Originally posted by real9erfan:
Originally posted by Heed49er:
Originally posted by real9erfan:
I think we all agree that Aldon did a stupid thing. But saying he shot his gun in the air to threaten people in a neighborhood totally mischaracterizes what happens. I do think he bears the responsibility of having a party to which gang members showed up, but you're framing it as if there is no context and he just decided to shoot a gun in the air like a maniac just to threaten the peaceful people in the neighborhood. That is not what happened. And trying to essentially brush off the shootings into his garage is totally unreasonable. I believe I would feel quite threatened if someone shot into my garage. Aldon fired a gun once into the air to try to get gun-brandishing gang members to leave his house. Yes the entire thing was irresponsible and stupid, and should never have happened. But you are creating an intent with Aldon that simply isn't there.
I get that he wanted people to leave his home (that they paid him money to be at).
The bad element at this party already used their guns with little regard for anyone. Can you tell me Smith firing into the air is going to make them decide to pack it in & go home?
Like I said, what Aldon did was stupid, but based on the information, his intent was not to hurt anyone. I hold him responsible for throwing such a party, and he is ultimately responsible for the type of guests he has in his home (whether or not they paid a cover charge). But I don't think anyone can prove that he had the intent to harm anyone. And the illegal assault weapons he had were found as a consequence of the investigation into the events that night. The weapons played no part in the actual incidents. In fact, Aldon's attorney may try to get those weapons thrown out by claiming a violation of the 4th amendment by police officers. In the end, the likelihood is that there will be a plea agreement and Aldon will get some probation.
Again...Bingo.
My issue all along with Heed49ers post have been that they somehow laid out a crime spree as if he were just walking down a random street shooting a gun at people and getting stabbed in random locations.
They were all connected.
He was foolish to try to break up the party the way he did. Nobody is arguing that. He should have called the police. The weapon he fired ONCE in the air AFTER he'd been SHOT AT was a weapon he owned LEGALLY. He didn't bust out the sniper rifle and start targeting people on the street.
Aldon has been childish and immature. There is no question about that...but CONTEXT plays a part in all this. THAT has been my point from the beginning.
[ Edited by Marvin49 on Oct 11, 2013 at 3:27 PM ]