Ex-Iowa State basketball player among four charged following Glenwood disturbance, shooting

[cigaretteman]

Three men face charges stemming from a Sunday disturbance in Glenwood that involved the city’s high school principal and a former Iowa State University basketball player. Another man is in custody for alleged threats on social media made in connection to the incident.

Denver Cook, 18, and Colton McDaniel, 21, are at the Mills County Jail for their alleged roles in a disturbance at Glenwood High School Principal Richard Hutchinson’s house Sunday evening. Hutchinson’s stepson, 42-year-old Hurl Beechum – who played at Iowa State in the mid-1990s – faces charges as well.

The incident occurred around 5:45 p.m. Sunday on Third Street between Myrtle and Hazel streets in Glenwood. Three people – Hutchinson, Beechum and McDaniel, who suffered a gunshot wound – were hospitalized after suffering non-life-threatening injuries.

Beechum, who is accused of shooting McDaniel, has been charged with intimidation with a serious weapon, a Class C felony, willful injury, a Class D felony, going armed with intent, a Class D felony, and two counts of assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor, according to the Mills County Attorney’s Office. If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 22 years in prison.

Cook is charged with willful injury, a Class C felony, and assault causing bodily injury, a serious misdemeanor, and faces up to 11 years in prison. McDaniel is charged with assault causing bodily injury, a serious misdemeanor, and faces up to one year in prison.

The Mills County Attorney’s Office said the different felony levels in the willful injury charges, with Class C being more serious than Class D, between Beechum and Cook is related to the severity of their alleged actions.

Both Cook and McDaniel are being held at the Mills County Jail on a $10,000 bond. Beechum is not yet at the jail, according to an official at the facility.

Liam R. Whitehouse, 20, of Pacific Junction, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of going armed with intent and illegally carrying weapons stemming from a social media post after the incident, according to the Mills County Attorney’s Office.

Around 9 p.m. Sunday, Whitehouse allegedly made threats on Facebook about “vigilante justice” in connection with the disturbance and shooting.

Mills County Attorney Tricia McSorley said Whitehouse posted on Facebook that he wanted people to meet at Glenwood Lake Park at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday night. Several people reported the post to authorities.

The post has since been taken down. But a copy of it provided to the BH Media News Service reads: “This is a call to arms! Everyone who wants to extract some vigilante justice because of what happened to Colton McDaniel, meet at the Glenwood Lake Park at 9:30 ... Colton is like a brother to me. It’s time to ride or die.”

On Sunday night, a group of people did gather at the park. Some had heeded Whitehouse’s call, she said, but others came to try to keep trouble from happening.

Shortly after the Facebook post, a Mills County Sheriff’s Office deputy pulled Whitehouse’s 2002 Pontiac Sunfire over while he was driving in the 800 block of East Sharp Street in Glenwood. Glenwood Police Officers assisted with the stop.

Upon a search of the vehicle, officers located a pellet gun under the driver’s seat and a samurai sword in the trunk.

Whitehouse was not immediately arrested, though authorities did not say why. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and the suspect turned himself Tuesday in at the Mills County Jail. He is free on a $5,000 bond.

Going armed with intent is a Class D felony, punishable by up to five years in prison, while carrying weapons is an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison.

McSorley said the incident Sunday included three juvenile girls; three men, Cook, Kameron Myers, 18, and McDaniel; Hutchinson; Hutchinson’s wife, Randi; and Beechum, Randi Hutchinson’s son.

McSorley on Tuesday said she was concerned over threats made on social media on both sides. She said she did not know of any of the threats being carried out.

“It’s been a lot of talking,” she said

http://www.nonpareilonline.com/news...cle_b71e9468-6789-11e5-8827-f7d64d72a7de.html

 

[cigaretteman]

Former Iowa State and North High School basketball standout Hurl Beechum has been charged with three felonies for shooting a 21-year-old man during a dispute here on Sunday.

Beechum faces charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, going armed with intent and willful injury, as well as two aggravated misdemeanor assault counts, for shooting Colton McDaniel, 21, with a handgun during a fight that began over a racial slur. Beechum is the stepson of Glenwood High School principal Richard Hutchinson.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/st...nte-justice-after-glenwood-shooting/73080396/
Hutchinson, who is black, was involved but not charged with any crimes stemming from the dispute.

