Woman Kills Home Intruder, Now Media Outraged at Her!

Story tells of a shooting in Florida ... First paragraph follows.

54-year-old Gwendolyn Jenrette shot and killed a 17-year-old
teen that broke into her Liberty City home on Thursday and
now the teen’s family members are calling for the state’s
attorney to file charges against the woman. What’s more,
The Washington Post is using the incident to criticize Florida’s
homeowner protection laws.

Complete story at this link:
Woman Kills Home Intruder, Now Media Outraged at Her! | LawNewz

*****

Bekeart

Yeah I guess she was supposed to just allow herself to be assaulted and/or murdered in her own home.

I don't want to see anyone get shot, but if you either can't raise your kids right (or you tried, and they just turned out bad anyway), it very rarely can be helped. If this 17 year old went out into the woods and kicked a bobcat in the junk and then ends up mauled to death, that's not the bobcat's fault.

Literally this morning/last night, a similar thing happened in Ontario. i'm wondering how long before stupid people start calling on the California AG to come after the homeowner that had to blast the person that broke into their home, and then proceeded to the bedroom of one of the female occupants?

This is why I pay for the legal insurance available from one of the NRA's partner providers. If I ever have to do this, I'm not going to hope that basic intelligence and common sense are going to prevail.

Boom, boom, another bad guy bites the dust. Fight crime shoot back.

Her name should not be in the news

Edit:
Think about this, she was the original victim

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Looks like the "Michael Moore Wannabe" from the Washington Post pretty much summed up the case for the intruder/burglar (emphasis added):

"The newspaper even goes so far as to highlight a comment from Johnson’s cousin that seems to blame Janrette for failing to recognize that maybe Johnson didn’t have another way to get money school clothes.

“You have to look at it from every child’s point of view that was raised in the hood,” Johnson cousin Naukita Harris said. “You have to understand… how he gonna get his money to have clothes to go to school? You have to look at it from his point-of-view.”

Seriously???? I don't believe that the W-P editor allowed this article to be published!!!

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That's what we do!

Unless I am misunderstanding the article, she wasn't in her home and the burglar was climbing out the window attempting to get away. So, while I believe in the right to defend oneself, I also think the argument might be made that she was in no danger until she voluntarily chose to put herself in jeopardy by confronting the burglar.

I understand the desire to protect your property, but, speaking only for myself, if I'm outside and the burglar is trying to get out of the house to get away, and I can back off and let him get away without endangering myself or anyone else, I'm going to let him go rather than shoot. Burglary and theft are not violent acts that I would be willing to take someone's life over.

If after she drew down on him the criminal was continuing to menace or threaten violence, and she had no way to get to safety, then sure, if I were her I'd shoot rather than let them follow through on the threat too.

If I could escape unharmed and not have to take a life, I would prefer to choose that alternative instead. But that is just me. Each person has to make up their mind for themselves what they feel is the right thing to do under those circumstances. I certainly wouldn't condemn her for her choice. Neither does the law.

I absolutely agree with this post...assuming the story played out this way, I would have let him go and called the police. I do have a concealed carry permit, but would never take action (shoot to kill) unless I, or someone nearby, was threatened with deadly force. But, that is just me, I know others feel differently, but you have to be able to live with yourself. I can't shoot someone for steeling my tv, or dvd or anything else that can be replaced. I CAN shoot them for attempting to take from me something that can't be replaced. A life.

Not surprising.
We all know the media has a love affair with bullies and thugs.

Don't do the crime if ya' can't do the time.
I have ZERO remorse for the idiot shot.
Hope she tells the media to go pound sand.

Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

I wouldn't have shot unless there was a threat that justified me using lethal force. If I knew the police were on the way and there were no family members home, I would have stayed back and let them do their jobs.

In regard to the shooting, I need more information on this one of who was where and when. Both homeowner and intruder outside with the intruder laying in the yard shot after reportedly to try to flee is troubling.

Mainly the dead ones, or the ones roughed up by the police, it seems.

$.02, She was trying to hold him for the cops and he wasn't having it. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

Whether or not this was a good shoot is for the authorities in Florida to decide. When I read the details, I had my doubts. Having said that, what amazes me is the notion that if someone's poor, they're entitled to steal from anyone that has more. I'm doubly amazed, (but I guess I shouldn't be), this is endorsed by the flagship of the liberal media, the Washington Compost. The only thing scarier is if the woman who voiced this belief is old enough to vote.

Good for her. One less criminal on the loose. Who knows if the home invader was coming or going. He was in the window and that is all that matters. Should she wait until he pulls a gun or knife to shoot him. Or until he decides to charge her and take her down. It is not her job to read this fools mind and give him the benefit of any possible doubt. He was fair game the moment he broke in, end of story.

