Posted: 3/20/2007 9:04:42 AM EDT
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saw this posted elsewhere. god, i love common sense and happy endings! http://www.kcci.com/news/11299421/detail.html -matt |
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MADE HOT DES MOINES, Iowa -- Police said that when a woman fatally shot someone who was trying to break into her home, it was a clear case of self-defense. NewsChannel 8 obtained a recording of the 911 call placed during a weekend shooting. Police said that when Terri Burgess tried to break into Shasta Bell's apartment, she was most likely under the impression Bell was gone for the weekend. Authorities said that what Burgess didn't know was that Bell had canceled her plans. Bell had served in the military and was armed. Police said that when Bell called 911 at about 3 a.m. Saturday, she didn't know she had already shot and killed the person outside her bedroom window. "Someone's trying to break into my house," Bell told a dispatcher. "What's your address?" the dispatcher asked. "Are they still at the window?" the dispatcher asked. "I don't know. I just fired … if you could send somebody," Bell said. "What do you mean you just fired at them?" the dispatcher asked. "Am I supposed to just lay here and let somebody come in on me?" Bell asked. "Do you mean you just shot at them?" the dispatcher asked. "Damn right. They were coming through my window," Bell said. Police said that on Saturday morning, Burgess went up the building's fire escape carrying a bag and a pair of scissors. Authorities said that Burgess pried at the window and cut away the screen and that's when Bell pulled the trigger. "Where is the gun now? Where's the gun?" the dispatcher asked. "In my damn hands," Bell said. Bell owns the apartment building. Police said Bell didn't know at the time that the woman outside her window who was trying to break in was a girlfriend of one of her tenants. Authorities said they are sure that the woman's intent was breaking into Bell's apartment. The dispatcher explained to Bell that police were on the way. She asked Bell to put her gun down. "I need you to put your gun down so when they cops get there they don't take you," the dispatcher said. "When they get here with their sirens on I will put it down. Otherwise you can go to …. You've lost your … mind," Bell said. Police said no charges will be filed against Bell. However, police said it is not an open invitation to use deadly force in any circumstance. "Everyone has a right to defend themselves, but know it will be scrutinized if you do take such action," said police spokesman Sgt. Todd Dykstra. Polk County attorney John Sarcone said there's no hard and fast line when it comes to justifiable homicide. In a phone interview, Sarcone said people don't have to be faced with deadly force in order to use deadly force to protect their property, life or someone else's life. However, the law said that a person must act reasonably in the same situation. Bell told NewsChannel 8 that she did not want to talk about the shooting. |
