Should he get first degree murder?

Question

From what I read in the articles the 16 year old mistakenly knocked on his door! I feel like he should definitely be charged with FIRST DEGREE MURDER bc he shot the kid thur his door and then open his door and shot him again. That’s down right evil I could see if he was breaking and entering…. But you shot him for knocking on your door? WOW
UPDATE : the kid did survive!! So it would be attempted first degree!!!!!

Accepted Answer

Can we please talk about how there is a very real problem with our society, our culture, and a certain segment of the media (including social media) that repeatedly portrays young black men as a threat and simultaneously glorifies using a gun for protection against imagined threats? 
I know everyone is ready to hate on this racist old white guy, and he deserves it, but the problem isn't limited to racist old white guys. The problem will still exist in 10-20 years when all those guys are dead and gone. George Zimmerman was a 28 year old hispanic guy, and a bunch of black officers killed Tyre Nichols. The issue is one where our society constantly bombards us with the message that young black men and black teens are up to no good and dangerous.  And that message doesn't just fall into the ears of old white men. It's systemic, it is pervasive, it is so "normal," some people refuse to accept it even exists. I promise there are plenty of people whose very first thought was to look into this kid's background to see what kind of person he was - as if any of that even mattered as he stood at the wrong door to get his siblings. As if any of that mattered as he dragged himself to 3 different houses asking for help.  As it happens, like the vast majority of young black kids, he is just a good kid with a loving family and hopes and dreams for his future.  Not that it should matter. Had he been a terrible student or dropped out of school or even if he had a record - he still didn't deserve to be shot for ringing a doorbell while black. 
Also, I frequently see people flippantly talking about how they'll shoot anyone that steps foot on their property uninvited. I don't think the vast majority of people who post that sentiment mean they'll shoot any stranger ringing their doorbell, but I do think that it leads to situations like this one where an old guy, who feels vulnerable due to age is fearful of young black men, calls to mind that plenty of people advocate for shooting first and asking questions later. That feeling threatened - whether real or imagined - justifies potentially taking a life.

Answer

He's been charged with assault and something else I think. I don't think he would have been charged at all if it hadn't been for public pressure.
A man in upstate NY shot and killed a 20 year old woman who pulled into his driveway to turn around. He's been charged with murder. 
So in addition to schools, concerts, grocery stores, church, movie theatres you need to fear the wrong driveway or ringing the wrong doorbell. This is a death cult that has a strangle hold on your population.

Answer

He should be charged with attempted murder because of the second shot and if the boy had not survived that would absolutely be first degree premeditated murder.  
Premeditation can happen in seconds, all that is needed is the thought or intent to kill.

Answer

He should be charged with the most severe charges applicable in this kind of situation. I would also say it’s a hate crime. Hopefully this young man lives without serious injuries.

Answer

No, because thankfully Ralph is still alive. I know the saying thoughts and prayers is kind of bullshit, but that’s all I’ve got that this precious child continues to survive. 🙏🏻
First degree murder also implies that it’s premeditated, which does not seem to apply here. 
The charges filed assault in the first degree and armed criminal action are appropriate, but not enough. I sincerely hope that federal hate crime charges will also be added.

Answer

It is evil. It is a hate crime. But no, it does not fit the definition of 1st degree murder, attempted or otherwise. It wasn’t a planned murder. It was a cruel and racist reaction from an old coot with a gun. I hope he gets punished to the full extent of the law, but it wasn’t premeditated murder

Answer

Let this old thug spend the rest of his days behind bars.

Answer

Well he can’t be charged with first degree murder consider the kid thankfully survived.  I definitely think he should be charged with attempted murder, though he’s only being charged with first degree assault and armed criminal action.

Answer

This is such a horrifying case! I hope he gets the most severe punishment possible but in a country where guns have more rights than people I can’t see that happening 😡

Answer

Since he survived, no but it should be attempted murder. Like these politicians need to seriously sit down and have a talk about guns and the fact that it appears that the majority of people that have them shouldn’t

Should he get first degree murder?

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