I have shot, fatally, in self defense. The county prosecutor, an elected politician, turned a situation the police, a major city homicide detail, considered clear self defense into a homicide prosecution to appease community activists (long before Niphong).

I was eventually acquitted by a jury that also found self defense. The prosecution, with a 911 call before the incident in my favor, eye witnesses supporting self defense and the forensic evidence in my favor, tried to twist my words to make me the aggressor.

One lesson I took from my experience, tell the officer's who respond that you acted in self defense and then shut up until you have an attorney. The second lesson, have a lawyer familiar with self defense before you need her...

Doug