Sigarms
Super Member
We do agree that it's a sad story.
I read a local newspaper account of the trial. The article mentioned that the stick in question "carried some heft" so to speak, and the jury thought it could be used as a "dangerous weapon".
Also, although Brooks was 74 years old, we don't know (or I didn't read it) about his physical shape (I know a couple of "old timer" farmers who are in pretty good shape).
Per the post here, 5 rounds were discharged in the "killing".
Although this may seem like too many rounds to be used in "self defense", it's not uncommon for many people who have to use a firearm in self defense to keep shooting until the magazine is empty or the gun "can't shoot" anymore. Numerous variables, biggest being adrenaline (sp?).
The fact that he only shot five rounds (and he could of had a 15 round magazine) at least "tells me" that he could of stopped shooting when he thought Brooks "was down".
I don't know this for a fact.
But...the jury did find him (Ames) not guilty (and I know, that may not mean anything) but the trail wasn't held in California, so I have to reason that the jury did look at all the circumstances.
I read a local newspaper account of the trial. The article mentioned that the stick in question "carried some heft" so to speak, and the jury thought it could be used as a "dangerous weapon".
Also, although Brooks was 74 years old, we don't know (or I didn't read it) about his physical shape (I know a couple of "old timer" farmers who are in pretty good shape).
Per the post here, 5 rounds were discharged in the "killing".
Although this may seem like too many rounds to be used in "self defense", it's not uncommon for many people who have to use a firearm in self defense to keep shooting until the magazine is empty or the gun "can't shoot" anymore. Numerous variables, biggest being adrenaline (sp?).
The fact that he only shot five rounds (and he could of had a 15 round magazine) at least "tells me" that he could of stopped shooting when he thought Brooks "was down".
I don't know this for a fact.
But...the jury did find him (Ames) not guilty (and I know, that may not mean anything) but the trail wasn't held in California, so I have to reason that the jury did look at all the circumstances.