Beechum's attorney DeShawne Bird-Sell said she had no comment on the case at 1:20 p.m.

According to an affidavit from an Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agent, the incident started as a group of six teenagers and young adults walked in front of the Glenwood house where Hutchinson lives with his wife. A juvenile girl in the group was talking to her boyfriend at the time, and used a racial slur in her conversation with him. Hutchinson and his wife were cleaning their car and overheard the word.

"Mr. Hutchinson attempted to verbally correct the group of individuals about the inappropriateness of the slur," special agent Daniel Dawson wrote.

As the confrontation escalated, Beechum came outside to help his stepdad, the affidavit said. One of the group members, Denver Cook, 18, punched Hutchinson in the face and knocked the principal out.

A lawyer for McDaniel told the Des Moines Register on Tuesday that he was trying to help Hutchinson when Beechum fired the shot that penetrated his legs. When authorities arrived, Beechum said, "They jumped us, so I had to shoot him," according to the affidavit.

Both McDaniel and Cook also face charges.

Beechum is expected to turn himself in within the next 48 hours because he is currently out of the state, Mills County Attorney Tricia McSorley said. The press release indicates he lives in Arizona.

http://www.press-citizen.com/story/...ee-felony-charges-glenwood-shooting/73096490/

 

[THE_DEVIL]

Thugs, kinda trying to play defense?

 

[Joes Place]

Thugs, kinda trying to play defense?

Sounds like Beechum might not have done anything wrong, other than trying to protect his stepdad; the rest of the little punks should rot for attacking an old man.

 

[lucas80]

Never take a samurai sword to a gun fight.

 

[ghost80]

Not condoning what the kids did at all but I have to wonder about the judgement of the Glenwood principal in this one. Personally if it played out like it says I would have little issue with those twerps getting their clocks cleaned but how smart was it of the principal to stand up alone to a group six over a racial slur.

Very stupid and poor judgement in my book. This wasn't his school where he is king and people will largely obey his every command. This was out on the street where what he says (or thinks) means little. The simple fact these thug kids beat him up shows he was over his head and how foolish it was for him to make a stand in this situation.

He might have put his son in law in a bad situation because of his own bruised ego and inability to let a stupid comment by a bunch of stupid kids go. Time will tell whether it was self defense by Beechum or whether he exercised poor judgement as well. I would hope the shot to the legs wasn't what he was intending to shoot. If the situation was dire enough for him to use a gun he should not have been aiming for the legs and that could come back and haunt him in a courtroom.

 

[rocketclone]

I think it is actually his step father.

 

[rocketclone]

From the story and picture on who it looks as though step father is African American as well.

 

[ghost80]

I think it is actually his step father.

My bad you are correct. Beechum is his step son and not son in law. (My mind knew one thing but typed another).

 

[Hawkness Monster]

Yeah, I wonder why Hutch would confront a group of kids on the street. He just got there and doesn't have relationships with any of those young folks walking by.

 

[hawkeye54545]

Sounds like Beechum might not have done anything wrong, other than trying to protect his stepdad; the rest of the little punks should rot for attacking an old man.

What he did wrong was he missed a few of them. His shot is as accurate as his jumper was.

 

[littlez]

Whole situation very weird. 545 in the morning? This group of 6 "kids" just kind of walking around the neighborhood ? Not really kids as reported as 1 of them was 21. I love reading in the Glenwood paper that of course the kid who was shot was just a happy go lucky kid. Of course he was.

 

[littlez]

My bad. Misread it. 5:45 PM.

 

[Joes Place]

Not condoning what the kids did at all but I have to wonder about the judgement of the Glenwood principal in this one. Personally if it played out like it says I would have little issue with those twerps getting their clocks cleaned but how smart was it of the principal to stand up alone to a group six over a racial slur.

He was on his own property, per what I'm understanding. So he can say whatever he wants to them. The minute they want onto his property and aggressively confront and attack him, I really don't care if they get shot.

He probably should have made his comment and turned away, but if this entire thing occurred in his driveway/front yard, I have zero sympathy for the punks, and would consider no prosecution for the property owners, provided they stayed within their property boundary.

But, as this appears to be an incident which occurred over a couple of days, if there was 'retaliation' days later on the part of Beechum etc., that'd be different.

 

[hawkeye54545]

Regardless of who is at fault and how this turns out I hope someone gets life in prison for naming their kid "Hurl".

