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Dallas man went back to bed after killing burglar, police say

JacksinPA

JacksinPA

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Dallas man went back to bed after killing burglar, police say

James Michael Meyer was charged with murder in the shooting at his home.

DALLAS — Authorities say a 72-year-old Dallas man fatally shot a suspected burglar behind his home and then went back to bed before finally calling police nearly two hours later.

The Dallas Morning News reports that James Michael Meyer has been charged with murder in the Thursday killing and was jailed on $150,000 bail as of Friday.
======================================================
Texans has a very relaxed attitude about firearms & their right to use them.

The stars at night are big & bright...
 
Blame it on sleep apnea.
 
JacksinPA said:
Dallas man went back to bed after killing burglar, police say

James Michael Meyer was charged with murder in the shooting at his home.

DALLAS — Authorities say a 72-year-old Dallas man fatally shot a suspected burglar behind his home and then went back to bed before finally calling police nearly two hours later.

The Dallas Morning News reports that James Michael Meyer has been charged with murder in the Thursday killing and was jailed on $150,000 bail as of Friday.
======================================================
Texans has a very relaxed attitude about firearms & their right to use them.

The stars at night are big & bright...
Click to expand...

Not too bright is he? The funny part is he went back to bed as if nothing happened.
 
JacksinPA said:
Dallas man went back to bed after killing burglar, police say

James Michael Meyer was charged with murder in the shooting at his home.

DALLAS — Authorities say a 72-year-old Dallas man fatally shot a suspected burglar behind his home and then went back to bed before finally calling police nearly two hours later.

The Dallas Morning News reports that James Michael Meyer has been charged with murder in the Thursday killing and was jailed on $150,000 bail as of Friday.
======================================================
Texans has a very relaxed attitude about firearms & their right to use them.

The stars at night are big & bright...
Click to expand...

How's that? The shooter may have a lacked attitude. You should refrain from lumping all Texans with the shooter. Texas charged the shooter with murder.
"James Michael Meyer has been charged with murder in the Thursday killing and was jailed on $150,000 bail as of Friday."

if you had read beyond the headlines you would have known that. :mrgreen:
 
JacksinPA said:
Dallas man went back to bed after killing burglar, police say

James Michael Meyer was charged with murder in the shooting at his home.

DALLAS — Authorities say a 72-year-old Dallas man fatally shot a suspected burglar behind his home and then went back to bed before finally calling police nearly two hours later.

The Dallas Morning News reports that James Michael Meyer has been charged with murder in the Thursday killing and was jailed on $150,000 bail as of Friday.
======================================================
Texans has a very relaxed attitude about firearms & their right to use them.

The stars at night are big & bright...
Click to expand...

The legal system will deal with the 72 year old shooter.
Is this story horrific because he went back to bed?
Why was the guy on his property? What time of night? Was the shooter in danger?
What could have happened if the 72 year old guy didn’t have a gun? Is it possible he could have been killed or hurt?
 
JacksinPA said:
Dallas man went back to bed after killing burglar, police say

James Michael Meyer was charged with murder in the shooting at his home.

DALLAS — Authorities say a 72-year-old Dallas man fatally shot a suspected burglar behind his home and then went back to bed before finally calling police nearly two hours later.

The Dallas Morning News reports that James Michael Meyer has been charged with murder in the Thursday killing and was jailed on $150,000 bail as of Friday.
======================================================
Texans has a very relaxed attitude about firearms & their right to use them.

The stars at night are big & bright...
Click to expand...
James Meyer didn't go back to sleep. He claims he went back to sleep.


The affidavit says Meyer’s wife called an attorney for advice before her husband called 911.

Meyer refused to answer the 911 dispatcher's questions, the Morning News reports, apparently stressing he was the victim of a crime.

The Morning News also reports that Meyer told police he threw the bullet shell casings in the trash.
Click to expand...
 
