Exercising the Right
Army Vet on Trial After Self-defense Shooting
A story out of San Antonio reminds us how anyone who engages in armed self-defense might end up facing a criminal prosecution. The defendant in the case, 25-year-old Roger McCracken, was charged with the shooting death of his neighbor in Bexar County. The incident occurred back on September 11, 2021 when McCracken was returning to the apartment complex where he lived with his wife and children. At that moment, he was confronted by his 34-year-old neighbor, Ronnie Riddle. For unknown reasons, Riddle was highly agitated and began making threatening remarks to McCracken and his family. McCracken said that Riddle reached for a gun he was carrying, so he pulled his own firearm and opened fire on Riddle, mortally wounding him.
Prosecutors relied on the testimony of an eyewitness who contradicted McCracken’s version of the story but who was an admitted drug user. McCracken’s defense attorney, Joseph Hoelscher, was adamant that McCracken had acted lawfully. “Roger McCracken carried his weapon responsibly. He used it responsibly. He did everything that gun owners are trained to do if they ever have to use their weapon in self-defense,” Hoelscher told News4SanAntonio.com.
After hours of deliberation, the jury told the judge they were deadlocked. The judge would not accept that result, and told them to return to deliberating. Thankfully for McCracken, on February 1, the jury returned with a “not guilty” verdict. McCracken told News4SanAntonio.com, “I feel like the stress is off my shoulders and the weight’s lifted…. I’m happy that I can say I can be home with my family…. I feel blessed…. I just know that I’ve got a future now.”
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