Vancouver homeowner arrested in killing of prowler
VANCOUVER, Wash. - Police have arrested a homeowner accused of fatally shooting a prowler on Tuesday morning.
Sean H. Doucette was booked in the Clark County Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder.
Vancouver police began investigating the shooting after the suspected shooter's wife called 911 at about 4 a.m. to report a prowler near her home, located near 150th Avenue and NE 33rd Street in Vancouver. The location is also near Evergreen High School.
A few minutes later, police said another man called 911 to say a shooting had taken place outside and that the prowler had died from his injuries. The man who called 911 wasn't the shooter, police said.
New details emerged late Tuesday afternoon about the suspected shooter. Doucette is a security guard with First Response Inc., and is licensed in Oregon to be an armed officer, said Dave Foglio, president of the company.
Doucette, who works in the patrol division, has been with First Response for several years. Foglio said he has a clean work record.
Doucette has his own weapon and carries it home, Foglio said.
As for the police investigation, the deceased prowler has not been identified; he was not wearing identification.
Police said Doucette cooperated with investigators and the Major Crimes Team is investigating.
A group of young people gathered near the location and some crossed crime tape onto the property only to be forced back by police officers.
Doucette does not have a criminal record in Washington and owns the home with Rachel Doucette, according to property tax records.
when you are out that late you are asking for trouble! I don't feel sorry for this so called victim.
Well, according to additional info found elsewhere, witness statements and investigation showed that the guy went outside, off his property and confronted the guy, got into a fight, lost, then shot the other guy while he was walking away. Bad judgment if the info is accurate. Going outside is bad enough, you don't leave your property when you are trying to claim you defended it. Then getting in a fight while armed.....then after the fight was over, shooting a guy walking away. Pretty much seems like a clear case of murder if the claims are accurate. Even if the guy was prowling, he never constituted a deadly threat at any time, so shooting him isn't justified. The shooter will be in for a hard court battle......the right to be armed comes with the responsibility of being appropriate in your use of force. Unless someone is causing or threatening physical harm you don't have the right to pull your firearm.
Lesson learned make sure the prowler is in your home when u shoot them otherwise its murder.
This is a perfect example of an over zealous gun owner making a bad choice. "A few minutes later, police said another man called 911 to say a shooting had taken place "Outside" and that the prowler had died from his injuries." That's murder, if you are not in immediate danger of losing your life, you don't shoot the first person you see. Just because someone is lurking around your home or on your property does not mean you have the right to take their life." Stop listening to the NRA freaks and do the right thing and call the police. If you have a loaded gun you better learn how to use it responsibly or you will be arrested too! Â
@Hehateme OH so tell me how do you know he was not in immediate danger? come on arm chair quarter back.
Not enough information to make any assumptions at this time. Hope it works out for the homeowner, and that they were entirely within their right to take the level of force applied. No winners in this situation, regardless.
I for stand your ground law, if I find someone on my property committing a crime against me I will warn one time and if he or she makes a move that I fill is threaten to me he or she will be shot dead so there will be no more actions needed. I believe this person has a right to defend himself and this puts a message out to these criminals beware!
 @nunof uors I get it, you will shoot anyone you perceive as a threat on your property.
let's hope it not someone lost just looking around for a house number, Moron missionary after dark carrying that dark bible in there hand. Trespassing is not actually a deadly crime.If some one came on my property and see them running with my lawn mower so be it. I'm not going to live my life knowing I killed someone over a $380.00  mower.Â
If you feel that you can-so bet it.
 @nunof uors If it's the same article I read on REAL news sources, the perp was shot in the back. Not really a life-threatening position, is it.
@ChristopherC @nunof uors That is a different story, they just seem the same at first glance. http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Home-invasion-suspect-Douglas-E-Combs-died-of-gunshots-to-back-188838131.html
Generally speaking, if they are outside the home, they could be warned off by just seeing the weapon, unless they are armed themselves, or crazy. You can't shoot a fleeing prowler, that's not self defense. I think I will wait for more information before I judge. I would like to know where the prowler was shot, front or back. Makes a difference. But this is too sketchy and I dislike stories sent out for sensationalism before they know the facts. Boo to KOMO!
