TAYLORSVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA – A man chased 3 teens from his home and then shot into their vehicle, leading authorities to arrest him on a felony charge. The incident happened the day after Christmas, when three men came to his home to demand money from his 17-year-old child.
According to the ACSO, Zachariah Canterbury, 18, of Taylorsville along with Christopher Dalton Whorley, 18, of Florida, and an unidentified 17-year-old went to the home. The trio allegedly came to demand money and/or drugs from Jarvis’ 17-year-old, but were chased from the house by the father.
As the suspects were fleeing in a vehicle, Jarvis shot at and hit it at least three times as the car was pulling away, according to the authorities.
Christopher Lee Jarvis, 47, faces a felony charge of discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle and was issued a $100,000 unsecured bond, according to a statement from the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office.
Canterbury and Whorley were both charged with common law robbery and first-degree burglary. Unspecified charges are pending against the two unnamed juveniles, according to the release.
Similar to many other states, North Carolina does have the Castle Doctrine and does not have a duty to retreat requirement; however, the law is also clear on when the use of force is justifiable. Shooting at a fleeing suspect (or suspects) when the victim or intended victim is not in imminent danger is not considered to be a justifiable use of force. The fact that a firearm may be used in self-defense during the commission of certain crimes does not automatically extend that right throughout the duration of the incident.
As a gun owner, it is everyone’s individual responsibility to learn the laws and obey them. Mentally and emotionally, in the stress and chaos of the moment, it is very difficult to go from one extreme to the other, but there is a fine line that must not be crossed. The gun owner must know not only how, but more importantly when, to switch from a shoot to a don’t shoot situation. It may mean the difference between remaining a free citizen or spending years in prison. If the suspect is killed, it could be a sentence of life without parole.
