NO RIGHT TO SHOOT SOMEBODY BY ACCIDENT, EVEN IF THEY ARE A VIOLENT ASSHOLE

By Bob Walsh

Francisco Valerio, top right, is then said to have taken a swing at Kevin Pullatasi with his gun, which fired, hitting Pullatasi in the abdomen. Pullatasi is seen here on the ground after being shot 

 

This little exercise in practical morality played out in Queens, NY  recently.  The owner of a small liquor store spotted a thief trying to creatively acquire some booze and physically threw the guy and his buddy out of his store.  The thief (OK, suspected thief), Kevin Pullatasi, 20, then charged back at the front door of the store and slammed the door into one of the store employees.  A shouting match ensued.

Pullatasi then backed off a bit, dropped his bag and charged the door again.  At that time the store owner, Francisco Valerio, 53, appears.  He is carrying a legally owned handgun for which he had a carry permit.  Vallerio then slugs Pullatasi with the hand in which he is holding the gun.  The gun fires, injuring Pullatasi.  

Valerio is now under arrest for reckless endangerment, assault and other charges.  Pullatasi and his buddy Edwin Poaquiza are charged with petit larceny, which is a nothingburger.  They stole two bottles of hooch.  

I admit I am not up on NY law but I suspect that had he shot the thief deliberately as the thief was assaulting him he would be in a much better legal position than he is now.

 

EDITOR'S NOTE: It's a good thing the thieves were white. Had they been black, Valerio would have been charged with a hate crime.