There really isn't enough info here to say whether it was a justified shooting or not. There is some anti-gun bent in Vancouver so I'm not able to say that just because the man was arrested that he did something wrong. Until we get more info it's hard to make a determination on what really happened.
Is this guy some kind of a "prepper" that shoots anything in sight? Mellow out folks!
You can't just kill someone for walking on your lawn at 4AM.
@Travis Hartnett if it is clearly posted KEEP OUT, NO TRESSPASSING, this person is committing a trespassing law and w/ intent criminal trespassing which can be a threat to my security.
 @nunof uors  @Travis So, as when I was a teen and was stupid enough sneak out; my friend and I were followed by a man trying to get us into his car. When we walked up to a stranger's door to act like it was our house to get him to go away (and he didn't). When we as starngers rang the bell bringing a skeptical lady to the door at 3am - we should have been quietly dispensed with via gun instead of her offering to drive us home after she saw the creep across the street stalking us? There are reasons that are not nefarious. Stupid maybe, but not nefarious.
 @nunof uors  @Travis you'll be liking the inside of Walla Walla with that mentality...
@tufa23 @nunof uors @Travis There has to be a credible threat to your personal well being. There is a higher standard outside of one's own home.
crimnal treespass if it ain t your lawn stay off away you don t belong there  i was raised halloween is the only time for short cuts  not the neighbors fence  todasys youth are taught from the poor communities respect is earned not given  what a sad thought  and people wonder why we have shooting s etc  lack of respect for each other and ther property
 @Chuck Wik So, in your world, someone walks on your lawn you can shoot them.
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Lack of respect for human life is more to your liking.Â
@snoopy84 @Chuck Wik Yes if he poses a threat which could be how he appears, something in hand, ect. I will not wait and see I will respond quietly.
What an appalling article. Only enough information to get the gun debate stirred up. How about that.
Jeez even the mall cops are armed to the teeth.
I am 100% for defending your property and person if there is a viable threat, but am not an advocate for lethal action if not necessary. Before I make any judgements one way or the other, I would need to know what really happened. Did the prowler actually threaten him? Did he try to break in? Was he really a prowler and not just someone taking a shortcut through the yard? I don't know.
 @The WA Mama Yes, how about the father that shot his son "prowling around" his sister's house. Shoot 1st, ask questions later indeed.
well this is sad that you defend you re life and property than you are arrested for shooting a theif instead of a ticker tape parade such a shame that criminals have more rights than law abiding hard working ditizens mayby soome of us are in the wrong business NOT wake up change these ridiculus laws crooks beware  good joob to the vancouver man hopefuuly justiice will prevail
 @Chuck Wik Thats a pretty confident statement coming from someone who knows almost nothing about the situation.Â
There are three things that you must survive if you shoot a bad guy in self defense. The first is the bad guy. Second is the police that must conclude it was self defense of you or yours.. Third the wrongful death lawsuit from the relatives of the deceased. The lawsuit is almost certain and very costly for you, in your defense.
 @al_wa you also need to survive wild speculation without all the facts. Plus getting past abject paranoia would be nice....
Paul Blart to the rescue! Â
You can't shoot people outside your home. Â Sounds like the mall cop got a little ahead of himself. Â Even the shooting of the man who had broken a window earlier this year, seemed questionable to me. Â But shooting someone outside your house? Â Rambo is a fictional character, that needs to be remembered. Â For all someone knows, a person around your house at that time, who is not trying to get it, could be a newspaper delivery person retrieving an errant paper, a neighbor looking for a pet. Â This isn't the OK Corral. Glad they charged him.Â
how about don't steal if you don't want a bullet in you?
 @PuzzleFighter wild west. shoot first, ask questions later.
