An 80-year-old Scottsdale, Arizona man is facing a felony aggravated assault charge after shooting a door-to-door window-washing salesman who stopped at his home to ask for water. The victim was struck in the lower back and remains hospitalized with a spinal injury.
According to police, Patrick McBride told investigators he grew suspicious when the salesman lingered in the gated community. He grabbed a handgun and went out with his wife to search the neighborhood. McBride says the man rode toward him on a Segway and raised his phone before the gun fired. The victim’s account differs, saying he was turning to leave when he was shot in the back. Investigators are also examining a broken trigger guard as part of the physical evidence.
The case raises the question many homeowners wrestle with: at what point does discomfort or trespass become a genuine threat? Legal experts note that trespassing alone does not justify lethal force unless there is a credible threat. Bond has been set at $150,000, and the investigation is ongoing.
What do you think? Should homeowners have more latitude in situations like this, or does the law already strike the right balance? Let us know in the comments.
