GORHAM, Maine — Police in Gorham, Maine, say a 14-year-old boy is recovering after he was shot while allegedly trying to set fire to a home.
Police say people were inside the home at the time Friday night. They say the homeowner and another person interrupted the boy and shots were fired.
The boy suffered injuries not considered life-threatening and was taken to Maine Medical Center to be treated.
Police are investigating. No charges have been filed.
Oh I can’t wait to hear the rest of this one.
Probably not gonna hear much else. Prevention of arson is just cause for using deadly force.
Don’t get me wrong I agree with that 100%. I know plenty of houses mine included where he probably wouldn’t have made it to the hospital. I just have to wonder what in the world would posses a 14 year old kid to just go out and try and set someones home on fire.
Fourteen-year-olds are not generally the world’s masters of forethought or impulse control. Sometimes it’s just that simple…
I can agree with that. I agree that teens, particularly young teens have a diminished abilty to make decisions that go beyond immediate needs. However, there is a difference between skateboarding down the middle of the street, or speeding around at 80+ mph to setting a man’s house on fire.
I don’t recall hearing stories of 14 year olds setting fire to houses when I was that age. Parenting has gone completely into the gutter in the past 30 years….and remember, when this kid ends up in jail off and on over the next 40 years, people will complain that the “education system” failed him.
I agree with you…..or, he’s been abused and it’s his way of asking for help. Or not. We’ll have to hear the whole story.
and that could be….which would also go to parenting.
No, it would go to the abuser, not the parents Think about it.
I was assuming, in most cases, the abuser would be the parent. I did not mean to imply that because a kid might be abused by someone other than their parent, that the parent has not done a good job.
ya, tj, that was my thought. Who can say? A 14 torching a place just strikes me as weird, tho’ i suppose it could happen. after all, this is 2012.
… and you think it was different back in the good-ole-days?
In the 1970’s three young men burned 27 houses in Lubec. In the late 80’s another youngster burned about 15 more.
In the second case, the youngster grew up to be an outstanding citizen.
Is spanking concidered abuse?
Yes, and an assault.
You are misinformed. Under the law there is no assault EXCEPT if there are mitigating circumstances.
Of course that’s what it is: attempting to burn a house down with people in it at night is now called a cry for help.
The poor little buckaroo.
Parenting has been taken over by the school, DHS and the Governments.. No spanking allowed, it might hurt their feelings.. Where the parents fit in no one knows
Not only no spanking, but no yelling, no grounding, no timeout, no taking away toys and the beat goes on!
That is simply a lie. Spanking is perfectly legal in Maine. This ongoing falsehood (perpetrated by right-wing christian nut-jobs) is a dishonest excuse offered by parents who want an excuse to give up.
It is my feeling that the courts should be permitted to sentence parents to be spanked. (in front of their errant children.)
Do you have a clue what you are talking about? Go tell a DHS caseworker you spank your kid and watch what happens!
You are woefully misinformed. It is still legal to spank children in Maine.
[Maine Revised Statutes]
It is a crime for parent, guardian, or other person with care and custody of a child to cruelly treat a child by extreme punishment. 17-A Part 2, Chapter 23 § 554(1)(B-1) Endangering the welfare of a child. [Criminal Code]
Title 17-A, Chapter 5 § 106 — Physical force by persons with special responsibilities
A parent, foster parent, guardian or other similar person responsible for the long term general care and welfare of another person is justified in using a reasonable degree of force against such other person when and to the extent the person reasonably believes it necessary to prevent or punish such other person’s misconduct. A person to whom such parent, foster parent, guardian or other responsible person has expressly delegated permission to so prevent or punish misconduct is similarly justified in using a reasonable degree of force.
Amen, it’s shocking sometimes how fast the blame can be transferred. I’m just guessing, but I’m glad I didn’t have his parents. Or parent, I doubt if a dad is around.
I happen to know him and his family. He comes from a very nice, well respected family. Both Mom and Dad are very much present. Wait till you hear the whole story before you start placing blame. This is a tragic situation that is very difficult on the whole family.
….
Hard to discipline your kids when they or someone at the grocery store calls DHS because you swatted a bottom or raised your voice.
Masters of forethought….that is a great line…LOL
The home owner had the right to protect his home, hes very lucky he was alive to be brought to the hospital, I dont know the first things about guns, I have shot one before at the shooting range but the Good Lord Only Knows where my aim would be if I found an intruder in my home….He better feel special that I wasn’t the one holding the gun….
