Exercising the Right
Former Green Beret Prosecuted
Armed self-defense, even on one’s own property, can sometimes lead to the victim of a crime being treated like a criminal. The Colorado Springs Gazette reported on June 27 about such a case, where a homeowner was prosecuted for shooting an intruder.
The homeowner, 35-year-old Michael Galvin, was tried for negligent homicide in the shooting death of Robert Carrigan in Colorado Springs. Authorities say Carrigan broke in to Galvin’s detached garage on November 3, 2015. Galvin, who had just moved into the house on the city’s west side with his family, was home with his wife and two small children the night of the break-in. The couple had just put their children to bed when Galvin noticed that his mountain bike was lying in the backyard. Galvin knew he had stored the bike in his garage, so he suspected that something was awry.
Galvin, who had served for more than 12 years as a Green Beret in an Army Special Forces unit, retrieved a 9-mm pistol and flashlight and went to investigate. He walked toward the detached garage, which is set back 25 feet from the house. Once inside, Galvin discovered Carrigan rummaging through his belongings. After a brief exchange of words, Galvin said, Carrigan lunged at him, so he fired his pistol. Carrigan was fatally wounded. Police were called to the scene, and the family thought the terrifying ordeal was over. Sadly, the trauma was just beginning as Colorado Springs prosecutor Samorreyan Burney of the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office decided to prosecute the veteran for defending himself.
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