Should You Talk To Police After A Self-Defense Incident

In all seriousness I realize I have not stored the number of a local self defense lawyer. Anyone have any recommendations?
 
I have an account with USCCA, but I think they want me to identify who I would call in such an instance, which I haven’t done.
 
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I would think it would be best for the initial contact be local and someone familiar with your "home courthouse”, but if it got ugly, like with an aggressive DA trying to make a name for himself, you might need to bring in a meaner dog from elsewhere. I dunno.
 
DrSideways said:
This would be a list worth putting together for the site. Recommendations for the Triad area?
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I seem to remember the Canadian Shooters Club had a list/thread on self defense friendly attorneys. I’ve been going to look for that list for a couple of years now : )
 
"Thank you for coming officer, I was in fear of my life so I defended myself. I would like to please call my lawyer, I have no further comment and am exercising my right to remain silent."
 
fieldgrade said:
I would think it would be best for the initial contact be local and someone familiar with your "home courthouse”, but if it got ugly, like with an aggressive DA trying to make a name for himself, you might need to bring in a meaner dog from elsewhere. I dunno.
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Or if you live in a place like Asheville...

Remember, a lot of "justice" transpires in small conversations btw defense lawyers, prosecuters & judges with heavy case loads. To them, it's all in a day's work, like trading baseball cards.
 
At an “advanced CHP class” held by Osage Combatives, he said to make sure that any comments you do make to the police include subject for the perp and victim when referring to yourself. As an active duty police officer (and helicopter pilot for the military), he said that this puts the responding officers in the proper mindset for your version of the events.
 
B00ger said:
"Thank you for coming officer, I was in fear of my life so I defended myself. I would like to please call my lawyer, I have no further comment and am exercising my right to remain silent."
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While that is certainly your right, it puts the police in the position of trying to sort out what happened. And they will be interviewing, umm, "witnesses" who may or may not have the same perspective as you or may have been the aggressor or their friends.

I wish all the cops were as good as, I thought, I was at investigating but the one doing the talking sets the tone of the investigation.
 
After watching this https://www.hbo.com/the-night-of . I would not talk to police in any instance w/o a lawyer. Hells bells, my neighbors wife about died and he has Alzheimers and couldnt figure out how to call 911. I called 911 and the dispatcher just about had me confessing to the Lindbergh kidnapping.
 
Similar to @B00ger , it will be something to the effect of...

“I was in fear for my life and was forced to defend myself. This has been an emotionally overwhelming experience. I’ll be glad to answer your questions tomorrow morning with my attorney present. Thanks for coming over to check on me!”
 
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My statement above comes from what I have heard repeatedly from attorneys. I am not John Wick...>if< I ever have to shoot someone, then my entire world has been turned upside down and inside out so much that I have strong doubts that I will be speaking with the utmost clarity and may use a term or phrase out of context that can, and may be used against me at a future time. I am by no means indicating that I do not think people should cooperate with the police, but great care must be put into what is said. We have all heard the mantra "a righteous shoot is a righteous shoot"...but a civil case may disagree.
 
J R Green said:
While that is certainly your right, it puts the police in the position of trying to sort out what happened. And they will be interviewing, umm, "witnesses" who may or may not have the same perspective as you or may have been the aggressor or their friends.

I wish all the cops were as good as, I thought, I was at investigating but the one doing the talking sets the tone of the investigation.
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No witnesses to be allowed. There's only one story to be told.
 
Sigequinox220 said:
In all seriousness I realize I have not stored the number of a local self defense lawyer. Anyone have any recommendations?
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I can't remember his name off the top of my head, but there was a lawyer who used to do a "after the shooting" class. The wife and I attended it in Wilson,NC, probably back in 2010-2011. I think with some CSC members.

I need to find his number.
 
fieldgrade said:
Just remember, wherever it happened, the whole thing was probably recorded on camera.
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Although you're most likely correct, that's not my point.

Assuming the self defense incident happens somewhere other than your home, I don't see myself sitting around, waiting on them. I more than likely won't drive home, but I'll go somewhere that I can make calls without constant interruption.
 
kcult said:
Although you're most likely correct, that's not my point.

Assuming the self defense incident happens somewhere other than your home, I don't see myself sitting around, waiting on them. I more than likely won't drive home, but I'll go somewhere that I can make calls without constant interruption.
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I don’t know what the laws are on leaving the scene of a shooting, but I’m assuming it’s not good if it’s anything like leaving the scene of an accident, especially if there’s an injury.
 
