I feel sorry for her family. But to be very blunt, she messed up. There are lessons here, though, for all gun owners or for those who want to be gun owners.
http://www.whptv.com/news/local/sto...-calling-9-1-1-to/e2b1kAsGUkSsmonZ-tQv_w.cspx
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/333608
Lessons:
1) No warning shots. Not now, not ever. If you have a legal reason to fire a weapon at a person, fire it AT THAT PERSON. You never fire at what you cannot see, you never fire a 'warning' shot (or shots, as in this case).
2) You do not go out to hunt for the burglar.
3) If you cannot see or hear, you should be doubly careful about whom you point your gun at.
I feel very badly for this woman's family. I hope that through her mistakes, others can learn valuable lessons.
http://www.whptv.com/news/local/sto...-calling-9-1-1-to/e2b1kAsGUkSsmonZ-tQv_w.cspx
Woman, 83, is shot by police after calling 9-1-1 to report a burglary
By Michael Walsh / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
A police officer shot and killed an 83-year-old woman in her own backyard.
Delma Towler dialed 911 to report a burglary but when police arrived, one officer killed her outside her home in Altavista, Va.
...
Towler had never fired her gun before that night. She fired a warning shot out the window to scare the burglar off. Then she started walking through her backyard toward her sister's house.
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/333608
Elderly woman shot by police as she looks for burglar
...
The Virginia State Police stated the Altavista officers took cover upon hearing the gun shots and then saw Towlers leave the back of the house. The officers approached Towlers and ordered her to drop the weapon several times. She refused their commands and pointed the gun at officers. One of the officers then fired his weapon, striking Towlers.
KSEE reports that the elderly woman was not wearing her glassed or hearing aid at the time and may not have heard or recognized the officers.
Lessons:
1) No warning shots. Not now, not ever. If you have a legal reason to fire a weapon at a person, fire it AT THAT PERSON. You never fire at what you cannot see, you never fire a 'warning' shot (or shots, as in this case).
2) You do not go out to hunt for the burglar.
3) If you cannot see or hear, you should be doubly careful about whom you point your gun at.
I feel very badly for this woman's family. I hope that through her mistakes, others can learn valuable lessons.