No reasonable jury or grand jury should indict or convict her. No sensible prosecutor should pursue it.

We might as well put a sign on our front door that says "Door is unlocked, come in and take anything you want and if we don't have everything you want sue us in civil court because you didn't ask to be born and therefore you are entitled! I know it's a little verbose for a door sign but I think it is all-inclusive!

She rehabilitated him.

Might be dicey. Depends on who wants to get involved. Wouldn't be the first time...

Did he attempt to attack her while she was holding a gun on him? There could have been a reason for her to shoot other than the breaking and entering thing. More info is needed before forming an opinion on the situation.

It would be wrong to expect a woman that age to wait until he laid hands on her before shooting in self defense.

The neighborhood in question requires constant vigilance.

While I firmly believe in the right to defend home and hearth, I think this video from Thunder ranch lays out the boundaries
The perp was in the wrong, however the shooter was in a safe place when she became aware of the break-in and the police had been alerted. She took it upon herself to do law enforcement's job. Now she will face the consequences at least socially and financially if the law-breakers family chooses to sue. If a family member had been in the home or in danger it would be a different story. As it is she has given the antis more fodder for their assault on gun ownership.
Flame me if you like, this case (as I read it in the report) illustrates the line between self-defense and vigilantism and puts responsible gun ownership in a potential bad light. She also put herself at needless risk; in a life or death struggle a 17 year old may have been able to wrest the gun away from a 58 year old woman and injure or kill her.

Believe me I understand the frustration and emotions of having one's home and property broken into and one's sense of security violated but she chose to place herself at risk.

Overall a very sad case because right wrong one young man is dead and one citizen will be vilified in the media.
I am not saying she is a bad person
, I feel sorry for her; in the heat of the incident she made a poor decision. At any given time I might have made the same decision however I hope that I don't .And obviously these things are easy to judge from where we sit, just my opinion from what I read of the story.

Prayers for all involved.

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Jim in Iowa

and another thug bites the dust!

If he was leaving and not carrying the family fortune or guns it is most prudent to let them leave. A hole in the back is usually trouble.

However if you remind them they forgot the good stuff, they might turn and come back in.....

Crime is crime. Because you want is not a license to steal.

The world is full of screamers, usually on the payroll of some 2 bit imaginary wrong loving paper or live media.

They screamed when criminals could invade a home and we had to flee out the back door because the police can't be with us 24x7.

Now they scream when criminals are killed in a criminal act.

The pendulum on their clock reverses quicker than a normal cuckoo clock.

From the perspective of the perpetrator, his life was forfeit when he chose to burglarize a dwelling.

But the woman still had the responsibility to do the right thing from her perspective.

The protection of property does not justify murder -- but it was her home and we do not know all of the circumstances.

This is why we have jury trials guaranteed under the Bill of Rights. That woman is not going to be convicted of a crime unless a jury of her peers finds her guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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It really is disconcerting how tolerant of criminal behavior so many Americans have become. It makes me think our un-doing is happening right before our eyes.

Yup. Can't believe some of the comments by the thug's family. Seems certain elements have decided to do away with pretense & are just going with "Gimme coz."

I do see a difficulty with any situation where the 'immediate threat' may not be present.
On the other hand, she installed an effective doorstop in the revolving door of recidivism.

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SWCA #2275

I really don't care what the media thinks

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"You have to look at it from every child’s point of view that was raised in the hood,” Johnson cousin Naukita Harris said. “You have to understand… how he gonna get his money to have clothes to go to school? You have to look at it from his point-of-view.”

Ha! How about my point of view that these were my belongings. I guess Mrs. Harris won't mind letting me break into her house. After all how am I going to get money for clothes!!

HOW ABOUT GETTING A JOB! ever look at it from THAT POINT OF VIEW? Just curious

If you see a copperhead in your yard, slithering away from you, you should let it go.

“17-year-old Trevon Johnson climbing out of a window.”

From the article it sounds as if the deceased was attempting to leave the home when confronted by the owner, and a confrontation happened.

Understand I have no sympathy for the deceased, he made a decision to engage in a criminal act, and he should have been aware of the potential for danger.

I can only speak for myself, but given the information presented, and there was not much of that. Unless I felt that my life was in danger, as much as I may want to, I’m unwilling to take another life just to protect property, even if the law allowed me to. There is just too much of a legal, civil, and moral price to be paid for killing someone, unless my life or the life of another is in danger.

Get clothes to go to school... yeah right.

Sounds eerily similar to the college prep genius in Ferguson.

OTOH it occurred to me that on the rare occasion I've had to crawl through a window I've always gone feet first...

Need $$$? He could always sling weed & mug people like that other Florida guy... Ya know... the airline pilot guy...

