If you shoot someone in self defense do you administer first aid?
First Aid for your Attacker
- Thread starter Kanewpadle
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OP
Thanks, but I'm speaking of one on one. Should have made that clear.
StatesRightist
Member
Call 911...obligation fulfilled.
C Broad Arrow
Member
If he is still moving, put another round in him. When he stops moving call 911.
OP
That's easy to say but it depends. If he's on the ground bleeding and I can see his hands I'll keep him covered while checking six. But if I can't see his hands then he could get another dose of lead poisoning.
OIF2
Member
I wouldn't. If you're alone, not a good idea to approach. Suspect probably hasn't been searched or disarmed, and is still a threat. Can't watch your surroundings, call for help and note license plates or wits if you're patching up a sucking chest wound. Cops are taught not to approach if alone; suspects are handcuffed even if wounded (or dead) if a partner is present. You might also be open to liability if the suspect dies while you're working on him...what you're doing could also be misinterpreted by bystanders. Another issue is what type of EMT training do you have, and are you current...Call for help and give the responding ambulance/police as much info as you can so they can deal with the injured person. That's the usual drill for cops.
Bob
Bob
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OP
Thank you. That's the answer I was looking for. Good advice.
sipowicz
Member
You're gonna get sued for shooting him...no sense inviting another lawsuit for administering first aid.
jlrhiner
US Veteran
To make this quick, no.
Chili Vega
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
Yep, what he said.
ruger-p94
Member
ditto on that. Down here in Florida you could not shoot him again without getting charged. The threat would be over when he hit the ground and it would be up to you to prove you had to shoot him again. Best to make that first shot count.
vigil617
US Veteran
I agree, Ruger, but only if the assailant is no longer armed; if he is, then all bets are off. I don't go along with the "if he's still moving, shoot him again" if he's on the ground, though -- chances are, he is visibly disarmed or incapacitated by then and his threat has been removed, and shooting again would definitely be excessive force.
Personally, if I have to shoot somebody, I'm going to hit him more than once before he's on the ground. Making that first shot count, and the second, and the third...
This is an extremis situation, and I'm not going to stop until the threat is over. Not trying to sound like a hard*** here, just acknowledging that if the situation ever occurs, I have to be in for a penny, in for a pound.
Good point about your state's law. Mine's the same.
Calling 911 is all the obligation you have, that is what I would do.
No way would I approach a downed attacker. You/I don't know if he's really out of the fight or faking it enough to grab you when you come near. Keep your distance and wait for the cavalry.
He also may still have the weapon you saw, another weapon, or be within reach of his weapon.
No way would I approach a downed attacker. You/I don't know if he's really out of the fight or faking it enough to grab you when you come near. Keep your distance and wait for the cavalry.
He also may still have the weapon you saw, another weapon, or be within reach of his weapon.
to9
Member
If down and hit hard only if you have some salt or rubbing alcohol to put on his boo boo.
Leave him alone and call 911 . Why ask for more trouble ?
Leave him alone and call 911 . Why ask for more trouble ?
JJEH
Member
This is another IF question which is easily talked about. But reality teaches mostly something totally different...
If somebody would break into my house and I had to shoot him/her/them, I would put restraints on first - IF I would still be alive after the shooting.
IF someone or all of them loses alot of blood - YES, I would put at least something on the wound to make it stop. Don't want the blood all over my floor...
But only because it's a rural area and help might need a while to finally get here.
IF it would be in public I wouldn't care about the attacker...
Hope that helps
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Mr Pokeyman
US Veteran
If you ever shoot someone in self defense, you won't be thinking about giving them first aid. You will probably be shaking like a leaf (I was) and all you will be thinking about is getting help (911). If I'm wrong, then try to remove the bullet, bandage him up, give him a clean shirt and call his lawyer for him. Just joking.
JJEH
Member
I guess you are right. I never shot one in SD and I don't look forward to it. But I would w/o hesitation if I have to.
Just worried about my carpet and stuff
Blueface2
Member
I think Mr. williams in the recent Ocala incident disproved this. Assailants were clearly down inside the store and at the door on the way out and yet he kept shooting and no charges ever filed against him.
In his case, their being down did not eliminate the threat as they were still in possession of weapons (one a gun and the other a bat). Clearly the threat not being eliminated is what determines your destiny.
As to question on thread, no way. My aid will be 911, after he can no longer be a threat, and from a very far distance.
C Broad Arrow
Member
Is Mr. WIlliams the senior who was at an internet cafe when the robbery was attempted?
To my point earlier, you have been attacked and someone has tried to take your life. Until the threat has stopped moving it would seem to me that your only concern is to neutralize the threat.
Provide aid?
That is what 911 is for.
I just swatted a fly and he landed belly up. Looked awful dead for a good ten minutes. Then when I went to move the paper he was on, he rolled over and started walking.
Same with humans. A good shock and a guy could fall down. Maybe pass out. Then re-awake and take in his surroundings and 'come back to life'.
It happens in hospitals. People are brought in comatose and then reanimate on the table. I don't think I would take the chance that the guy who was trying to hurt me minutes before is not going to try again when I get close to him.
Same with humans. A good shock and a guy could fall down. Maybe pass out. Then re-awake and take in his surroundings and 'come back to life'.
It happens in hospitals. People are brought in comatose and then reanimate on the table. I don't think I would take the chance that the guy who was trying to hurt me minutes before is not going to try again when I get close to him.
Blueface2
Member
OK Hog Shooter
Member
Ask the pharmacist in Oklahoma City what happens when you shoot a downed attacker! Now that l've opened this can of worms, what if the attacker is a bear?
Hog
Hog 
elm_creek_smith
US Veteran
I didn't. However, I needed patching up myself. No amount of first aid would have saved him.
ECS
ECS
Blueface2
Member
Ask the pharmacist in Oklahoma City what happens when you shoot a downed attacker! Now that l've opened this can of worms, what if the attacker is a bear?
Clearly varies by state.
In that OK case, sounds like the pharmacist was out and then came back in, and gave the robber five more bullets.
Don't know the whole case but clearly different than my response to Florida specifically.
Here is Florida one where no charges resulted.
Samuel Williams Shoots At Internet Cafe Robbery Suspects Duwayne Henderson, Davis Dawkins (VIDEO)
Rogue686
Member
I would not render aid, for the sole reason they could renew their attack upon me. Call 911, holster the gun, and keep your distance until police and EMT arrive.
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