Sunday Feel Good Stories

UPDATE
DA: Brooklyn Avenue shooting was self-defense; No charges to be filed

By Rebecca Walter
No charges will be filed in the July 3 shooting death of a Hendersonville man following an investigation’s conclusion the shooter acted in self-defense, District Attorney Greg Newman announced Friday.

Family members of the victim, James Franklin Stepp III, are questioning the integrity of the investigation, however, and say they don’t believe the self-defense claim.

Stepp, 48, was shot by Greg Carl Spinella at 706 Brooklyn Ave. at 6:15 p.m. following an altercation that was caught partly on video. Stepp’s family is calling for the release of the footage, but Newman said none would be released by his office.

Stepp’s son, Jimmy, worked for Spinella at Spinella Trucking and Excavating Inc. and was fired the day of the incident after Spinella claimed Jimmy had damaged equipment, Newman said during a news conference Friday morning at the Henderson County Courthouse. Hendersonville Police Chief Herbert Blake also attended the news conference.

The son was asked to leave the property, then returned and had a heated verbal exchange with Spinella, which led to his firing, according to Newman.

Stepp then went to the business and confronted Spinella, Newman said. Stepp asked Spinella to give him his son’s paycheck immediately, Newman said. Newman said Stepp was not invited onto the property and Spinella did not know who Stepp was.

The incident quickly escalated, and Stepp punched Spinella in the head “very forcefully,” which caused Spinella to fall to the ground facedown, according to Newman, adding that Stepp continued to punch Spinella in the head.

A witness tried to break it up before getting tangled up and falling down, which allowed Spinella to turn enough to grab the pistol near the small of his back that he legally carried, Newman said.

After grabbing his pistol, Spinella stuck the firearm into Stepp’s chest and fired “as many times as he could fire it,” Newman said.

Three shots were fired, and the fatal shot hit Stepp in the pelvic region. Another went into his chest and out his arm, and a third grazed his leg.

Stepp had one firearm in his vehicle and his son had two, according to Newman. Spinella was the only person to fire any shots.

The son had gone outside during the altercation, and upon seeing his father shot, drove him to Pardee Hospital, Newman explained. Stepp was later pronounced dead at Mission Hospital.

Spinella went to AdventHealth with head injuries.

Newman said HPD conducted a thorough investigation, and the evidence included some video footage, witness statements and results from an autopsy HPD officers were in attendance for. North Carolina is on the side of Spinella in the incident, according to Newman.

The law supports what this man did. It is difficult, it is tragic, yes. This is not the way we want people to handle their disputes, but the facts are compelling that this is an act of self-defense, and for that reason I will not be submitting an indictment to the grand jury,” Newman said.

Newman said the case would not win a conviction in court, and that he and HPD were “very much in agreement” about the results of the investigation.

“I would not be in a position as district attorney to satisfy a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that this man was not acting in self-defense; I just would not be able to do that,” Newman said.

Newman said the footage reviewed in the investigation was from a motion-activated camera and the entire altercation is not seen in the video. He said it is not a steady stream of video and does “jump around a little bit.” Under statute the video will not be released unless a court orders it, Newman said.

Newman said the decision took three weeks because the police department had to be careful in its approach. Spinella did not give a statement right away, and some individuals had to be called back in for statements. Newman said Stepp’s son made two statements that were conflicting.

“North Carolina law provides that all of our people have the right to defend themselves against aggressive behavior, especially if they feel that their life is in danger or they are in danger of great bodily injury,” Newman said.

He expressed sympathy for Stepp’s family, and acknowledged their disapproval of the decision.

“I understand there will be people sad about this, people upset with me about this, but my duty is to not put forward any case that shouldn’t go forward,” Newman said. “It is not pleasant. It is not easy. That’s just where we are with things. That is our decision. So this case will not be prosecuted against Mr. Spinella for what happened on July 3.”

The DA made the only possible call of self defense. Read the entire article here: GoUpstate.com

NH Dad Pulls Gun on Intruder Until Police Arrive

By Katherine Underwood and Mike Pescaro
Three days after a New Hampshire homeowner opened fire on a stranger who had broken into his home, a similar situation unfolded just a few miles away in the same city.

In broad daylight Wednesday afternoon, a man held an attempted burglar at gunpoint while his two kids witnessed the entire ordeal.

The homeowner said he was pulling into his driveway on May Street, his young children in the car, when he saw a stranger standing on his porch.

“I don’t know who he is, I don’t know his intentions, and I don’t know why he’s here,” said David Cameron.

Once Cameron realized that man was trying to break into his home and steal his kids’ bikes, he pulled his gun.

He carries it all the time, and while he’s never before had to use it for protection, he says this is exactly why he has it.

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The rest of the article may be viewed here: NECN

1 of 3 brothers suspected of shooting mechanic in Pembroke Park appears in court

PEMBROKE PARK, FLA. (WSVN) – Deputies suspect three brothers to be behind a shooting in Pembroke Pines that left two dead, and one of the siblings appeared in court on Thursday morning.

Jemar Devonte Reid, 20, was arrested after he was allegedly involved in a shooting at Dwayne’s Body Shop, located on the 2400 block of Southwest 31st Avenue, Tuesday night that left his brother and a mechanic dead.

According to officials, Reid and his siblings Kamar and Davieon Reid got into a confrontation with a mechanic before a shooting ensued.

The three brothers were all shot and drove to a nearby Broward Sheriff’s Office Substation to seek medical assistance.

Deputies were made aware of the shop where the shooting occurred, and after arriving on scene they located a deceased male, only identified as the mechanic.

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The entire article may be viewed here: WSVN News
No score for the update, Delta Whiskies and Whiskettes, so we’re left with one DOT, three five inconvenienced, and none in the wind. At least for today.

“The Constitution shall never be construed… to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.” – Samuel Adams

Bonus Article!
Arrests announced in gunpoint robbery of Baltimore deputy police commissioner, wife

By Robert Gearty | Fox News
Two 16-year-old teenagers have been charged with robbing a Baltimore Police Department deputy commissioner at gunpoint.

The arrests of Kathree Fowlkes and Kamal Godwin was announced Friday. They were charged with armed robbery and are being prosecuted as adults, Fox 45 reported.

The July 19 night-time robbery of Deputy Commissioner Daniel Murphy and his wife drew headlines, serving to underscore the high-level of gun-related violence that plagues the city. Baltimore has one of the highest homicide rates in the country.

The thieves approached Murphy and his wife after getting out of an SUV and fled after taking a purse, cash and other items, the station reported.

Murphy is not required to carry a gun or badge as a departmental civilian employee.

Idiots. Today’s score has been updated.

Category: Feel Good Stories