Outlook said:
The legal system will deal with the 72 year old shooter.
Is this story horrific because he went back to bed?
Why was the guy on his property? What time of night? Was the shooter in danger?
What could have happened if the 72 year old guy didn’t have a gun? Is it possible he could have been killed or hurt?
Click to expand...
James Meyer very likely lied about going back to sleep, but most importantly he disturbed the crime scene and sought-out legal advice before calling the police.

in due time, I suspect we'll find-out much more about the circumstance that implored the SA to file charges. Things they know, that you & I do not.
 
Chomsky said:
James Meyer didn't go back to sleep. He claims he went back to sleep.
Click to expand...

Yep, it's likely that it took a while to get in touch with an attorney - they are typically not available at 5AM. The attorney also likely advised him not to be too specific with his 911 (or later) comments to police.
 
Chomsky said:
James Meyer very likely lied about going back to sleep, but most importantly he disturbed the crime scene and sought-out legal advice before calling the police.

in due time, I suspect we'll find-out much more about the circumstance that implored the SA to file charges. Things they know, that you & I do not.
Click to expand...

Disturbing the crime scene was unwise - talking to an attorney, however, was wise.
 
ttwtt78640 said:
Yep, it's likely that it took a while to get in touch with an attorney - they are typically not available at 5AM. The attorney also likely advised him not to be too specific with his 911 (or later) comments to police.
Click to expand...
True. Disturbing the crime scene wasn't a good move, either.

Plus we don't know if there's an established relationship between the two men.
 
JacksinPA said:
Dallas man went back to bed after killing burglar, police say

James Michael Meyer was charged with murder in the shooting at his home.

DALLAS — Authorities say a 72-year-old Dallas man fatally shot a suspected burglar behind his home and then went back to bed before finally calling police nearly two hours later.

The Dallas Morning News reports that James Michael Meyer has been charged with murder in the Thursday killing and was jailed on $150,000 bail as of Friday.
======================================================
Texans has a very relaxed attitude about firearms & their right to use them.

The stars at night are big & bright...
Click to expand...

Maybe this will upset a few people but I happen to think that if a stranger is on my property with a pickaxe, they've already satisfied just cause in being shot. And in the case of a 72 year old civilian who is most likely frightened for his life, I don't believe he should have been charged with MURDER.
Given the technical circumstances, the state might have a manslaughter case, a shaky one. But not murder.
Heyer was trying to handle a criminal trespassing on his property. He was trying to protect himself, his family and his property, not kill someone. Had the burglar stayed still and cooperated he'd be enjoying three hots and a cot in the local jail instead of wearing a tag on his toe.
 
Chomsky said:
True. Disturbing the crime scene wasn't a good move, either.

Plus we don't know if there's an established relationship between the two men.
Click to expand...

Agreed, he should have left everything as it was and immediately called police. But I still don't think this qualifies as cold blooded murder because regardless of his bonehead moves, he was nevertheless trying to deal with a criminal trespassing on his property with intent to break and enter.
 
ttwtt78640 said:
Disturbing the crime scene was unwise - talking to an attorney, however, was wise.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but I'm not sure how the investigators take the bolded. That might make them investigate harder, it would seem. But it's not just disturbing the crime scene, but the probable lying to investigators. We'll have to see.
 
Checkerboard Strangler said:
Agreed, he should have left everything as it was and immediately called police. But I still don't think this qualifies as cold blooded murder because regardless of his bonehead moves, he was nevertheless trying to deal with a criminal trespassing on his property with intent to break and enter.
Click to expand...
To the bolded: Perhaps.

But we don't know what else Mr. Meyer did or lied about, nor do we know the exact relationship between the men, or even the precise specifics of the incident as it went down. But the SA knew enough that we don't, that he felt compelled to file charges.
 
ttwtt78640 said:
Disturbing the crime scene was unwise - talking to an attorney, however, was wise.
Click to expand...

Yeah, a boneheaded move. Never touch ANYTHING, and when the po-po arrive, say ONE WORD ONLY:

"Lawyer"

If they ask even more questions:

"Lawyer"

If you're in one of those situations where you wonder if you have to make it even clearer, say:

"I am exercising my right not to speak, and I request a LAWYER."
 
Chomsky said:
To the bolded: Perhaps.

