PA LTCF holder kills man in defense of self and others

[D-FENS]

http://www.whptv.com/news/local/stor...0-39ef07258c22

Reported by: Jaime Meyers
Email: jaimemeyers@cbs21.com
Contributor: Melissa Sadowski
Last Update: 7/18 7:41 am

A man is cleared in a fatal York County shooting. He shared his story with CBS 21 News.

Brian Fentiman found himself in the type of situation many of us have thought about and wondered what we would do. He chose to take action and that decision resulted in the death of 42-year-old Douglas Need.

Fentiman says it all began on June 28th when he was driving after dinner with his fiancée Maria. He says, “He ran back to the car, reached through the window and started hitting them.”

He says he saw Douglas Need attacking two women on east Philadelphia Street in York. Fentiman, a former soldier, followed to see if he could help.

“He just started pounding on the door. I was absolutely in fear he was going to harm Maria… I drew my weapon and chambered a round and ordered Mr. Need to get away from me.”

Need backed off. His passenger, Fred Minnich, was brandishing a box cutter at other people who had stopped to help. But then Need turned his attention back to Fentiman, who was out of the car.

“Mr. Need started coming up to me, waving his arms, and telling me to just shoot him… He kept coming, coming at me, that's when I fired my first shot into his thigh,” Says Fentiman. “He didn't stop. He got to me. He grabbed my shirt, ripped the top button, grabbed my arm, and that's when I shot him point blank, the second time, in the thigh… One of the ladies, as I was on the way to the police car, handcuffed, thanked me for saving her life.”

Fenitman says he got a concealed weapons permit for the 45, a gift from his fiancée, because they do real estate business in questionable neighborhoods. He says he never thought he would need it for a situation like this.

“I wasn't looking to kill anybody. I was just looking to stop the man.”

Police and the district attorney say Fenitman used justifiable force, but it's still hard to come to terms with, and he's gone to a psychiatrist to help him deal with the emotions that come with taking a life.

“He was a human being, he had a life and it was my actions that stopped him.”

Fentiman's fiancée, Maria, was present for our interview. She says, though traumatic, this has brought them closer.

Need's passenger, Fred Minnich is facing charges simple assault and possibly more. Police believe both Minnich and Need had been drinking before they got in the car.

Need cut several other drivers off, including the two women, who also had a baby in the backseat. They yelled at Need and that's what started everything.

Copyright 2008 Newport Television LLC All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[Emptymag]

OK, the way that was written, made it difficult to understand initially, but by the end, I think I figured out what prompted the attack.

Precisely why I stopped giving asshole drivers "the bird", and started letting stupid shit slide after I started carrying.
What a damned mess to have to kill someone because his "asshole factor" escalated to the point of being afraid for one's life.

[knighthawk06699]

Originally Posted by Emptymag

OK, the way that was written, made it difficult to understand initially, but by the end, I think I figured out what prompted the attack.

Precisely why I stopped giving asshole drivers "the bird", and started letting stupid shit slide after I started carrying.
What a damned mess to have to kill someone because his "asshole factor" escalated to the point of being afraid for one's life.

Yeah after my daughter was born and I started carrying I chilled out on the roads myself. Not worth putting yourself at risk needlessly.

[PapaJazz26]

Originally Posted by knighthawk06699

Yeah after my daughter was born and I started carrying I chilled out on the roads myself. Not worth putting yourself at risk needlessly.

Same here...I used to get fired up over just about anything on the road, but with two little boys at home who need me...I just kinda avoid any bad situation I can.

[crakkajakka15]

Wow Glad he and the others are safe. I guess a .45 slug to the thigh isnt a big deterrent. He had to do what was nesscary. I would at to be in his situation though. Glad he was cleared also, we need more people like this guy. Im glad the article mentioned he was handcuffed, yet he wasnt the criminal and did everyone there a service.


On a side note.....I know on many occasions in threads about what would you do, if this happened or that happened, or someone was threatening you ect ect. I said I would draw my weapon after trying to deescalate said situation or whatever, but if I had to actually do what this guy did even though it is completely justified, I would be real shook up, and would probably have to go see a doctor also. Something I dont want to think about

[spabula]

Originally Posted by Emptymag

OK, the way that was written, made it difficult to understand initially, but by the end, I think I figured out what prompted the attack.

Precisely why I stopped giving asshole drivers "the bird", and started letting stupid shit slide after I started carrying.
What a damned mess to have to kill someone because his "asshole factor" escalated to the point of being afraid for one's life.

I couldn't agree more. Actually last night I saw a friend who told me that an hour earlier after giving some guy the finger that cut him off, that the guy (unbeknownst to him, bad situational awareness) had followed him and pulled a gun on him. he took off running and the guy aparently left, but WTF?!?! I guess you never know when something so small might change everything.

[HiredGoon]

A little different version of the story here.