 

[linkshero]

I'm picturing a 20 year old kid, living in Glenwood, 02 Pontiac, with an airsoft gun and a samurai sword, that jumps to Facebook to rabble a riot....It's not pretty

 

[littlez]

He's going on facebook trying to incite a riot and bringing his samurai sword to the battle? That might be the funniest thing I've ever heard. Prison is calling his name in the future. No doubt.

 

[Bulldogs1974]

For some reason the whole scenario sounds like a set up. I don't think it's a coincidence that this happened. I think they intended to start something and they did. Now that doesn't excuse what beechum did but the first act in that play seems a bit contrived.

• The age of the "kids" and they were out just walking around. Kids like that and at that age just don't walk around often.
• Just happened to use the n-word in front of the new black principal.
• This is southern Iowa, if you've spent time on the border you know what I mean.

 

[linkshero]

For some reason the whole scenario sounds like a set up. I don't think it's a coincidence that this happened. I think they intended to start something and they did. Now that doesn't excuse what beechum did but the first act in that play seems a bit contrived.

• The age of the "kids" and they were out just walking around. Kids like that and at that age just don't walk around often.
• Just happened to use the n-word in front of the new black principal.
• This is southern Iowa, if you've spent time on the border you know what I mean.

I thought the same thing. I also wondered if it had been building, and why Hurl was there, and knew where a 9mm was in the house. He lives in AZ. It also sounds like the boys are all out of HS, hanging out with HS girls from the town?

 

[cigaretteman]

The Mills County Attorney’s Office has filed charges against three people related to Sunday’s altercation in Glenwood that resulted in a shooting and the injury of three people. The incident occurred around 5:45 p.m. near 209 N. Myrtle St., the residence of Glenwood Community High School principal Richard Hutchinson.

Denver Cook, 18 of Glenwood, Iowa has been charged with willful injury, a class "C" felony, and assault causing bodily injury, a serious misdemeanor.

Colton McDaniel, 21 of Glenwood, has been charged with assault causing bodily Injury, a serious misdemeanor.

Hurl Beechum, III, 42, of Queen Creek, Ariz., has been charged with Intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a class "C" felony; willful injury, a class "D" felony; going armed with intent, a class "D" felony; and two counts of assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor. A class "C" felony is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of at least $1,000, but not more than $10,000.

A class "D" felony is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of at least $750 but not more than $7.500.

An aggravated misdemeanor is punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of at least $625 but not more than $6,250.

A serious misdemeanor is punishable by up to up to one year in jail and a fine of at least $315 but not more than $1,875.

According to an affidavit filed in Mills County District Court by special agent Daniel Dawson of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, McDaniel, Cook, Kameron Myers, and three juvenile females were walking south on North Myrtle Street when approaching the intersection near the Hutchinson residence. Hutchinson and his wife, Randi, were cleaning their car in the driveway, located at the south east corner of the intersection. As the group of six walked into the intersection of North Myrtle Street and 3rd Street, one of the juveniles was on her cell phone talking with her boyfriend when she uttered a racial slur.

Randi Hutchinson attempted to verbally correct the group of individuals about the inappropriateness of the slur. The group of six people continued through the Intersection and proceeded east on 3rd Street away from the Hutchinson residence. Richard Hutchinson then walked from the front of his house (on North Myrtle Street) around the side of his house to the back side of his house (along 3rd Street) where he made contact with the group and asked them why they had to use the slur.

The group of individuals began to argue with Richard Hutchinson. Randi Hutchison went into her residence and yelled for Beechum, her son, to come help his step dad. During this verbal argument, McDaniel faced Richard Hutchinson in an aggressive posture and escalated the argument to such an extent where other members of the group attempted to use portions of their body to act as a buffer between Hutchinson and McDaniel.

While this verbal argument ensued, a threat of physical assault was made toward Richard Hutchinson. As Beechum reached the group, an altercation ensued. Near the beginning moments of the altercation, Cook punched Richard Hutchinson in the face which resulted in Richard Hutchinson losing consciousness and falling to the ground. Cook and McDaniel then began to physically assault Beechum by kicking and punching him.

During the altercation, Beechum allegedly fired a gun that struck McDaniel. Mills County Assistant County Attorney James Burger said Wednesday additional information concerning the shooting portion of the altercation will be released at a later time after Beechum is arrested.

