Ohio grand jury affirms 'Stand Your Ground' law, refuses to indict man who shot his daughter's ex-boyfriend, who had broken into their home

Ohio grand jury affirms 'Stand Your Ground' law, refuses to indict man who shot his daughter's ex-boyfriend, who had broken into their home



An Ohio man will not face criminal charges, even after he fatally shot his daughter's ex-boyfriend who had broken into their home.

On July 31 at approximately 11 a.m. local time, James Rayl stood on the front porch of his ex-girlfriend's house in Sidney, Ohio, about 40 minutes north of Dayton. Rayl rang the doorbell repeatedly, briefly left the porch, returned, and then began attempting to break through the door with his shoulder.

Meanwhile, the homeowner Mitchell Duckro stood on the other side of the door and asked Rayl to leave his property. He also warned the young man that he was armed. When Rayl finally managed to breach the deadbolt lock, Duckro fired his gun and shot Rayl three times, once in each shoulder and once in the back. Rayl then staggered to the driveway and collapsed.

He died within minutes.

The entire harrowing scene, including Duckro's warnings, was captured on a front door camera. His daughter, Allyson Duckro, can also be heard asking her father "Dad, is he trying to kill me?"

After Rayl was shot, Allyson told her father, "Dad, there’s nothing you could have done. You saved my life."

Shelby County Prosecutor Tim Sell showed the grand jury the front door camera footage, as well as the 911 call tape. The grand jury voted 8-1 not to indict, citing Ohio's "Stand Your Ground" and "castle doctrine," which affirm the rights of homeowners to use lethal force against those who threaten their safety or property.

Despite the evidence demonstrating that Rayl posed an immediate threat to the Duckros and their property, some in Rayl's family remain convinced that Duckro should have been indicted.

"You should absolutely be ashamed of your actions all around," Rayl's sister, Jessica Marie Colbert, wrote on Facebook. "Every single one of you connected to the Duckro family that has no regard for my family whatsoever.

"Mitch shot him in the back and killed him. And we know more than just that Mitchy. I hope your days are more miserable than they've ever been. You're a disgusting excuse of a human being along with your daughter," she added.

According to Fox News, Allyson Duckro had broken up with Rayl about 18 months ago. The night before the incident, Rayl had called Allyson and left her a voice mail. The contents of the message are unknown.

Colbert shared on Facebook a YouTube video of an extended version of the front door camera footage. The YouTube account is called Justice for James Rayl.


Florida sheriff 'proud' of homeowner for defending himself after intruder breaks in: 'He had a gun, he knew how to use it, it was loaded, and he shot him a lot'



There was no mistaking where Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd stood in regard to guns and self-defense following a home invasion Wednesday afternoon in north Lakeland, Florida, which culminated in the homeowner shooting the intruder.

“The homeowner did exactly what he should have," Judd said, according to WFLA-TV. "He had a gun, he knew how to use it, it was loaded, and he shot him a lot. He gave him an early Christmas present. Only Santa Claus gets to come in your house — and Santa Claus is invited.”

What are the details?

The homeowner told deputies the intruder threw a flower pot through glass French doors to get inside the home from the back porch — after which the homeowner shot the intruder three times, the station said.

Deputies said that upon their arrival, the homeowner handed them the gun and directed them to the intruder, who was lying on the living room floor, WESH-TV reported.

“I’m proud of our homeowner for defending himself," Judd added to WFLA. "It’s called a ‘Castle Doctrine.’ He has the right to protect himself and his home from unknown intruders."

'He's lucky to be alive'

Steven Stillwell, 42, was rushed to a hospital, where he was listed in critical but stable condition, WFLA reported.

"He's lucky to be alive," Judd told WTVT-TV, adding that the break-in occurred around 1:00 p.m.

Image source: WFLA-TV video screenshot

What's more, deputies told WFLA that Stillwell was seen on surveillance video running into the back yard and standing on the porch, that evidence showed Stillwell was shot inside the home, and that someone had broken the glass to enter the residence.

In addition, investigators told WESH a shotgun belonging to Stillwell was found in the homeowner’s back yard.

The homeowner’s firearm was legal, deputies added to WFLA. The homeowner, who lives near Gibsonia-Galloway Road, does not know Stillwell, WESH reported.

