region is still recovering from the
police shooting of unarmed black teen Michael Brown in the St
Louis suburb of Ferguson last year.
Also Read: US TV anchor recalls horror of colleagues' on-air
murder
The shooting sparked months of sometimes violent protest
and plunged the United States in a debate about racism and
the use of force by law enforcement.
A boy with the same name was reported missing by his
parents in June.
A local news report said Martinez Smith-Payne had attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder and that his
parents feared he had run away from home without his
medications.
The boy, who lost four fingers in a fireworks accident at the
age of 10, was found a few days later.
- AFP
was stealing from an unlocked car was arrested but US
prosecutors declined to press charges, police said Monday.
Martinez Smith-Payne, was found unconscious and bleeding in
a back alley when police were called about a shooting in St
Louis, Missouri at 00:47 on Sunday. He died in hospital.
"Investigation revealed the victim, along with two other
juveniles, was attempting to steal items from an unlocked
parked vehicle when the suspect confronted them, then fired
shots at the juveniles," St Louis police said in a statement.
The shooter, who was identified as a 60-year-old man, was
immediately taken into custody. He was released after
prosecutors "refused" a police request to press charges, the
statement said.
Also Read: No more baby parts - Planned Parenthood gunman
It was unclear if he was threatened by the teenagers prior to
opening fire.
Police declined to provide further details about the incident.
Prosecutors called the boy's death "a terrible tragedy" but said
"Missouri law regarding a homeowner's right to protect
himself and his property is complicated."
Both the boy and the man were black, in this case.
Lethal force
Like many US states, Missouri's so-called castle doctrine
allows for the use of lethal force without the "duty to retreat" if
someone feels threatened. Such laws have been interpreted to
also allow for the use of deadly force to defend property and
have been used to justify shooting fleeing thieves, with varying
degrees of success.
"We are reviewing the evidence, witness accounts and case
law to ensure we are protecting the rights of both the victim
and the homeowner," St Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce
said in a statement.
"All individuals deserve a thoughtful review of the facts."
The shooting comes as the region is still recovering from the
police shooting of unarmed black teen Michael Brown in the St
Louis suburb of Ferguson last year.
Also Read: US TV anchor recalls horror of colleagues' on-air
murder
The shooting sparked months of sometimes violent protest
and plunged the United States in a debate about racism and
the use of force by law enforcement.
A boy with the same name was reported missing by his
parents in June.
A local news report said Martinez Smith-Payne had attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder and that his
parents feared he had run away from home without his
medications.
The boy, who lost four fingers in a fireworks accident at the
age of 10, was found a few days later.
- AFP
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