B00ger said:
"Thank you for coming officer, I was in fear of my life so I defended myself. I would like to please call my lawyer, I have no further comment and am exercising my right to remain silent."
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When i got my concealed permit, this is exactly what my instructor said to say. He was retired LEO and said they can use the slightest mistake of wording against you. He said its better to let the lawyers duke it out
 
fieldgrade said:
I don’t know what the laws are on leaving the scene of a shooting, but I’m assuming it’s not good if it’s anything like leaving the scene of an accident, especially if there’s an injury.
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A good recent example we have is that Las Vegas shooting we all discussed a while back. Didnt seem to be a factor there. I think the difference is that it is pretty easily argued that "I was still in fear of reprisal from other threats and needed to get to a safe location to contact the authorities." That is >if< that is what you do. Of course, its all depends on the situation.
 
B00ger said:
A good recent example we have is that Las Vegas shooting we all discussed a while back. Didnt seem to be a factor there. I think the difference is that it is pretty easily argued that "I was still in fear of reprisal from other threats and needed to get to a safe location to contact the authorities." That is >if< that is what you do. Of course, its all depends on the situation.
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That's my angle.

If the situation is bad enough that you have to shoot someone, it's probably a location you don't want to remain in.
 
Jerzsubbie said:
Similar to @B00ger , it will be something to the effect of...

“I was in fear for my life and was forced to defend myself. This has been an emotionally overwhelming experience. I’ll be glad to answer your questions tomorrow morning with my attorney present. Thanks for coming over to check on me!”
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Then they'll say, "he said it was emotional, but he wasn't crying so he's obviously lying"
lullll
but seriously, watch...

Halfway joking...but I like the statement. Conveys just enough respect I think.
 
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IrishCannon said:
Then they'll say, "he said it was emotional, but he wasn't crying so he's obviously lying"
lullll
but seriously, watch...

Halfway joking...but I like the statement. Conveys just enough respect I think.
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That’s easy. Everyone expresses and processes emotions differently. Shock, for example. Hell, I very we may be crying by the time police want to talk to me and I begin processing what just happened and what this might do to my life & family.
 
Jerzsubbie said:
That’s easy. Everyone expresses and processes emotions differently. Shock, for example. Hell, I very we may be crying by the time police want to talk to me and I begin processing what just happened and what this might do to my life & family.
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Iiiiiiii knowwwwwwwww....just joking.

I've seen people laugh after a loved one was killed...it was odd and sad because you know they feel one way but the brain chemicals produce otherwise.
 
IrishCannon said:
Iiiiiiii knowwwwwwwww....just joking.

I've seen people laugh after a loved one was killed...it was odd and sad because you know they feel one way but the brain chemicals produce otherwise.
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I know you were, but there’s still truth to it. Anything you say can and will be twisted by multiple people from Police to DA depending on how they feel about the circumstances.
 
B00ger said:
"Thank you for coming officer, I was in fear of my life so I defended myself. I would like to please call my lawyer, I have no further comment and am exercising my right to remain silent."
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One thing I would add, if appropriate, is to point out any evidence that bolsters your case such as a weapon that the perp may have dropped, as you don't want to assume they'll find it.
 
Hi guys. I realize that I haven't been around much and there's a reason for that. If You want my advice I'm happy to give it. I am NOT a lawyer and NOT giving legal advice just so we are clear. I am also saying that if you don't want my advice MOVE ON since I will not debate it here.

That said......

Be polite. Provide your ID and contact information as well as various ways that detectives can get a hold of you to include email. DONT be a dick. Let me repeat that.... DONT BE A DICK. It doesn't help you. Tell the Officer that responds that you are happy to answer questions with a LAWYER present. When you have a LAWYER present, TRUTHFULLY answer all questions (unless you are advised by your lawyer not to). Be advised that if you don't answer any questions that Officers and detectives WILL take all of the other statemnets and use them as a factual basis to obtain probable cause and charge you. If your lawyer is a dick and tells you to answer NO questions, you should probably get a different lawyer... he/she is likely inexperienced and/or looking for more money by defending you.

You may be saying "Who the hell is this guy?", well friends, I am the guy that the patrol officers call to help them figure out what happened. I am the guy that if you choose to be a dick and not answer any questions that will be talking to witnesses and your neighbors and your 2nd grade teacher about you. If I have nothing else to go on, I will have to go with the facts that I have gathered from others and if they lead me to probable cause will be charging you.

Hope that helps. Stay safe.
 
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