Fatal Shooting On The Meremac Near Steelville

[Guest Brian B.]

If the deceased was black and in Florida the shooter would be free. This better not be tolerated in our state, an butt whoopin is one thing, killing is another.

This may be the most ignorant post I have read in some time. (On so many levels, here is your sign)

(Hey- you may be able to get on the federal case when they try Zimmerman a SECOND time.. You would have Al and Jessie's support for sure)

[Smalliebigs]

Detroit is coming to a theater near you real soon

[Guest Brian B.]

I had to look up Justin's age before I replied, but at 39, you are a grown a-- man, -what a rediculous post-... My gosh..

You know -NOTHING- about this shooting, but you are ascribing guilt and attempting to draw some kind of moral equivalence to the Zimmerman case, -WOW-!! Unbelievably ignorant..

And again, you are ideally suited for Obama/Holder's pet second "double jeopardy" murder trial.. UNBELIEVABLE

[Old plug]

In Missouri self defense is pretty hard to prove. About the only way you can really get away with it s a clear home invasion. Everything else is subject to investigation. I carry a canister called Sabra. It is pepper spray. They are made in Fenton and are sold to police departments all over the world. They have a range of 12 ft.

I noted it said there was a subdivision along the river. It also said something about a thrown rock. Sounds like there might be something between property owners and floaters. Summer people can get on property owners nerves at times. I can remember in the past boats bing shot at around here. Seems to me almost all of it is connected to drinking or drugs.

[Feathers and Fins]

Not what I would expect from you Justin, WOW is all I could say. What will happen if when more news comes out you find out the Floater was intoxicated ( very real possibility ) and He was throwing rocks and the Shooter and name calling escalated to anger and the Floater pulled a weapon and started at the Shooter and he pulled his weapon and fired?

No one at this point knows any more than what's in the press release.

[Old plug]

It could i end in manslaughter. There are many things involved. Some of these prosecutors and law enforcers in rural ares are anything but efficient.

[Quillback]

Whatever happens, you hate to see something like this. But given all the tensions between SOME landowners and floaters it was just a matter of time before someone got shot.

[Justin Spencer]

Not what I would expect from you Justin, WOW is all I could say. What will happen if when more news comes out you find out the Floater was intoxicated ( very real possibility ) and He was throwing rocks and the Shooter and name calling escalated to anger and the Floater pulled a weapon and started at the Shooter and he pulled his weapon and fired?

No one at this point knows any more than what's in the press release.

I hope this is what happened, and not just a needless shooting of a belligerent drunk. I'm sure the guy was drunk, I deal with it every day, and some get lippy and want to fight. If I carried a gun with me I promise you I would have shot several people by now, therefore I don't tempt fate. I guess we should all wait to see what really happened before we comment, but I think we all agree that taking a gun to a boxing match and ending the fight is pretty cowardly. This ain't the wild wild west, and if the victim was unarmed the shooter needs to be put away for life. Use your phone to call the cops before you pull the gun.

[Feathers and Fins]

I think we all agree that taking a gun to a boxing match and ending the fight is pretty cowardly.

Not true, Justin, there are many soldiers trained in Hand to Hand combat and many civilians who are as well. You really think a gun is not needed for someone to deal with someone trained how to use their body as a deadly weapon? Can you picture a 60 70 80 year old man trying to take on a person in their 20 30 40's in a hand to hand conflict?

Should a person attempt to retreat? Common since would say yes but at the same time if a person is on their property why should they retreat from a criminal? how about a person physically unable to?

How about this scenario, You are on your dock and a guy and his biddies have been drinking and they start an altercation with you (verbally) you attempt to retreat only to find several are now at your ramp blocking you and others coming from the river toward you. You call 911 but know its at minimum 5 minutes before they arrive. 5 minutes is your life! You have reasonable fear of your life and pull your weapon and fire ( this aint Hollywood people pull to kill outside of Hollywood movies ) This scenario could well be what happened yesterday as well.

My biggest hope is that the people involved yesterday are not members here to see your first comments. If this is tensions we all know have been brewing for some time on our rivers then this might be the spark that finally makes the powers to be either shut down floating or actually get out there and make laws that protect the people using the waterways legally. Because if they do not it WILL happen again and again.

[John Andrews]

I'll only say this much. I seen enough on the lakes and RIVERS here, that I carry. I will always try to get away from a situation like this but, if left no other option I will use it. Is it a gun, taser, pepper spray, or a trained attack duck? the only person that will know for sure, is the person who puts themself in the place to find out. PEOPLE ARE BAT CRAP CRAZY THESE DAYS. Be prepared to defend yourself, at ALL TIMES!