Veteran fires warning shot at home intruder then police confiscate his AR-15

[The_Outlaw]

Military veteran Corey Thompson, 36, told KDRV-TV that a wanted felon was trying to break into his home via the back door. Defending his own property, Thompson said that he warned the criminal that he was armed and that he was giving him his one and only warning shot.

“This is the end result. You break into someone’s house, there’s consequences,” Thompson said.
Wielding his AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, the veteran made good on his threat and fired one warning shot.
The bullet did not strike the suspect or anyone else.

“When I’m dealt with a stressful situation, being a veteran from Iraq and the Afghanistan war, it’s natural. I just jump into combat mode. I told him, ‘I’m going to give you a warning shot’,” Thompson explained.

However, police later determined he wasn’t justified in firing his weapon. Medford Police Lt. Mike Budreau said “there was nothing that the suspect was doing that was aggressive enough to justify the shooting.”

Apparently, for police in Medford, a wanted felon trying to break into a law-abiding citizen’s home isn’t enough to justify a warning shot.

Thompson was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, menacing and wreckless endangering. The veteran’s AR-15 was seized by police because they claim it was used in the commission of a crime.

 

[S&W645]

Lawsuit time. Sue Biden. Along with the local police.

 

[mojoman]

Was this in Medford Oregon I wonder, I guess that he should have waited until he came into his house and shoot him without a warning shoot he would have being justified. Crazy.

 

[walknotinfear]

First mistake, "NO WARNING SHOT", if you are going to fire a warning shot make damn sure you don't hit anyone else and when the police ask you what happened you say you either fired and missed or you had a accidental discharge. I am no lawyer but in the state of Florida no one is permitted to fire a warning shot with the exception of maybe correctional officers (not sure on this).

 

[lukem]

Learned that in the first firearms training class I attended, NEVER FIRE A WARNING SHOT.

 

[vernsimpson]

Besides ammo is hard to find and cost more than usual.

 

[jcreek]

Warning shots are SOP for escalation of force in country. He reverted to his military training which isn't always a good thing. Military training an civilian training don't always see eye to eye and this is one of those times. Leave the warning shots to the combat zone and just wait for him I come inside.

 

[rifleshooter474]

As I have posted many times you never know just what a cop will do about anything firearm related. Cops think they know all about the laws of their state, many don't know much of anything. But they being cops can and will arrest someone. In this case it would have been best to just let the thud break in and when inside then shoot him really good. Take my advice never ever use a firearm as a threat unless you follow up by shooting someone. Threats by pointing or firing a warning shoot, opens you up to getting arrested and your D.A. filing charges against you.

 

[Treo]

However, police later determined he wasn’t justified in firing his weapon. Medford Police Lt. Mike Budreau said “there was nothing that the suspect was doing that was aggressive enough to justify the shooting.”

Which is why we don’t fire warning shots boys and girls. The very fact that the home owner felt that he had time to call out to warn the intruder and tell him he was going to fire a warning shot indicates to me that he wasn’t in fear of losing his life or suffering grievous bodily injury. People that are in fear of their life shoot at the bad guy.

Apparently, for police in Medford, a wanted felon trying to break into a law-abiding citizen’s home isn’t enough to justify a warning shot.

And the Medford Oregon PD is correct; nothing is enough justification to fire a warning shot.

Thompson was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, menacing and wreckless endangering. The veteran’s AR-15 was seized by police because they claim it was used in the commission of a crime.

It was, that bullet ended up somewhere

 

[Silvergoose]

Is their an attorney in the house? It seems to me that we the members need some trained member to talk about a case such as this. The facts are stated as to the alleged attempt to break in to a home, the owner( a vet with training in defense and treat evaluation, following the guide lines of the VPOTUS) and then the Vet is arrested! With the number of members we have I think an opinon from a trained person would be very valuable, to fire or not to fire, to wait for entery or to wait for a physical contact to be made? If firing a warning shot is the rule of the day then load a blank. What I trying to say here is the hair splitting must stop, if your threatened and in your mind are in danger, then I say take what ever measure to issure you are not the victim and in this case twice.

 

[carracer]

One more reason to believe that authorities are not your friend.

 

[rifleshooter474]

If that man Mr.Corey Thompson happens to read this forum or has a friend reading it, I would tell them years ago when I had a motor cycle accident and was trying to make a settlement, my Attorney informed me that many people hate motor cycles and the people who ride them.So don't expect a jury to see your side. Today I think it's the same thing with many people hating firearms and people owning them. And a lot of this has to do with all the major killing this past year. So just like in my pointing a firearm at a person, back in July of 2010 and my trial in May of 2011, I just was lucky all the major killing had not happened, also we had a non firearm hating jury. Mr. Thompson might be better off taking a plea to a reduced charge, then going to trial today.

 

[rifleshooter474]

One more reason to believe that authorities are not your friend.

I sure second that post of yours, well do I now know.

 

[The_Outlaw]

One more reason to believe that authorities are not your friend.

It seems to be the case nowadays unfortunately......

 

[CarryNM]

My Wife has instructions to wait till the entry is breached and the intruder is inside the door, and then empty the full load into him/her. I will do the same. Then and only then will we relax and make the clean up call. Those of you that disagree with me, DO NOT open my door uninvited!!!!

 

[Deserteagle]

Firing a warning shot is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. I would think a military veteran would have better tactics than that

 

[AndeyHall]

Firing a warning shot is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. I would think a military veteran would have better tactics than that

I agree, and in my opinion, if someone ever tries to break into my home, I will be more than happy to wait and see if they succeed or not. However if they succeed, the only way they'll be getting any warning shot is if I happen to miss my first shot.

But at the same time, as stupid as I think the whole idea of a warning shot may be, I don't think he should be criminalized for it.

But yes, if someone is trying to break into my home, I honestly do not want them escaping alive or at least a free man, because in the criminal mind, failure is just rehearsal for success. And I don't want to give them the opportunity to come back and try again. Because once they know you're armed, who knows what they'll try or be capable of the 2nd time.

 

[JCliff]

Never fire a warning shot. Period.

 

[escapedthematrix]

If you're going to give a warning to someone attempting to break in, then from cover yell "Stop! I'm armed!" If the criminal continues then he obviously thinks he's bullet proof and has probably been smoking shirm or something. I'm not saying this is what I would do but in the report it seemed the veteran felt it necessary to give some sort of warning. Yeah, never fire a warning shot.

 

[AndeyHall]

If the first shot aimed at their head happens to miss, consider yourself warned...I'm sure to have better luck with the 29 rounds I have left.