But we don't know what else Mr. Meyer did or lied about, nor do we know the exact relationship between the men, or even the precise specifics of the incident as it went down. But the SA knew enough that we don't, that he felt compelled to file charges.
Click to expand...

I am among the first to agree that none of us know all the facts of the case, so I admit that I am indeed ONLY operating on ONLY what we do know so far.

And based ONLY on what we all know SO FAR, it does not look, on its face, like a murder.
It looks like a 72 year old somewhat boneheaded guy who was scared for his life, doing some of the boneheaded things people do when they are scared by a criminal on their property.

If you own a firearm, it would behoove you to learn NOT to make boneheaded mistakes unless you don't plan on ever using the firearm for its intended purpose, namely shooting burglars.
Know your rights under the law in your state.

I happen to believe that castle doctrine is one of those rights, and I happen to believe that your property outside the "castle" itself also counts.
 
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Chomsky said:
Yeah, but I'm not sure how the investigators take the bolded. That might make them investigate harder, it would seem. But it's not just disturbing the crime scene, but the probable lying to investigators. We'll have to see.
Click to expand...

It may well have been his wife's idea to talk to an attorney - the guy does not seem to bright at all.
 
1. I wish the very best of luck to Mr. Meyer.

2. I hope that he gets a good lawyer.

3. I hope that he can also play the senior citizen card to mitigate any punishment that he may be subject to.
 
Checkerboard Strangler said:
Yeah, a boneheaded move. Never touch ANYTHING, and when the po-po arrive, say ONE WORD ONLY:

"Lawyer"

If they ask even more questions:

"Lawyer"

If you're in one of those situations where you wonder if you have to make it even clearer, say:

"I am exercising my right not to speak, and I request a LAWYER."
Click to expand...
Exactly. We knew the above when we were only kids in our early teens, running the streets, with some of my goofier neighborhood buddies eventually making the graduation from kid hi-jinx to juvie careers. In the parlance of young kids, the idea was to keep your mouth shut so your lawyer could "make-up a good story". Yep, that's how kids see it.

So if kids can think this way, you'd think grown adults should know how the game is played.
 
Checkerboard Strangler said:
I am among the first to agree that none of us know all the facts of the case, so I admit that I am indeed ONLY operating on ONLY what we do know so far.

And based ONLY on what we all know SO FAR, it does not look, on its face, like a murder.
It looks like a 72 year old somewhat boneheaded guy who was scared for his life, doing some of the boneheaded things people do when they are scared by a criminal on their property.

If you own a firearm, it would behoove you to learn NOT to make boneheaded mistakes unless you don't plan on ever using the firearm for its intended purpose, namely shooting burglars.
Know your rights under the law in your state.

I happen to believe that castle doctrine is one of those rights, and I happen to believe that your property outside the "castle" itself also counts.
Click to expand...
Yeah I'm a Castle Doctrine guy myself, and even once had to rise to the occasion protecting my neighbor's castle. Actually, I had to intervene in an attempted physical attack during the middle of the night.

But I held my cool and diffused the situation without even brandishing a weapon. The perp was soon arrested, my neighbors were unhurt, and I only had to spend a limited time dealing with the cops. And best of course, we all went back to sleep none-worse-for-the-wear --> except for the perp!

The moral here, is when one entertains owning a firearm they need to have a distinct plan in place as to where, when, and how they will use their weapon.
 
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Chomsky said:
Exactly. We knew the above when we were only kids in our early teens, running the streets, with some of my goofier neighborhood buddies eventually making the graduation from kid hi-jinx to juvie careers. In the parlance of young kids, the idea was to keep your mouth shut so your lawyer could "make-up a good story". Yep, that's how kids see it.

So if kids can think this way, you'd think grown adults should know how the game is played.
Click to expand...

Heh, I don't know how far any of us went with that angle but I was a lucky kid in some ways.
Since my father was traveling on business about half the time and was something of a workaholic the rest of the time, I wound up inheriting a "second daddy" in the form of a cranky old retired sheriff from Mille Lacs, MN. Sheriff Bill Corbin moved into the house on Traymore Street and began what he believed was his pro-bono task of sticking his nose into the business of all us pot smoking motorheads.

