Boys shot for taking McCain sign

[still_me]

Police: Teen Attempting To Take McCain Sign Shot By Man

POSTED: 7:24 am EDT October 28, 2008
UPDATED: 8:45 am EDT October 28, 2008

Police: Teen Attempting To Take McCain Sign Shot By Man]
LEAVITTSBURG, Ohio -- Authorities in northeast Ohio say a teenager was shot and wounded by a man who said he wanted to stop the boy and another from taking his John McCain yard sign.

Warren Township police Lt. Don Bishop said 50-year-old Kenneth Rowles told officers he got out a .22-caliber rifle Saturday afternoon to fire warning shots, not hurt anyone.

Rowles pleaded not guilty Monday to felonious assault. A preliminary hearing was set for Nov. 4, Election Day.

Bishop said 17-year-old Kyree Flowers was shot in the right arm and was treated at a hospital.

Police said two shots hit a van the other teen was driving.

No charges were filed against the boys.

Local Republican and Democratic officials say campaign signs are disappearing frequently and people are frustrated.

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/17819682/detail.html


Ah, and the man's trial is set for Nov 4th.

ETA: And sorry for the title. It should read Boy shot for taking McCain sign

[Sashahomeschoolmama]

That backfired on the poor homeowner, didn't it? I wonder how he went from firing warning shots to actually shooting the kid?

My Obama sign was stolen and I wouldn't be above firing a warning shot in the opposite direction if I saw someone lurking on my property (we have a rifle for coyote protection). That's not a popular opinion, I'm sure, but it's such a violation to a) have someone trespassing, and b) have them trying to silence you.

[Elffriend]

I think the kids should have been charged with trespassing.

[still_me]

Well, rifle shot spreads doesn't it? Maybe that is how they were shot on "accident".

Either way, bringing a gun out IMO, is a little OTT due to a sign being taken. I mean seriously, who shoots at people? Now, shooting in the opposite direction because you see someone "lurking" is one thing (really because aren't you a little out of town?). Leavittsburg isn't highly populated, but it isn't the boondocks either.


ETA: I agree Elffriend.

[Sashahomeschoolmama]

If he had buckshot in the rifle, that spreads.

I agree that the boys should be charged.

ETA: DH told me that I was wrong. We have a shotgun. It shows what I know. It is some kind of antique from his grandfather that we were going to get rid of until we started having coyote problems.

[still_me]

My dad would be flicking my head for not knowing that! lol.

Here is a picture of a hollow point .22

http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/411441/2/istockphoto_411441-22-caliber-hollow-point-bullets.jpg.


So, that means the guy had to be aiming? Glory be that he didn't hit the gas tank of the van, or that it didn't hit one of those kids anywhere serious.

[Sashahomeschoolmama]

DH says that .22s aren't notoriously accurate.

Shooting to hit the kid is pretty OTT.

[Born_a_Diva]

Wow...there are many similar stories...I'm so glad no one was seriously injured!! Ok....where the frick is Leavittsburg!? I live in NE Ohio and I've NEVER heard of it!!!

[KaraJ]

I think the kids should have been charged with trespassing. I agree.

[still_me]

Wow...there are many similar stories...I'm so glad no one was seriously injured!! Ok....where the frick is Leavittsburg!? I live in NE Ohio and I've NEVER heard of it!!!


It is by Niles and Warren. North West of Youngstown.

[EvilAmy]

A rifle shots bullets, that means one at a time.
A shotgun fires a shell, think plastic tube filled with tiny BBs. They spread out.


Gads what yahoo fires a gun towards people to scare them? Even shooting from the hip in the general direction there's a chance that it can hit. To stop people from taking a sign I think I would have strongly considered just popping them with a paint ball gun or air-soft.

[EvilAmy]

Oh I just had a thought, if he had used what we called "snake shot" here, it is the shape and size of a .22 round but instead of a slug in the top, it would be a plastic top filled with buckshot that would spread.

[RaisingThemLeft]

Who shoots at someone for trying to steal a sign? For crying out loud. Yes, I think the boys were wrong and should be charged with trespassing, but the home owner should be charged for assault with a deadly weapon.

[HammBugga]

I think the kids should have been charged with trespassing.


I agree.

It sucks that the kid got shot, but he shouldn't have been on the guys property trying to steal from him.

[HammBugga]

A rifle shots bullets, that means one at a time.
A shotgun fires a shell, think plastic tube filled with tiny BBs. They spread out.


Gads what yahoo fires a gun towards people to scare them? Even shooting from the hip in the general direction there's a chance that it can hit. To stop people from taking a sign I think I would have strongly considered just popping them with a paint ball gun or air-soft.
Yeah I agree. Hell, just SHOWING them the gun should have scared them enough to drop the sign and run!

[JudyJudyJudy]

The man was way OTT; I hope he is convicted. I also think the boys should be charged with something.

[EvilAmy]

RTL is right.
If they were trying to take his Obama sign it would have been okay to shoot them.

Oh that made me guffaw.

[TuetonicWillow]

Even considering lethal force over kids on your property is insane, IMO. Guns aren't there for 'warnings' and they should be used in self defense.

Trespassing is one thing. Using a firearm on people for no good reason is another.