Pensacola, Florida

From the Pensacola News-Journal of March 6, 2006

Man shoots, kills home intruder

Official: Shooting likely will fall under 'Stand Your Ground' law

When Edward Lucas Sr. checked to see why the neighbor's German shepherd was barking at Sunday at 5:40 a.m., he had no idea that minutes later an intruder would be lying dead on his living room rug.

Lucas, 63, of the 3900 block of West Mallory Street, never wanted to have to use his .22 caliber rifle that way, but Tyrone Fyoungious Preyer, 29, would not stop breaking through the door, he said.

"I yelled 'Get out of my house,' but he kept coming," said Lucas, a retired Sears employee who resided at that house for almost eight years. "I was scared to death."

Preyer, who died at the home when Lucas fired at him more than four times, tried to break into at least three other surrounding homes, Escambia County Sheriff's Office investigators said.

Preyer's name appears 14 times in Escambia County criminal court records, with seven felonies, including: aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, burglary and grand theft auto.

Lucas will not be charged because he was defending his home, himself and his live-in girlfriend, Maxine Rasberry, 60, Sgt. Mike Ward said.

Ward said the shooting likely will fall under the "Stand Your Ground" Florida law passed in 2005, which allows people to use any force necessary in order to protect themselves when they feel threatened.

"If the law had not changed, would he be charged under these circumstances?" Ward said. "Probably not. What would you do?"

From Georgia’s Columbus Ledger-Enquirer of March 6, 2006

Pensacola man fatally shoots intruder

Authorities say a Pensacola man won't be charged for fatally shooting a man trying to break into his home.

The Escambia County, Florida, Sheriff's Office says 63-year-old Edward Lucas Senior woke up early yesterday and found a man trying to get in his house.

Investigators say Lucas shot at 29-year-old Tyrone Preyer more than four times.

A spokesman for the department says Lucas won't be charged because he was acting in self defense.

Reports show Preyer was suspected in several other neighborhood break-ins.