I believe you've described the correct action she should have taken if it can be assumed that the individual was indeed exiting the house and posed no threat. If she came home and confronted him (seems not to be a good course of action) then maybe the incident was changed to a more dangerous situation for her. In any case, reading the article leads one to believe she could have avoided the whole thing by allowing him to leave.

Another case of maybe making a bad decision. We really need all the facts and they'll come out after a police investigation. Statements like the problems of growing up in then hood and just needing money are totally ridiculous.

Having been burgled 3 times in 10 years and losing thousands of dollars that my insurance didn't cover,I can sympathize, but real life isn't a TV cop show.You can't arrest thieves not expecting things to escalate and you can't shoot people in the back.
This article presented very few facts.It was an opinion piece intended to stir up outrage

Yeah, but from the feeble liberal mind - she'd have the moral high ground!

I wonder what the dorks who work there would say if their home was busted into and therir family killed? ''Oh he was only needing money for clothes.'' Criminal was fully old enough to understand his actions come with consequences. No sympathy for the perp.

Sad a young life was lost. That said,.... Miami-Dade PD ought to make her the Range Master. Having worked the area and knowing what DOES transpire in those situations which Miami-Dade will not divulge to media, I'd wager she was forced into the defense of herself. She is within the Curtilage of her home and until the Grand Jury rules we don't know what exactly did happen. It never gets old hearing the families explaining away the lawless behavior of the departed because he/she needed the money and blaming the party who defended themselves. Sound harsh? Listen to it for 29 years and then tell me it's harsh.

But maybe there was a threat but maybe the news folks elected to leave that out to create another trayvonn martin-like story. The media loves doing that instead of merely reporting facts.

Anyway, no sympathy for the deceased crook, and if his sister actually said what she said? seriously!!!???!?!?!

Well... if she wasn't in the home, had she gone around back to first see if anyone had broken in her home? And if so, at that moment had the criminal come out the back window and confronted her?

Generally, I'm not much for defining someone who is on their own property as the one 'confronting' the criminal. The way I see these things is that the moment the criminal decided to break into the home I view him as the aggressor, period. I believe castle laws and stand your own ground come from that general sentiment.

IMO, the family of the criminal should be apologizing to the homeowner and asking forgiveness on behalf of the criminal, not pursuing prosecution of the homeowner who has been victimized by their kin.

Several of us were threatened by a repeat offender. I'll not go long on detail but, this happened DEC 16, 1996. The inmate threatened several of us for death. It came my turn to make a comment and was told I didn't have too if I wished not? All I said was: "If he decides to carry out his threat? then he'll be met atthe door by me and my friends, Walther, Mauser, Luger and Remington.'' This was met with some laughter from the Judge and members of the courtroom.

The idiot had years added to his sentence, and moved to its new home at the Roach unit which is near Oklahoma.

The laws of self defense are not clearly defined and the most subtle variations can profoundly affect the legal outcome of an otherwise justifiable shooting.

In this instance, the intruder was in the act of fleeing, the victim was not in her home but responding to an alarm and the police were on the scene.

You always stand in a more favorable light with the law when you are IN YOUR HOME and your bullets are in the intruder's front half rather than in his back.

A sheriff once told me" Just drag the body inside.'' Don't know if that's good advice or not? but makes a bit of sense too.

Ringo I hope you said that in jest. Any detective or long time street cop will be able to figure that ploy out in a few minuets.

Now you could go from justifiable homicide to lying to a LEO, disturbing a crime scene to who knows. It really "aint'' a good idea!

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Home invaders: I'd empty my magazine into them. If the guy climbed out of the window and then went after her I hope she emptied her magazine into him. Twice.☺

But the penalty for burglary is not execution last time I checked. Even for repeat offenders.


If she shot a fleeing burglar in the back that is murder. If that is what happened. (?) And if she shot a fleeing burglar in the back she should be prosecuted to protect Castle Doctrine from its critics, because that is not Castle Doctrine.

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Ha, I get that. Kinda like the joke that if you hit someone with your car then back over them so they can't sue you. Not likely to work out so well in the real world. ☺ Better Call Saul.

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He //Sheriff Scarborough//, actually said that. This was circa 1983-4ish? However, I'd not have messed with the crime scene.

That's basically what Sheriff Scarborough meant about ''dragging the body inside..

My two cents:

A: Nobody knows for sure what decision they will make in any given situation until they, immediately faced with considering the consequences, actually have to make the decision.

2: There are certainly many more details to this story which will become apparent as the investigation runs its course.

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

I give more credit to the W-P Editor. The Editor did an excellent job of pointing out that the dead guys family, at least this person, is a ***. And those *** do not read......ummm, The Washington Post.

I say Bravo for publishing that quote.

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I sincerely hope this woman did not make statements to the police or press that were not made through a competent attorney.

Loose Lips Sink Ships