Not in many cases. Learn the Law.
I know the law. Just in case you dont believe me, here you go:
Title 17-A: MAINE CRIMINAL CODEPart 1: GENERAL PRINCIPLESChapter 5: DEFENSES AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES; JUSTIFICATION
§104. Use of force in defense of premises 2. A person in possession or control of premises or a person who is licensed or privileged to be thereon is justified in using deadly force upon another person when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes it necessary to prevent an attempt by the other person to commit arson. [ 2007, c. 173, §20 (AMD) .]
Thanks for posting this, Joe Legere. I only hear “crickets” now from “nothernson”. I guess he/she needs to learn the law!
So I can take a shot at these idiots who flick their butts out in front of my property ??? How about these jokers with their “legal” fireworks next door ??? Probably not a fire issue just thought I’d ask .
Are they attempting to intentionally burn down your home?
There have been a rash of arson fires in Gorham this past winter. I wonder if this punk was involved in any of those.
14!! nice parenting job. start arresting some parents as well as the punks. he’s lucky to get off with just an injury..
Correct!
What the heck???
Betcha he won’t do that again! Just sayin.
Gettin capped will just increase his street cred with his wannabe gangster peeps.
There were people in that house. I hope he gets charged with attempted murder. They say many a serial killer started out by setting fires, torturing animals, and wetting the bed. I hope someone nips this kid in the bud before he buds into something worse than a youthful offender.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Little knowledge is even more dangerous, Mark!
Lead Poisoning…easy to catch, messing around with someone else’s property.
He’s got a bright future ahead of him!
Maine CWP Training Title 17-A: MAINE CRIMINAL CODE Part 1: GENERAL PRINCIPLES Chapter 5: DEFENSES AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES; JUSTIFICATION §104. Use of force in defense of premises
2. A person in possession or control of premises or a person who is
licensed or privileged to be thereon is justified in using deadly force
upon another person when and to the extent that the person reasonably
believes it necessary to prevent an attempt by the other person to
commit arson.
I wish I had seen this a few minutes ago. I just had to find it and post it on here in response to someone saying arson is not just cause to use deadly force in most cases. They said I need to learn the law. Funny. Use of deadly force and the law was covered first thing in our Carry course.
I’m glad you both posted this. I sincerely hope the homeowner/shooter/defender comes under no charges or lawsuit from their protection of their property. Had they not stopped what was happening, their lives would have been in serious danger from the fire had this kid been successful. I’m glad to see this very reasonable law on the books.
Might not be any charges filed against the shooter but a civil lawsuit, oh yeah! A sleazebag ambulance chaser of a lawyer will see easy dollar signs and will take the case for a percentage. I would assume the paperwork has already been started. There is no free ride for causing an injury. Even if the law is on your side, gonna cost ya.
Learn now or learn later. If I was a kid making poor choices, I would hope someone would do me a favor and knock some sense in to me. Getting shot by a homeowner is probably the best thing that could happen – many people only understand pain as their teacher. Right and wrong exist and their are consequences for hurting people.
Pretty poor gun control on the homeowner’s part.
Wow one Back in my day Guy makes a comment and everyone gos nuts and forgets the story. We don’t know what happened yet. We don’t know if it was a bb gum or a cannon. I know both familys a little and will wait to hear the whole story. As for Mark who took it to a rep/dem thing for some unknow reason,shut up.
First of all, I surely will not “shut up.
Secondly I said NOTHING anywhere in this thread about Democrats and or Republicans.
I happen to agree with you about waiting and seeing. Since the story says NO CHARGES have been filed, I must guess that the police are either working on charges, or they are not going to file charges. In either case the 14-year-old and the homeowner are (under our system) presumed innocent of any crime.
Maybe, but I would rather be the one without the bullet hole in me!
Stand your ground law in Maine now?
Always has been! You just waking up?
Abby that is not true. We do not have the stand your ground law in Maine. Please do not post non-factual statements. I am not suggesting any opinion about the article, but I do not like it when you are not aware of the facts but think you are. Please become more educated. It is the horn I toot often on BDN.
http://www.pressherald.com/news/maine-law-differs-from-stand-your-ground_2012-04-02.html
http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/17-a/title17-asec104.html
Maine has the Castle Doctrine so the homeowner has no duty to attempt retreat.
Correct Mr. Legere.