McDaniel and Cook had appearances Wednesday afternoon in Mills County Magistrate Court. Burger said Beechum is believed to be in Arizona and is expected to turn himself in to authorities by the end of the week. Bond was set at $1,000 for McDaniel, who has a preliminary hearing set for Oct. 20. Cook's bond was set at $10,000 and his preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 8. Cook has requested a court-appointed attorney.

James Martin Davis is representing McDaniel. The Omaha attorney said he expected his client to be charged with a misdemeanor. “He didn’t start that fight,” Davis said. “You can see that. He’s the victim in this case. He got shot and it was the principal’s stepson that shot him. There’s no justification for that at all. The only time somebody is entitled to use deadly force is to protect themselves from deadly force and that’s something that should have never happened. This escalated from a few words to a scuffle to a criminal felonious shooting and that should have never happened.”

Davis said felony charges against Beechum are warranted. “It's felony charges. He deserves to be charged with shooting my client. Colton was unarmed and this man came running at him," Davis said. "First of all, he put the gun to his (Colton’s) head and said he was going to shoot and Colton talked him out of saying, ‘I’m here to help your friend.’ I’m not sure how many shots were fired, but my client has two entry wounds and two exit wounds and he’s not going to be able to walk for three to five months because of what happened.”

Davis, who said he would make McDaniel available to the media after his bail processing, said his client's spirits are good. “He’s a happy go lucky kid but how happy go lucky can you be when you’re not going to be able to walk for the next few months and confined to either a wheel chair or crutches. He’s not going to be able to work for at least six months and he’s probably going to need some therapy," Davis said. "He didn’t deserve this. Typically when there’s a fight both parties can be charged. If it’s a fight or scuffled engaged in by mutual consent they’ll charge both parties. I don’t know if they’ll charge the principal or not because he started this.”

Davis said he “absolutely” feels the fight was instigated by Richard Hutchinson. “He (Hutchinson) was the one who came out and asked what the problem was. They were just walking down the street. My client didn’t even know this principal," Davis said. "I don’t know what words were said, but my client never said anything or heard anything that was derogatory. We’re not going to let them use a racial card to justify a shooting because that had nothing to do with my client being there.”

When contacted at his home Wednesday afternoon, Hutchinson declined to comment.

http://www.opinion-tribune.com/content/charges-filed-sunday-shooting

 

[Bulldogs1974]

I will say I've never seen someone knocked unconscious in a fight by a punch that saw it coming. It's pretty hard to paint the principal as the aggressor in a fight when he was knocked unconscious.

 

[hexumhawk]

If you are on someone else's property and assaulting them, you should expect to get shot. Period.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

What he did wrong was he missed a few of them. His shot is as accurate as his jumper was.

Except that one afternoon at Carver in the mid 90s. F'n guy couldn't miss.

 

[linkshero]

I'm picturing a 20 year old kid, living in Glenwood, 02 Pontiac, with an airsoft gun and a samurai sword, that jumps to Facebook to rabble a riot....It's not pretty

I guess he can only aspire to live in Glenwood, he lives in Pac Junction.

 

[Joes Place]

The Mills County Attorney’s Office has filed charges against three people related to Sunday’s altercation in Glenwood that resulted in a shooting and the injury of three people. The incident occurred around 5:45 p.m. near 209 N. Myrtle St., the residence of Glenwood Community High School principal Richard Hutchinson.

Denver Cook, 18 of Glenwood, Iowa has been charged with willful injury, a class "C" felony, and assault causing bodily injury, a serious misdemeanor.

Colton McDaniel, 21 of Glenwood, has been charged with assault causing bodily Injury, a serious misdemeanor.

Hurl Beechum, III, 42, of Queen Creek, Ariz., has been charged with Intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a class "C" felony; willful injury, a class "D" felony; going armed with intent, a class "D" felony; and two counts of assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor. A class "C" felony is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of at least $1,000, but not more than $10,000.

A class "D" felony is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of at least $750 but not more than $7.500.

An aggravated misdemeanor is punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of at least $625 but not more than $6,250.

A serious misdemeanor is punishable by up to up to one year in jail and a fine of at least $315 but not more than $1,875.

