Pharmacist Who Shot Would-Be Robber Charged With Murder

Fifty-seven-year-old Oklahoma City pharmacist Jerome Ersland was charged with first-degree murder today, after shooting and killing a sixteen-year-old "would-be robber" (FNC). "Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater said in an afternoon news conference that Ersland was justified in shooting Antwun Parker once in the head on May 19. But Prater said Ersland went too far when he shot Parker five more times in the abdomen while Parker lay unconscious on the floor. Ersland's attorney, Irven Box, said Ersland was protecting himself and two women inside the pharmacy" (FNC).

Quite frankly, I think six shots is perhaps five too many to kill someone, especially if the first shot is to the head and the aggressor is already on the ground. Unconscious. And unarmed. Parker died of his abdomenal wounds, and was alive following the shot to the head. In my opinion, Ersland should have stopped after the first shot. The first shot was justifiable. The following six (shot from a second pistol, which Ersland retrieved after attempting to chase the second suspect) . . . not so much. Still, it's good that Ersland protected both himself and the customers; I suspect that there could have been a far greater number of casualties had Ersland allowed the second suspect a chance to use his weapon.