Justifiable Homicide

"'It was only the second day of the third month since being released from R Triple C. Mike Whitlock looked around the parking lot and decided it was safe to approach his vehicle. He strolled down the stairs and across the way towards his 1977 sedan. A strange vibe overcame his sense of well being, however, and that's when he noticed the shadows - one behind the trunk of his car behind the bushes, and the other two cars over, behind the passenger side. He stopped dead in his tracks, and that's when the fellow behind the two cars over ran up.Whitlock saw the man emerge from the shadows and ran back towards his apartment -unit 203, right up the stairs. He said he felt the first shot and kept up the stairs, then, as he reached the top, felt the second shot. He claims to have blacked out, hearing a volley of gunfire and remembering nothing. At least, that's his story and he's sticking to it.'
    'You don't think that's what happened?' Detective Patrick asked his partner Detective Samuels.
    'It just doesn't add up. Okay - we know that Whitlock came down the stairs shooting. We know he caught the first suspect in the chest. He went down right away, dies a couple hours later in the ER. We know he chases the second to the dumpster where they get into a ferocious shootout. Somehow he empties his clip. Suspect empties his clip. Both are shooting it out and our victim comes out ahead with a lucky shot to the head. Okay. I get it. But why lie about it? He keeps insisting that he didn't fire one shot, when ballistics and ICU have both confirmed otherwise. It's justified. He isn't going to get into any legal trouble. Why lie about it? That's what bothers me.'
    'You think he's lying?'
    'You don't?'
    'I don't know what to think. I can't figure it out. I know he thinks he is telling the truth, but I'm not sure about anything else. Let's say he doesn't have any recollection. Perhaps he doesn't remember pulling the trigger. It may be one of those self preservation things where the mind blocks out whatever might get the person in trouble. If that's the case it seems feasible that he gets scared, runs into his apartment shot and bleeding, gets his pistol and comes out shooting. He catches the first one on the stairs, the other, still shooting, realizes his partner is finished and tries to high-tail it out of there. He runs away behind the dumpster, changes his clip, and counter-attacks the victim, whom is now pursuer. Victim gets the best of him anyways, runs back to the apartment, where his girlfriend, fresh on the scene, calls 911.'
    'Makes sense to me!'
    'Then what's the problem?'
    'It keeps coming back to the same question - why lie about it? It's justified.Even assuming we can get him on something for chasing after the second suspect, that's most likely nullified because the suspect keeps shooting at him. He's not going to get into any trouble, so why keep the don't trust the police attitude alive? I want to close the case on this. Scumbags got what they deserved. I just don't get it! It really annoys me - maybe it shouldn't but it does.'
    'You read too much into it. This guy is outta jail three months and on probation - and even though he's been good about staying outta trouble, he doesn't know if you're gonna ship him upstate whether he feels he is justified or not. For him it's just business. I'm sure in the back of his head he thinks he could beat this if he has a good lawyer, but look at him. Does he look like he can afford a lawyer?'
    'No.'
    'Exactly. Don't take it personal. He just wants to keep his ass out of jail. Give him a break.'
    'You're right. Let's just figure out how to smudge this paperwork so we don't have to jerk with it later.'


    Tina went to see Mike in his room. She kissed his forehead and took his hand, kissing it first, then pressing it to her bosom, 'My love, are you okay?'
    'The police asked me some questions.'
    'What did you say?'
    'Don't worry baby, I didn't say anything. All I said was foos started shootin' at me so I ran back to my house, got shot twice and collapsed at my front door. I didn't say a word about you.'
    'Do you think they'll come after me?'
    'Hell naw! I heard them talkin. They wanna close the case. They think I did it so they're ruling it a justifiable homicide.'"