USA Carry
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Maps
  • State Guides
    • A-E
      • Alabama
      • Alaska
      • American Samoa
      • Arizona
      • Arkansas
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Delaware
    • F-J
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Guam
      • Hawaii
      • Idaho
      • Illinois
      • Indiana
      • Iowa
    • K-M
      • Kansas
      • Kentucky
      • Louisiana
      • Maine
      • Maryland
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Mississippi
      • Missouri
      • Montana
    • N-O
      • Nebraska
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Jersey
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • North Dakota
      • Northern Marianas
      • Ohio
      • Oklahoma
      • Oregon
    • P-U
      • Pennsylvania
      • Puerto Rico
      • Rhode Island
      • South Carolina
      • South Dakota
      • Tennessee
      • Texas
      • Utah
    • V-Z
      • Vermont
      • Virgin Islands
      • Virginia
      • Washington
      • Washington D.C.
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Store
  • Deals
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Maps
  • State Guides
    • A-E
      • Alabama
      • Alaska
      • American Samoa
      • Arizona
      • Arkansas
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Delaware
    • F-J
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Guam
      • Hawaii
      • Idaho
      • Illinois
      • Indiana
      • Iowa
    • K-M
      • Kansas
      • Kentucky
      • Louisiana
      • Maine
      • Maryland
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Mississippi
      • Missouri
      • Montana
    • N-O
      • Nebraska
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Jersey
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • North Dakota
      • Northern Marianas
      • Ohio
      • Oklahoma
      • Oregon
    • P-U
      • Pennsylvania
      • Puerto Rico
      • Rhode Island
      • South Carolina
      • South Dakota
      • Tennessee
      • Texas
      • Utah
    • V-Z
      • Vermont
      • Virgin Islands
      • Virginia
      • Washington
      • Washington D.C.
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Store
  • Deals
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
USA Carry
No Result
View All Result
  • DAILY GUNS & AMMO DEALS – CLICK HERE!
Home Articles

Two Men Shot By Washington Park Business Owner During Attempted Burglary

Mark Ehlen by Mark Ehlen
March 22, 2020
in Articles, Defensive Gun Uses
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Two Men Shot By Washington Park Business Owner During Attempted Burglary
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A Washington Park, Illinois salvage yard owner caught two men attempting to burglarize his business sometime between 1:30 and 3:30 AM. He told police that he started shooting at them when the men hopped over the fence. He apparently didn’t know that he had hit both of them as they ran back to the fence, jumped over it, and ran away. The suspects ran in different directions with one falling dead nearby while the other, shot in the leg, sought treatment at a hospital and then returned to the scene to look for his friend. Presumably, he was apprehended at that time. The business owner called the police at the time of the incident. This story was originally reported by Belleville News-Democrat.

At first blush, this might look like a case of a good guy protecting himself from an attack, but don’t be so sure. I don’t know the specifics of defense of property law in Illinois, but in Minnesota, this owner could easily be charged with attempted murder and murder.

The key statement here is the owner telling police that he shot as the men were hopping over the fence. In some states, again not sure about Illinois, Castle Doctrine includes businesses you own and even occupied vehicles and would give you the legal presumption of the fear of death or great bodily harm assuming force was used to gain illegal entry.

If that’s not the case in Illinois, then deadly force defense would only apply to self and not to property and, as always, only in response to a deadly force attack. There is no mention of the burglars having weapons, so it wouldn’t be unreasonable for a prosecutor to argue that the owner was not in imminent danger at the time he fired upon the intruders. Had he waited until the burglars were close enough to demonstrate their intent to harm him personally, then this would be an entirely different matter.

Prosecutors, courts, and juries look very unfavorably upon using deadly force to protect mere property no matter what the value. Absent laws defining his place of business as highly defensible property, this owner will be left with making a case for the defense of himself only.

Since he also apparently spoke with police without an attorney, which is never a good idea, his above statement that he shot as they were hopping over the fence could possibly be a confession of one count of attempted murder and one count of murder. Illinois is not exactly a self-defense friendly state, so let’s hope that it doesn’t turn out that way for this guy even though he likely believed that he was acting within the law.

As always, you must be intimately familiar with the use of force laws in your state so that you don’t, even inadvertently, subject yourself to legal liability that could cost you your freedom.

Mark Ehlen

Mark Ehlen

Mark Ehlen is a USCCA certified firearms instructor, a MN DNR Firearms Safety instructor, high school trap shooting coach and a writer. As one of his uncles ran Federal Cartridge Corp for many years and his father retired from there, firearms and ammo are second nature to him. His firearms instruction is aimed at helping new shooters have a positive experience as well as understanding the practical and legal side of concealed carry. Mark can be reached at Marksmanship Firearms Training.

Next Post
Illinois Governor Lists Gun Stores as ‘Essential,’ Exempts Them from Forced Shutdown

Illinois Governor Lists Gun Stores as ‘Essential,’ Exempts Them from Forced Shutdown

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Connect with
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect with
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Please login to comment
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Previous Post

[VIDEO] Get Better While Quarantined – Dry Fire Drills

Next Post

Illinois Governor Lists Gun Stores as ‘Essential,’ Exempts Them from Forced Shutdown

Related Posts

Articles

Facing Three Armed Intruders Alone, Evansville Man Shoots One Dead, Sends Two Fleeing

May 15, 2025
Articles

Suspect with AK-47 Opens Fire in Florence Fast Food Restaurant as 17-Year-Old Employee Shoots Back

May 14, 2025
Articles

GOA Slams House Committee for Betrayal Over Suppressor Tax ‘Compromise’

May 14, 2025 - Updated On May 15, 2025
Articles

Armed Citizen Defends Himself After Suspect Pulls Gun During Online Sale, Teen Shot During Attempted Carjacking

May 13, 2025

© 2024 USA Carry LLC

Navigate Site

  • State Guides
  • Maps
  • Articles
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Store
  • Deals
  • Giveaway
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Maps
  • Concealed Carry Permit Guides By State
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • American Samoa
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Guam
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Northern Marianas
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Puerto Rico
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virgin Islands
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • Washington D.C.
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Giveaway
  • Store
  • Daily Deals
  • Contact

© 2024 USA Carry LLC

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Maps
  • Concealed Carry Permit Guides By State
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • American Samoa
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Guam
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Northern Marianas
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Puerto Rico
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virgin Islands
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • Washington D.C.
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming
  • Articles
    • Defensive Gun Uses
    • Concealed Carry
    • Gun Reviews
    • Gear Reviews
    • Training
    • Firearm Laws & Litigation
    • CCW For Women
    • General Firearm
    • Open Carry
    • Self-Defense
    • Survival
    • Home Defense
  • Forums
  • Podcast
  • Giveaway
  • Store
  • Daily Deals
  • Contact

© 2024 USA Carry LLC

wpDiscuz
0
0
Join the conversation, please comment.x
()
x
| Reply
You are going to send email to

Move Comment
Gun Deals
Gun.Deals