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Updated Sep 25, 2009 - 7:45 am

Man charged with manslaughter for killing prowler

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By TIM HAECK
KIRO Radio

A 20-year-old Northgate man is charged with manslaughter for killing a car prowler with a rifle shot from his second floor apartment balcony.

Defense attorney David Allen says his client was scared and felt threatened by the prowler. "Doug Sheets was scared at this time. He was scared initially that his girlfriend was going to show up, and then when the person ran away and he believes turned towards him, he believed that the person was going to go for a gun."

The prosecutor says Douglas Sheets used more force than the law allows to protect his property.


Comments (29)
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  • demscornhole wrote...
    A message for the Dead guy
    Sucks To Be YOU!!!!!!!!
    September 25, 2009 9:03 am
    Report this as abuse
  • seattle420 wrote...
    prosecute him
    then make him apologize I bet he feels terrible
    September 25, 2009 9:37 am
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  • Happy Camper wrote...
    The Attorneys Win
    So how much do you think it's going to cost "His Client" to shoot some chump to death for being by his car. Did I miss something where the victim was inside the car? Incidentally, who is this brave hero and where does he live. I’d like to be there for his heroic return. My Northwest includes names and addresses of children victims why not this symbol of brave American freedom.
    September 25, 2009 9:52 am
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  • T-Town_Mel wrote...
    Where is the line???
    So where is the line to kill someone for taking your stuff? Do you kill them if they are stealing your nickels out of your ash tray? Do you kill them for stealing your hub cabs? Do you kill them for stealing a flower out of your garden? Do you kill them for trespassing? Kill them 100% dead as a doorknob for threatening you or your families life in or near your house, not for stealing a piece of whatever out of your car from the safety of your balcony.
    September 25, 2009 10:56 am
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  • Captain America wrote...
    The ONLY person who could have prevented this encounter was the criminal breaking into the car.
    Had he not been stealing from the car he would still be alive today (barring some other stupid act that drew the disapproval of another person with a gun). The guy doing the shooting is going to have a difficult time justifying his "fear for his life or the life of another" since he was two stories up and his girlfriend wasn't near. But I hope he gets away with this. He didn't choose to be in that situation. The scumbag breaking into his car did.
    September 25, 2009 11:23 am
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  • Judy L wrote...
    Happy Camper...
    First of all, it's "Glock" not "Gluck", and second, when was the last time you had police respond to a 911 call on a property crime? Either you live in a utopian area (and I'd like to know where so I can possibly move there as well) or you're too happy to pay attention to what happens in real life to real people. I hate to hear when people die because of something stupid like this, but the thief was not the victim; Sheets was and is. Let's not lose sight of this.
    September 25, 2009 11:57 am
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  • Happy Camper wrote...
    Captain America
    "The ONLY person who could have prevented this encounter was the criminal breaking into the car." What brainless tripe. The person that pulled the trigger was the only person that could have stopped this unnecessary killing. I don’t mess with other peoples stuff because it’s wrong not because some ego challenged punk might have an excuse to murder me.
    September 25, 2009 12:01 pm
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  • nurwho wrote...
    What about the gun
    If this were a police officer that shot the burglar there would be no charges. They would just blame it on adrenalin and sweep in under the rug. I like the caller that commented on the gun being partly at fault. If it was the crappie Big 5 gun, I have seen those, and they don’t shoot at what you site at. Take the gun out and see how far off it shoots from the mark and then go after Big 5 for selling it. If it was not meant to be shot then Big 5 should have made it none shootable before selling.
    September 25, 2009 1:32 pm
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  • SeahawkET wrote...
    Deserves Prison time for being stupid
    Since there is no law for being stupid, we need to round up these people anyway we can and you can get much dumber than shooting someone from your apartment that is outside prowling about. The Defense attorney's story for what this guy felt is BS. Why would you be scared inside your home seeing someone out in a parking lot at night? lol
    September 25, 2009 2:08 pm
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  • MrMoPar426 wrote...
    Prosecute him
    In the time it took this rock to see the criminal ransacking the car, probably yell at him to get away from his car, go and get the rifle and chamber a round then take aim and fire, he could have easily called 911 and reported a prowler outside and state he was afraid. The cops come for crimes in progress much faster than reports of crimes that have already occured. Human life is worth much more than a speaker ... the shooter made a bad decision and deserves the consequences.
    September 25, 2009 2:17 pm
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