'A person's home is his refuge'

The sheriff’s office considers the homeowner to be the victim in this case even though he shot the intruder; therefore, the homeowner's name is not being released, WFLA said.

"The castle doctrine is very clear in Florida law," Judd added to WESH. "A person's home is his refuge."

The homeowner’s attorney confirmed his client lives with his wife and young child but was home alone at the time of the shooting, WFLA added.

Charges are pending against Stillwell, WESH reported, adding that sheriff's office officials said he has an extensive criminal history that includes 14 felonies.

'I tell folks to get a gun'

Judd emphasized the importance of protecting yourself since police can't be everywhere at once.

"I tell folks to get a gun, learn how to use it safely, and load it," he told WESH. "You can dial 911 all day long, but when that guy's coming through the back door on you, we can't get there in time."

Woman catches burglar in her home, holds him at gunpoint while waiting for police. When he makes a threatening move, she opens fire.



A homeowner in Vicksburg, Mississippi, defended herself and her property with a firearm Thursday morning.

What happened?

According to the Vicksburg Daily News, the woman arrived at the home just after 11 a.m. Thursday to perform a daily check when she discovered a burglary in progress at her residence.

She fired what she described as a warning shot before briefly exiting the home, alerting neighbors and telling them to call the police.

Investigators said the woman then re-entered the home and attempted to hold the burglar at gunpoint until police arrived. But when the burglar made a "threatening move," the homeowner felt compelled to open fire, striking the burglar in the arm, WAPT-TV reported.

A few minutes later, the burglar, reportedly a young man, showed up at the nearby River City Rescue Mission suffering from a gunshot wound to his forearm.

The suspect's injuries were deemed non-life-threatening. According to investigators, he was treated by paramedics before being transported to the Vicksburg Police station for processing. He will reportedly be charged with burglary.

The homeowner was also reportedly taken to the station for processing but is not expected to be charged because her actions are likely protected by the castle doctrine.

What else?

Neighbor Sharon Flowers said that she had just arrived at her home Thursday morning when she heard the woman shouting for help. Flowers told the Vicksburg Daily News that she alerted the police at the homeowner's request before witnessing the second shot being fired.

"The silence was terrifying," she recalled. "You couldn't see anything, you didn't see anyone move, it was silence."

Under Mississippi's castle doctrine — similar to "stand your ground" laws — the homeowner was legally permitted to fire upon the intruder.

According to the state's legal code, "a person who is not the initial aggressor and is not engaged in unlawful activity shall have no duty to retreat before using deadly force ... if the person is in a place where the person has a right to be, and no finder of fact shall be permitted to consider the person's failure to retreat as evidence that the person's use of force was unnecessary, excessive or unreasonable."

Vicksburg woman shoots burglary suspect inside home, says police www.youtube.com

Kentucky man who shot intruder won't face charges due to state castle doctrine

A Kentucky man who shot and killed a home intruder this week will not face charges, police say.

The shooting happened early Tuesday morning. Police received a call about a burglary in process with shots fired around 1:30 a.m. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man lying on the ground outside the home with a gunshot wound to the chest, River City News reports.

The wounded man was identified as 43-year-old Joshua Kersey. He was transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he died of his wounds. Police said that Kersey was armed with guns.

Kersey and two accomplices entered the home of 54-year-old Floyd Gillie Sr. armed, dressed in dark clothing, and wearing ski masks. They demanded to know the whereabouts of a person who hasn't lived at the residence for years and threatened Gillie and his wife with their firearms.

Hearing the invasion, Gillie's son Floyd Gillie Jr., 24, retrieved a handgun from an upstairs bedroom and shot Kersey as the intruders advanced towards his bedroom. All three suspects fled the house, but Kersey collapsed outside. Police are searching for the two other suspects.

Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders said Gillie Jr. will not face charges, citing Kentucky’s “Castle Law Doctrine.”

“Mr. Gillie was justifiably in fear for his safety and the safety of his parents,” Sanders said. “So he was entitled to use deadly force in defense of their home.”

“This wasn’t a close call, it was clearly justified,” he added.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., tweeted the story, saying home invaders "should think twice."

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