According to an affidavit filed in Mills County District Court by special agent Daniel Dawson of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, McDaniel, Cook, Kameron Myers, and three juvenile females were walking south on North Myrtle Street when approaching the intersection near the Hutchinson residence. Hutchinson and his wife, Randi, were cleaning their car in the driveway, located at the south east corner of the intersection. As the group of six walked into the intersection of North Myrtle Street and 3rd Street, one of the juveniles was on her cell phone talking with her boyfriend when she uttered a racial slur.

Randi Hutchinson attempted to verbally correct the group of individuals about the inappropriateness of the slur. The group of six people continued through the Intersection and proceeded east on 3rd Street away from the Hutchinson residence. Richard Hutchinson then walked from the front of his house (on North Myrtle Street) around the side of his house to the back side of his house (along 3rd Street) where he made contact with the group and asked them why they had to use the slur.

The group of individuals began to argue with Richard Hutchinson. Randi Hutchison went into her residence and yelled for Beechum, her son, to come help his step dad. During this verbal argument, McDaniel faced Richard Hutchinson in an aggressive posture and escalated the argument to such an extent where other members of the group attempted to use portions of their body to act as a buffer between Hutchinson and McDaniel.

While this verbal argument ensued, a threat of physical assault was made toward Richard Hutchinson. As Beechum reached the group, an altercation ensued. Near the beginning moments of the altercation, Cook punched Richard Hutchinson in the face which resulted in Richard Hutchinson losing consciousness and falling to the ground. Cook and McDaniel then began to physically assault Beechum by kicking and punching him.

During the altercation, Beechum allegedly fired a gun that struck McDaniel. Mills County Assistant County Attorney James Burger said Wednesday additional information concerning the shooting portion of the altercation will be released at a later time after Beechum is arrested.

McDaniel and Cook had appearances Wednesday afternoon in Mills County Magistrate Court. Burger said Beechum is believed to be in Arizona and is expected to turn himself in to authorities by the end of the week. Bond was set at $1,000 for McDaniel, who has a preliminary hearing set for Oct. 20. Cook's bond was set at $10,000 and his preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 8. Cook has requested a court-appointed attorney.

James Martin Davis is representing McDaniel. The Omaha attorney said he expected his client to be charged with a misdemeanor. “He didn’t start that fight,” Davis said. “You can see that. He’s the victim in this case. He got shot and it was the principal’s stepson that shot him. There’s no justification for that at all. The only time somebody is entitled to use deadly force is to protect themselves from deadly force and that’s something that should have never happened. This escalated from a few words to a scuffle to a criminal felonious shooting and that should have never happened.”

Davis said felony charges against Beechum are warranted. “It's felony charges. He deserves to be charged with shooting my client. Colton was unarmed and this man came running at him," Davis said. "First of all, he put the gun to his (Colton’s) head and said he was going to shoot and Colton talked him out of saying, ‘I’m here to help your friend.’ I’m not sure how many shots were fired, but my client has two entry wounds and two exit wounds and he’s not going to be able to walk for three to five months because of what happened.”

Davis, who said he would make McDaniel available to the media after his bail processing, said his client's spirits are good. “He’s a happy go lucky kid but how happy go lucky can you be when you’re not going to be able to walk for the next few months and confined to either a wheel chair or crutches. He’s not going to be able to work for at least six months and he’s probably going to need some therapy," Davis said. "He didn’t deserve this. Typically when there’s a fight both parties can be charged. If it’s a fight or scuffled engaged in by mutual consent they’ll charge both parties. I don’t know if they’ll charge the principal or not because he started this.”

Davis said he “absolutely” feels the fight was instigated by Richard Hutchinson. “He (Hutchinson) was the one who came out and asked what the problem was. They were just walking down the street. My client didn’t even know this principal," Davis said. "I don’t know what words were said, but my client never said anything or heard anything that was derogatory. We’re not going to let them use a racial card to justify a shooting because that had nothing to do with my client being there.”

When contacted at his home Wednesday afternoon, Hutchinson declined to comment.

http://www.opinion-tribune.com/content/charges-filed-sunday-shooting

I disagree with Davis' logic on Beechum's potential charges - if he was running out to protect his stepdad, who was already on the ground unconscious, that would justify pulling out his gun if he doesn't know whether the rest of the 'rabble' were going to continue attacking the old man or what was going on.