Bill was a member of the Greatest Generation and served in the Army Air Corps (which later became the Air Force) as a mechanic, then went into law enforcement after the war. He drove an old rusty 1967 Dodge Polara and "his deputy" was a black-haired dachshund named Hilda.
What a character, in his usual WW2 fleece lined bomber jacket, his salt and pepper pompadour, with the perennial Chesterfield sticking out of his mouth, and his "regulation size police mustache".
Bill liked his beer and we often had an extra one, and sometimes he returned the favor.
But he couldn't resist giving us a hard time about our "wacky tabbacky". He sure did love watching us working on our hot rods. He was a MoPar guy so we welcomed his company for the most part.

His advice on matters involving the police was simple:
"Keep your big yapper shut because cops are under no obligation to help your side of the story, and your big mouth might be your worst enemy. Save it for the expert: YOUR LAWYER."

AND:

"As fast as you punks think you are with your souped up heaps, I have yet to see one of them outrun a radio."
 
Checkerboard Strangler said:
Heh, I don't know how far any of us went with that angle but I was a lucky kid in some ways.
Since my father was traveling on business about half the time and was something of a workaholic the rest of the time, I wound up inheriting a "second daddy" in the form of a cranky old retired sheriff from Mille Lacs, MN. Sheriff Bill Corbin moved into the house on Traymore Street and began what he believed was his pro-bono task of sticking his nose into the business of all us pot smoking motorheads.

Bill was a member of the Greatest Generation and served in the Army Air Corps (which later became the Air Force) as a mechanic, then went into law enforcement after the war. He drove an old rusty 1967 Dodge Polara and "his deputy" was a black-haired dachshund named Hilda.
What a character, in his usual WW2 fleece lined bomber jacket, his salt and pepper pompadour, with the perennial Chesterfield sticking out of his mouth, and his "regulation size police mustache".
Bill liked his beer and we often had an extra one, and sometimes he returned the favor.
But he couldn't resist giving us a hard time about our "wacky tabbacky". He sure did love watching us working on our hot rods. He was a MoPar guy so we welcomed his company for the most part.

His advice on matters involving the police was simple:
"Keep your big yapper shut because cops are under no obligation to help your side of the story, and your big mouth might be your worst enemy. Save it for the expert: YOUR LAWYER."

AND:

"As fast as you punks think you are with your souped up heaps, I have yet to see one of them outrun a radio."
Click to expand...
Oh man, that was a great story CB.

I know you're the real deal, because you describe the details of the era and environment well. Your a good writer my friend, and you painted a picture that made me feel right there.

BTW, Rickie Lee Jones is awesome in her using the phrases & references of '60's kids on the street, particularly the pre-hippie era. Before there were hippies, longhairs, and the summer of love, there were greasers. And working-class kids in the major old northeast cities we're greasers, for the most part. Then some of us grew-up in cities with a significant mob presence, which only added to the mix.
 
Chomsky said:
Yeah I'm a Castle Doctrine guy myself, and even once had to rise to the occasion protecting my neighbor's castle. Actually, I had to intervene in an attempted physical attack during the middle of the night.

But I held my cool and diffused the situation without even brandishing a weapon. The perp was soon arrested, my neighbors were unhurt, and I only had to spend a limited time dealing with the cops. And best of course, we all went back to sleep none-worse-for-the-wear --> except for the perp!

The moral here, is when one entertains owning a firearm they need to have a distinct plan in place as to where, when, and how they will use their weapon.
Click to expand...

I've only really ever had maybe one incident like that in my entire life where I ever considered seriously going for a gun.
It involved my wife's ex and his uninvited drunken presence and his active threats which were made in my living room.
When he followed me into the bedroom and then saw me get the pistol he turned and ran out of the house threatening to call the cops, but he was too late as my wife had already done so.

Dallas PD saw no reason to do anything except take the police report and reassure me I would have been within my rights. They wanted to see the pistol and check it out but they had no interest in taking it.
I'm not a tiny guy but Karen's ex is six four, 275 pounds and is fond of steroids, so I took his threat pretty seriously.
Karen's ex was arrested and convicted of trespassing (we had told him to leave and he refused) and assault.
He did three months in county.
The whole incident was pretty traumatic for the kids, and I wish he had not gone off the deep end as he did.

