Manchester, New Hampshire

From Manchester’s TheWMURChannel.com of February 7, 2006

Shooting Death In Manchester Ruled Self-Defense

Man Shot, Killed While Trying To Rob Apartment

The state Attorney General's Office and city police say a Manchester man was acting in self-defense when he shot and killed a Massachusetts man trying to rob him last fall.

Francisco Cruz, 20, of Lawrence, Mass., died on Oct. 16, 2005. Authorities said Tuesday that the shooter, Greg Stroman, had not committed a crime because Cruz and an accomplice entered Stroman's apartment armed with deadly weapons and threatened several people inside.

Cruz had a handgun and Raphael Pamphile had brass knuckles when they entered the apartment that night, police said.

Stroman answered the door, and Cruz first pointed the gun at him, then pointed it at Stroman's uncle and 14-year-old cousin when they tried to leave the room, authorities said.

"While Cruz's attention was diverted, Stroman retrieved his own handgun from another room and shot Cruz," authorities said.

Cruz also fired, hitting Stroman in the hand. Stroman retrieved his gun and a bag of marijuana before fleeing the building without calling police, authorities said. He then got rid of the gun and the drugs and drove to Springfield, Mass., where he was treated at a hospital.

Police responding to a 911 call about a burglary in progress found Cruz dead of a single gunshot wound to his chest.

On the way to the hospital, Stroman called police and told them he had been injured. Eventually, he provided a complete statement that was corroborated by the other witnesses and physical evidence, authorities said.

State law says deadly force in self-defense is justified when someone believes another person is about to use deadly force or hurt someone while committing a crime at his home.