Ryland Heights, Kentucky

From the Lexington Herald Leader of January 2, 2007
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MAN NOT CHARGED IN SLAYING

A Kenton County man who allegedly shot his neighbor to death Saturday night has not been charged, but an investigation is continuing. Robert T. Pierson, 47, allegedly shot and killed Glenn T. Miller, 53, shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday near Pierson's home on Steep Creek Road, said a news release from the Kenton County police department. Police said Pierson told them that he went outside with a semi-automatic rifle to investigate someone with a flashlight walking in a creek bed beside his house. The person turned out to be Miller, a neighbor. Pierson said he confronted Miller about what he was doing, and an argument ensued "over ownership of the property and dogs running at large." Police said Pierson told them that Miller pointed a handgun at him during the argument, and Pierson fired "several times in self-defense, striking Mr. Miller in the torso." Pierson then called 911. Police found Miller, who had been shot at least twice, dead in the creek bed with a revolver beside him. Pierson told police that dogs had been killing his cats, and that he had shot and killed one of Miller's dogs earlier Saturday. A dead dog was found near Miller's body, but police said Pierson told them it was not Miller's

From CincyPost.com of March 28, 2007

Man cleared in fatal shooting of neighbor

A Ryland Heights man has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing related to his fatal shooting of a neighbor who he said trespassed onto his property and threatened him with a gun.

A Kenton County grand jury heard the case Tuesday and issued no indictments against Robert T. Pierson for the Dec. 30 shooting of Glenn T. Miller, said Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders.

Miller "confronted the homeowner on the homeowner's property, after dark, with a handgun," Sanders said. "He confronted Mr. Pierson ... who subsequently fired several rounds from a semi-automatic rifle."

Miller, 53, died near a creek bed after being shot twice in the chest, Kenton County police said. A handgun was found beside him, police said.

They said Pierson called them after the shooting and told them what happened. He said he fired his rifle in self defense. Sanders said his story remained constant over several tellings, and physical evidence backed up what he said.

The state's new law allowing homeowners and landowners more leeway in using deadly force against trespassers also helped guide his presentation of the case and likely impacted the grand jury's deliberations, Sanders said. Pierson was never charged with any crime, he said.

"It was basically a death investigation, and the grand jury decided that no charges were appropriate," he said.

Pierson called police about 7:15 p.m. and told them he had seen someone walking in a creek bed on his land, carrying a flashlight. He grabbed his semi-automatic rifle to investigate, police said he told them. When he reached the creek, he confronted Miller, and an argument started over who owned the property. Pierson told police that during the verbal altercation, Miller pointed a handgun at him several times, and he responded by shooting Miller with the rifle.

Pierson told police the two also argued over dogs running loose, and Pierson said he had shot one of Miller's dogs earlier that day. Pierson said the dogs were killing his cats, police said.