A few other incidents in the past but either the gun was not easily accessible or I decided it was unwise.
I can take care of myself okay but I am not an expert fighter by any means.
I've gotten beaten up pretty badly in the past, but a gun would not have solved any problems and instead would have created bigger ones.

It has now been seventeen years since it happened and we've all put it well behind us. But the kids have come to the conclusion that maybe "biological Dad" isn't quite right in the head and "stepdad" (they actually call ME "Dad" - I won't share what they call him) is not a cold blooded killer.

Karen has always referred to him as "****-head". :lol:
 
Checkerboard Strangler said:
I've only really ever had maybe one incident like that in my entire life where I ever considered seriously going for a gun.
It involved my wife's ex and his uninvited drunken presence and his active threats which were made in my living room.
When he followed me into the bedroom and then saw me get the pistol he turned and ran out of the house threatening to call the cops, but he was too late as my wife had already done so.

Dallas PD saw no reason to do anything except take the police report and reassure me I would have been within my rights. They wanted to see the pistol and check it out but they had no interest in taking it.
I'm not a tiny guy but Karen's ex is six four, 275 pounds and is fond of steroids, so I took his threat pretty seriously.
Karen's ex was arrested and convicted of trespassing (we had told him to leave and he refused) and assault.
He did three months in county.
The whole incident was pretty traumatic for the kids, and I wish he had not gone off the deep end as he did.

A few other incidents in the past but either the gun was not easily accessible or I decided it was unwise.
I can take care of myself okay but I am not an expert fighter by any means.
I've gotten beaten up pretty badly in the past, but a gun would not have solved any problems and instead would have created bigger ones.

It has now been seventeen years since it happened and we've all put it well behind us. But the kids have come to the conclusion that maybe "biological Dad" isn't quite right in the head and "stepdad" (they actually call ME "Dad" - I won't share what they call him) is not a cold blooded killer.

Karen has always referred to him as "****-head". :lol:
Click to expand...
Glad to hear your situation with your family worked out there, but I do feel for what the kids suffered.

The sad fact about raising kids, is it only takes one parent to fudge it all up. Yeah, we all say "it takes two to tango", but it really only takes one to screw-it up regardless of how much or little the other one does.

That's what I pushed in my kids so much through the years, that once you make a baby with someone you're tied for life. A problematic marriage can be dissolved if it must, and everyone can move on unencumbered. A problematic marriage with children continues-on with the children, even after the marriage is dissolved.
 
Chomsky said:
Glad to hear your situation with your family worked out there, but I do feel for what the kids suffered.

The sad fact about raising kids, is it only takes one parent to fudge it all up. Yeah, we all say "it takes two to tango", but it really only takes one to screw-it up regardless of how much or little the other one does.

That's what I pushed in my kids so much through the years, that once you make a baby with someone you're tied for life. A problematic marriage can be dissolved if it must, and everyone can move on unencumbered. A problematic marriage with children continues-on with the children, even after the marriage is dissolved.
Click to expand...

I deferred to him as much as possible, at every opportunity. I never wanted to be that guy who came between a man and his kids.
I wanted him to play an active role in raising his kids, I wanted them to enjoy some kind of healthy relationship with their natural father.

But he was so filled up with his steroid rage, and his twisted jack Mormon belief that his wife was damaged goods who gave him a damaged son (our son is disabled, too) that when he walked out on his wife and kids, he made up a narrative that absolved him of any role or responsibility.

And part of his threat contained, "No, this is MY HOUSE, those are MY kids, and MY wife and you're just the guy who's ****ing MY wife, and it's time to kick YOUR ass."

Ummmm....yeah-NO.
It was NEVER his house, it was a house WE rented, and he had nothing to do with it. And he and Karen were LONG ago divorced!
Like I said, drunken steroid rage.
It's pretty much his trademark, although at this stage of the game he's not only off the steroids, he's not in that kind of shape anymore.
He is now paying the price for burning the candle at both ends.
 
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