He Says He Was “In Fear For His Life.” Now He’s In Jail.

By Bob Owens

Read firearms forums, and you’ll have self-proclaimed “experts” who’ve never had a lick of training beyond a gun safety or concealed carry class tell you that you can use lethal force if you were “in fear for your life.” They present this claim as if merely uttering the phrase is some sort of “get out of jail free” card.

It isn’t.

The man charged with killing a diaper thief fired his gun nine times, hitting the thief in the back while he was trying to get away, Orange County deputies said in an affidavit.

Lonnie Leonard, 51, is accused of shooting 19-year-old Arthur Adams, who deputies say was stealing two cartloads of items that included diapers at Wal-Mart in February.

Leonard, of Apopka, is also facing charges of aggravated battery with a firearm and carrying a concealed firearm.

Deputies concluded that Leonard fired his weapon with “no regard for the life and property of others.”

He told deputies he was in the store buying food when he heard yelling and saw two shoplifters run out of the store.

Armed with a 9 mm Winchester Luger, Leonard said he ran after them, the arrest report states. When he caught up to them, he told them to stop …Read the Rest

Source:: Bearing Arms