Shooting someone, even a robber, five times in the stomach after he has already been shot in the head seems excessive, cruel and worthy of charges.
But Oklahoma City pharmacist Jerome Ersland has taken his defense to the media to justify his shooting of Antwun “Speedy” Parker, 16, on May 19, when Parker and other accomplices attempted to hold up the pharmacy where Ersland works.
Prosecutors charged Ersland with first-degree murder following an investigation, saying Ersland was the only one who fired shots during the foiled holdup. Prosecutors also said the shots to Parker’s abdomen, not the shot to his head, killed him.
The security camera video of the holdup and shooting that has been released certainly is disturbing:
Ersland shoots Parker, then walks outside the store following the second robber who escapes. Ersland returns, walks behind the counter and gets another pistol, which he uses to shoot Parker five more times.
Ersland claims a shot was fired at him and Parker still appeared to be a threat, but none of that is visible on the video.
Ersland’s supporters, however, praise him for defending his ground and protecting co-workers from possible harm. An anonymous donor paid Ersland’s $100,000 bail after he was charged, and in news reports, some have said Ersland can’t be blamed for being aggressive out of fear.
Ersland’s attorney said the pharmacist will certainly be vindicated by a jury.
Ersland’s fate, of course, will ultimately be a jury’s decision, and anything we or anyone else says about Ersland’s case should have no bearing on that decision.
So in regards to Oklahoma’s stand your ground law, in principle, we agree citizens should be able to defend themselves from an attack.
But that defense ends when the threat ends. Otherwise, they are taking the law into their own hands and are deserving of the consequences.
