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Man may be charged in killing of fleeing robber

Posted at 12:13 AM, Jan 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-26 11:07:02-05

Days after a homeowner shot another man who had allegedly tied him up and robbed him while responding to a Craigslist ad, it is still unclear if the homeowner will face criminal charges. The accused robber died after he crashed his car into a nearby home.

Under Colorado's "Make My Day" law, a homeowner is able to shoot an intruder who enters their home.
 
"It does not include the porch, the yard, the driveway, the street outside. The crime must be happening inside the four walls of the victim's home," said Denver7 legal analyst David Beller.
 
That's where this case becomes a bit complicated.
 
It appears this shooting didn't happen inside the house.
 
"You can't take the law into your own hands. And if the homeowner in this situation was no longer in danger, you're not allowed to take a life," said Beller.
 
So the victim in this case could also be charged as a criminal, unless the prosecutor decides this was a case of personal protection. 
 
"If the homeowner believed his life was in imminent danger he's allowed to act in self-defense," he said.
 
Colorado's law is unique. You do not have to give a warning before shooting an intruder.