Cleared shooter said he's relieved: Brian Fentiman legally carries a firearm for protection.
Rick Lee
Jul 18, 2008 (York Daily Record - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --

Between the time he shot and killed a man last month and Wednesday, when Brian Fentiman learned that police believe he made the right decision, Fentiman went to see a psychiatrist.

"I'd never taken a man's life," Fentiman, 50, of the Allentown area, said Thursday. "I wanted to see if what I was feeling was fairly normal. I was assured it was."

Fentiman said he was not overly worried about the final ruling on the shooting. He said the detectives who investigated left him confident no criminal charges would be filed.

"It was a relief, yes," he said. "More so, I didn't want this hanging over my head."

Fentiman shot and killed Douglas Allen Need on June 27 in York. Need was driving wildly and cut off a car with two women and a baby inside. Need and the two women stopped their cars and argued, and Need then struck one of the women and a family member who came to her aid.

When Fentiman, a passerby, intervened, Need charged him, forcing Fentiman to fire a warning shot and yelling for Need to step back. When Need kept charging, Fentiman shot him in the leg.

Fentiman, a real estate investor who has family in York County and properties in the city, was legally armed. Fentiman said he carries a firearm for protection because some of the properties he buys and rehabilitates are in blighted parts of York and Harrisburg.

"I'm happy, no, I'm satisfied with the decisions I made that day," Fentiman said. "I'm satisfied I stopped to help the two ladies with the baby.. . .

"It is a moment in time I'm not going to forget."

[HiredGoon]

And still another one here with more details.

'He had no option'
The district attorney ruled a June road-rage shooting in York was justifiable.
By MIKE HOOVER
Daily Record/Sunday News
Article Launched: 07/18/2008 06:17:44 AM EDT

Brian P. Fentiman used justifiable force when he shot and killed a 42-year-old Hellam Township man after a road rage encounter June 27 in York, according to the York County District Attorney.

After reading the statements of nearly 10 witnesses, York County District Attorney Stan Rebert said he is convinced the victim, Douglas Allen Need, was drunk and out of control when he assaulted a woman and threatened to shoot others in the 400 block of East Philadelphia Street.

Fentiman fired because he was concerned Need would seriously hurt or kill someone, Rebert said.

"This guy (Fentiman) was between a rock and a hard place. He had no option. He was concerned about the safety of others," Rebert said.

Witnesses consistently told York City Police investigators that Need was the aggressor and that Fentiman gave him fair warning to stop, including firing one warning shot.

He also shot Need in the leg in an attempt to disable him but hit Need's femoral artery, causing him to bleed out, Rebert said. Need died at York Hospital.

Fentiman, 50, who lives in the Allentown area, was forced to make a quick decision between retreating and risking that others could have been hurt or killed, or firing at Need, Rebert said.

"He (Fentiman) was very upset. He regrets what happened. He knew he had to do what he did but didn't relish the thought of killing someone," Rebert said.

Rebert said his decision to rule the shooting justified came down to what was reasonable
under the circumstances.

Although Need was not armed, Rebert said, Fentiman could not see his right hand.

"He (Need) said he had a weapon and threatened to shoot people. I don't believe you have to wait to see a gun," Rebert said.

"You can second-guess this until the cows come home. But he was confronted with a dangerous, possibly lethal situation, and acted appropriately."

Witnesses told police Need was driving wildly and cut off a car with two women and a baby inside. Need and the two women stopped their cars and argued, police said. Need struck one of the women and a family member who came to her aid. Need yelled at the woman and threatened the lives of others.

When Fentiman, a passerby, intervened, Need charged him, forcing Fentiman to fire a warning shot and yelling for Need to step back, police said. When Need kept charging, Fentiman shot him in the leg, police said.

Fentiman's attorney, Kurt Blake, said Fentiman fired the warning shot as Need charged him from about 4 feet away. He fired a second shot into Need's leg as the man continued to advance and grabbed Fentiman's shirt, ripping off a button, he said.

"He (Fentiman) was in a no-win situation," Blake said.

Fentiman, who has family in York County and investment properties in the city, was legally armed and cooperated fully with investigators, Blake said.

Blake said Fentiman intervened because he couldn't stand seeing a defenseless woman "manhandled" and wanted to make sure she and those who tried to help her were not harmed.

Fentiman has needed counseling since the shooting, he said.

"He wished he wasn't put in that situation, but he did what he needed to do," Blake said.

York City Police forwarded their investigative findings Friday to Rebert.

Lt. Ron Camacho, who heads the detective bureau, said witnesses clearly indicated Fentiman had no choice. Camacho said he thought Rebert made the "right decision."

"Need's actions were dangerous to say the least. They were very concerned about their safety," Camacho said.

[Asmodeus6]

Does he get to keep his gun and LTCF? I always wondered that. If you were involved in a situation that was deemed a clean shoot.

[chesire17201]

Originally Posted by Asmodeus6

Does he get to keep his gun and LTCF? I always wondered that. If you were involved in a situation that was deemed a clean shoot.

I would think (i don't KNOW) that yes he does, after being cleared......