Family calls shooting of car thief ‘senseless’

[kiwiMark]

I must be misunderstanding but from reading americans' responses ITT, it seems bizarrely like if he says it was intentional he could get away with it for defending his shit (at least in lots of states?) whereas if he claims he was aiming for the tyres and missed or whatever, then involuntary manslaughter?

[spoonitnow]

I must be misunderstanding but from reading americans' responses ITT, it seems bizarrely like if he says it was intentional he could get away with it for defending his shit (at least in lots of states?) whereas if he claims he was aiming for the tyres and missed or whatever, then involuntary manslaughter?

There are basically three possible situations:

1. If it was accidental, then that's manslaughter.
2. If it was on purpose when he thought the guy was about to shoot at him, then that's legal.
3. If it was on purpose just because he felt like it, that's second degree murder.