Doug Huffman
Banned
imported post
http://www.wcbd.com/midatlantic/cbd/news.apx.-content-articles-CBD-2008-01-04-0016.html
The man who shot and killed his roommate on New Year's Day will not face any charges. Solicitor Scarlett Wilson announced the decision Friday.
News 2 reported Tuesday that the shooting began with a domestic dispute. According to deputies, it began when 24 Year-Old Brian Sessoms ordered his 16 year-old girlfriend to walk across the room to give him a kiss. She said no and within 30 minutes, the situation began to escalate.
"He keeps hitting on the window and hitting the door," Sara Buenting told a 911 Berkeley County Dispatcher. The dispatcher said, "Who's he to you?" Buenting replied crying, "He's just a friend."
21 year-old Buenting lives at the home with her fiance, 26 Year-Old Benjamin Harriott. They say they invited Harriott's friend, Brian Sessoms to move in a month ago on a short-term basis. But after a gathering with friends Monday night, Harriott locked Sessoms out after Sessoms became physically violent with his 16 year-old girlfriend.
In the 911 call Buenting said of Sessom, "He's wrestling us to get in my house." The dispatcher asked, "Where's he at now ma'am?" Buenting replied, "He's outside my house ringing my doorbell." The dispatcher asked, "Is the door locked?" Buenting said, "Yes."
Deputies say Sessoms used his key to re-enter the home. Buenting said in the 911 call, "Sessoms squeezed me and my fiance tried to get him out. He hurt my nose and my mouth, busted a hole in my wall. He tried to get his girlfriend out of our house because he's drunk." Once outside, Sessoms quieted down, according to deputies. Buenting told the dispatcher, "His girlfriend's peeking out the window and says he left."
Instead, deputies say Sessoms re-entered the home through an upstairs window by climbing on an air-conditioning unit. Buenting said, "I don't know how he got up there. We had all the doors locked and he came running down the stairs after all of us." That's when Harriott took action and shot Sessoms. The 911 tape reveals Harriott worked to apply pressure on the wound after the first shot. The dispatcher told Buenting, "Keep pressure on it. He was shot in the stomach?" Buenting said, "Yes." The dispatcher asked, "Where is the gun?" At that time, the tape reveals noises in the background as Harriott yelled, "He's resisting." Buenting repeated the message to the dispatcher and said, "He's resisting pressure. He's trying to get up."
Solicitor Scarlett Wilson said Harriott warned Sessoms again, but Sessoms did not listen so he fired again. The same scenerio continued and Harriott fired a final shot, for a total of three.
After hearing this story, you may wonder what rights you have as a homeowner. Under the Castle Doctrine, everyone has a right to remain safe in their homes. You can meet force with force if you are under attack or if you reasonably feel a violent crime is about to be committed. Under the laws of self defense, when a person is justified in firing the first shot, they are justified in continuing fire until the threat is eliminated.
In this case, the solicitor says the 911 calls documented what happened.
Officials are still waiting for Sessom's toxicology report. The solicitor says the results will only help explain his irrational behavior. She says through witnesses and the 911 tapes, the situation deemed deadly force as an acceptable response.
Deputies say Sessoms criminal history included a DUI for manslaughter.
WEB EXTRAS (911 audio – May take up to a minute to start playing.)
http://www.counton2extras.com/assets/audio/1buckthorn.wav
http://www.counton2extras.com/assets/audio/2buckthorn.wav
http://www.counton2extras.com/assets/audio/3buckthorn.wav
http://www.counton2extras.com/assets/audio/4buckthorn.wav
http://www.counton2extras.com/assets/audio/5buckthorn.wav
http://www.wcbd.com/midatlantic/cbd/news.apx.-content-articles-CBD-2008-01-04-0016.html
The man who shot and killed his roommate on New Year's Day will not face any charges. Solicitor Scarlett Wilson announced the decision Friday.
News 2 reported Tuesday that the shooting began with a domestic dispute. According to deputies, it began when 24 Year-Old Brian Sessoms ordered his 16 year-old girlfriend to walk across the room to give him a kiss. She said no and within 30 minutes, the situation began to escalate.
"He keeps hitting on the window and hitting the door," Sara Buenting told a 911 Berkeley County Dispatcher. The dispatcher said, "Who's he to you?" Buenting replied crying, "He's just a friend."
21 year-old Buenting lives at the home with her fiance, 26 Year-Old Benjamin Harriott. They say they invited Harriott's friend, Brian Sessoms to move in a month ago on a short-term basis. But after a gathering with friends Monday night, Harriott locked Sessoms out after Sessoms became physically violent with his 16 year-old girlfriend.
In the 911 call Buenting said of Sessom, "He's wrestling us to get in my house." The dispatcher asked, "Where's he at now ma'am?" Buenting replied, "He's outside my house ringing my doorbell." The dispatcher asked, "Is the door locked?" Buenting said, "Yes."
Deputies say Sessoms used his key to re-enter the home. Buenting said in the 911 call, "Sessoms squeezed me and my fiance tried to get him out. He hurt my nose and my mouth, busted a hole in my wall. He tried to get his girlfriend out of our house because he's drunk." Once outside, Sessoms quieted down, according to deputies. Buenting told the dispatcher, "His girlfriend's peeking out the window and says he left."
Instead, deputies say Sessoms re-entered the home through an upstairs window by climbing on an air-conditioning unit. Buenting said, "I don't know how he got up there. We had all the doors locked and he came running down the stairs after all of us." That's when Harriott took action and shot Sessoms. The 911 tape reveals Harriott worked to apply pressure on the wound after the first shot. The dispatcher told Buenting, "Keep pressure on it. He was shot in the stomach?" Buenting said, "Yes." The dispatcher asked, "Where is the gun?" At that time, the tape reveals noises in the background as Harriott yelled, "He's resisting." Buenting repeated the message to the dispatcher and said, "He's resisting pressure. He's trying to get up."
Solicitor Scarlett Wilson said Harriott warned Sessoms again, but Sessoms did not listen so he fired again. The same scenerio continued and Harriott fired a final shot, for a total of three.
After hearing this story, you may wonder what rights you have as a homeowner. Under the Castle Doctrine, everyone has a right to remain safe in their homes. You can meet force with force if you are under attack or if you reasonably feel a violent crime is about to be committed. Under the laws of self defense, when a person is justified in firing the first shot, they are justified in continuing fire until the threat is eliminated.
In this case, the solicitor says the 911 calls documented what happened.
Officials are still waiting for Sessom's toxicology report. The solicitor says the results will only help explain his irrational behavior. She says through witnesses and the 911 tapes, the situation deemed deadly force as an acceptable response.
Deputies say Sessoms criminal history included a DUI for manslaughter.
WEB EXTRAS (911 audio – May take up to a minute to start playing.)
http://www.counton2extras.com/assets/audio/1buckthorn.wav
http://www.counton2extras.com/assets/audio/2buckthorn.wav
http://www.counton2extras.com/assets/audio/3buckthorn.wav
http://www.counton2extras.com/assets/audio/4buckthorn.wav
http://www.counton2extras.com/assets/audio/5buckthorn.wav