ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- Prosecutors and law enforcement officials meet Monday to discuss whether a St. Augustine father accused of fatally shooting his son during an argument Saturday afternoon should be charged with a crime.Detectives with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office responded to the shooting in the 3000 block of Victoria Drive shortly after 4 p.m.According to investigators, witnesses said the son, 45-year-old Robert Burchfield, entered the home of his father, 65-year-old Ronald Burchfield, and began an argument for an unknown reason.
"The son showed up at the residence and was immediately argumentative and confrontational with the father, and at this point it's not clear as to why," Sgt. Chuck Mulligan said.As the situation escalated, the father got a handgun and shot the son once in the torso in the back yard of the home, deputies said.Robert Burchfield was airlifted to Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center, where he later died.Following the shooting, Ronald Burchfield spoke with sheriff's office personnel by phone and surrendered without incident once the deputies arrived on scene, according to the sheriff's office.
Mulligan said that just because someone has an extensive criminal record does not diminish his right to live, but Florida law does give homeowners the right to use deadly force to protect themselves on their own property.
"If someone comes in and attacks you, you have to make that decision as to, you know, are you in fear, is there a threat?" Mulligan said. "We can't second guess that for people."
Great Lord of the Morning. I'm almost dizzy from reading and re-reading that. YOU have the right. YOU make the decision. This coming from an officer of the law. I am in full frontal boggle.
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