This whole thing sounds like it escalated from stupid kids acting stupid, so they get what they asked for and if being in a wheelchair for a few months is the worst injuries they received from the altercation, they're damned lucky.

 

[ghost80]

If you are on someone else's property and assaulting them, you should expect to get shot. Period.

I haven't seen anything which makes me believe they were on Hutchinson's property. The DCI report didn't say that. The charges don't seem to support that. I'm not seeing an criminal trespass charges. It appears about all charges possible were thrown at the parties involved. Even if charges weren't initially filed the property owner could pursue them being filed. Of course if the property owner invited them on his property or challenged them to come on his property that would be another story and trespass charges would not be valid.

Likewise with the armed with intent charge against Beechum. There is legal precedent that is a charge which typically does not apply to your private property or private property you have permission to be on (I'm sure Beechum has permission to be on his stepdads property). It is more likely seen filed when the offense takes place on public property such as a street or even a public right of way.

Just an educated guess.....but I've seen nothing so far that would indicate the physical altercation took place on Hutchinson's property.....but I wasn't there.

 

[WhiteSoxClone]

What he did wrong was he missed a few of them. His shot is as accurate as his jumper was.

The man could shoot, he just couldn't play defense.

 

[cigaretteman]

A few more details emerging:

The incident started shortly before 5:45 p.m., as a group of six teenagers and young adults walked in front of the Glenwood house that Hutchinson and his wife rent. A juvenile girl in the group was talking to her boyfriend over the phone as they walked and used a racial slur in her conversation with him.

Hutchinson, who started his job at the high school in July 2014, and his wife, Randi, were outside their house at the time cleaning their car, the special agent wrote. Hutchinson, who is black, approached the group and "attempted to verbally correct the group of individuals about the inappropriateness of the slur."

When the group walked away, the principal followed them, again asking why they had to use the slur, the affidavit reads.


"While this verbal argument ensued, McDaniel faced Mr. Hutchinson in an aggressive posture and escalated the argument to such an extent where other members of the group attempted to use portions of their body to act as a buffer between Mr. Hutchinson and McDaniel," Dawson wrote.

Hutchinson’s wife went inside and called for Beechum, who ran out of the house to defend his stepfather, according to the affidavit.

Cook punched the principal in the face, knocking him unconscious. Then, both McDaniel and Cook began to kick and punch Beechum.

When the fighting stopped, Beechum ran inside the house to get a 9mm Taurus handgun and came back outside. The group still surrounded Hutchinson watching his wife care for him.

That’s when Beechum walked up and said “You want to talk s--- now, mother(expletive),” the affidavit reads. Beechum then shot McDaniel, who was crouched over Hutchinson, hitting him in the outer thigh and his right ankle and breaking his tibia.

Beechum pointed the gun at Cook’s chest and said, “You want to keep talking?” McDaniel and the rest of the group walked a block away from the scene until police arrived.

When police arrived, they said Beechum surrendered the gun and told them, "they jumped us so I had to shoot them."

But McSorley said the attack and Beechum's shot essentially were two separate incidents; by the time Beechum returned with a gun, McDaniel and others in the group had begun to try and help the principal, Mills County Attorney Tricia McSorley said.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/st...nd-isu-basketball-glenwood-shooting/73334014/

 

[pablow]

Beechum should be given a medal, not arrested. He will not be convicted of any offense. These punks could have easily killed this older man and Beechum is not required to hold his fire until he's certain they are killing him.

 

[ghost80]

Beechum should be given a medal, not arrested. He will not be convicted of any offense. These punks could have easily killed this older man and Beechum is not required to hold his fire until he's certain they are killing him.

Not so sure on that. According to witnesses McDaniel (the kid shot) and some of the other kids had started to help the principal while Beechum was absent while returning to the house to get the gun. Hurl is going to have to prove both that he was in fear of his life (or his stepdads) AND that the actions of the person he shot justified using lethal force. You are correct that he doesn't have to wait until someone has killed Hutch but he is going to need more than McDaniel crouched over Hutchinson especially when McDaniel was unarmed.

You could be right though that Beechum may not be convicted of anything because his attorney will be hard at work trying to negotiate a plea away from the felony charges.

Civilly......Beechum is going to get taken to the cleaners. He better have an another attorney hard at work sheltering all his values possible. I haven't heard who the Taurus is registered to but if it is Hutch's he could find himself getting sued too.