This is exactly what I've talked about when I said know the laws and never talk to police after an incident like this. All the guy had to say was that the prowler attacked him and he was forced to shoot in self defense. You CAN NOT just shoot a prowler, there has to be a physical threat either verbally or physically. Please people, if you are going to arm yourself for self protection, please understand Washington self defense laws.
 @Blindman Oh, so you're advocating that people LIE to the police??  Yeah.. that is a glaring example of the gun owners who seem to paint themselves as some sort of heroes. If you have to LIE, then you've shot someone that did not pose a threat to you.Â
KOMO you need to replace your online editor. Man talk about no information and big headlinesâ¦.shhh
I hope people don't strain themselves too much making the extra long long-jump to conclusions here.
 I've never seen such rampant conclusion jumping.
 @stratoonist many are holding back, you should have read some of the other stories and comments
We will have to wait and get some more details. Btw if he confronted someone on his property, which isn't illegal, if the prowler tried to grab his gun, that is considered lethal force by the prowler. There was a case in Tacoma where a homeowner shot two burglars as they came out of his garage, they tried to rush him and he shot both of them, killing one. Not charged, and outside his house. I hope this guy has a good lawyer. Btw dead guys make lousy witnesses.
With all the information missing in this story, good thing they mentioned the important tid bit that, "A group of young people gathered near the location and some crossed crime tape onto the property only to be forced back by police officers." Huh?
 @Thunder No doubt friends of the person he killed.  And from the story, it could have been a kid TPing the house, or stealing lawn furniture. who knows?Â
 @Thunder Yes that was a very useful bit of information, we all now know exactly what happened.Â
I. assumed prowler. 2. does not sound like he was on the shooter's property  3.  The 2nd gives you a right to carry not shoot at will.
@snoopy84 Where did you read that the shooter wasn't on his property? I didn't see that in the article. I always find it best to let a few facts into the mix before I start making ramdon speculations.
 @Surveyor1  @snoopy84 Where did you read he was?Â
"about 4 a.m. to report a prowler near her home, located near 150th Avenue and NE 33rd Street in Vancouver"
I would think if it was clear that the prowler was on his property, they would have said he was in fact on the property.
In Washington, you just can't shoot someone on your property-if that was the case, there would  a lot of dead trespassers.
come on "swamp thing." do you work for FOX news? "sounds like?" you read a three paragraph online news article and immediately passed judgement on the man's mindset at the time of the incident. Regardless of his intended action, if the Mr. Doucette was on HIS OWN property and believed the the "prowler" was there to cause serious bodily injury or attempt to kill him, he is WELL within his rights to use his firearm to end the threat on his well being. Do you all really expect the man to sit down with the person he found creeping outside his house and have a discussion about how it can never happen again? Get real people. No one should be expected to wait until the criminal takes it to the next level, by then it is too late. But, everyone is entitled to their own opinions i suppose...
 @DJ Collier Not true. You can't just fire at someone on your lawn. That's BS.  Sorry to ruin your John Wayne fantasies...  Ask the guy in jail from Edomonds that shot someone stealing his car stereo. Â
 @DJ Collier There is either information missing from the story about what the police know that lead to the shooting that warrants a 2nd Murder charge. Or police are way over charging in the case.
Â
WA code and case law is very much in favor of homeowners and individuals defending themselves, based on what is in this story, the shooting appears to fall within the parameters of case law for self defense. There is a lot of information missing however.
@DJ Collier you sound like NBC, making assumptions without doing any journalism. Wait for the police report next time. If you assumption is correct why not call 911 first? Why exit your house where you have the tactical advantage?
The way I see it, there is one less punk out there stealing from us. If Doucette was protecting his property, then give him a medal, don't arrest him. If they charge him, then I'll finally know for a fact that our criminal justice system is screwed. I already know that, but this will be the icing on the cake.
 @Glen get back down in your basement.
@tufa23 @Glen Sorry tufa, I agree with Glen too. Are you aware of what's going on in our streets? I am so sick of criminals getting away with it. My neighborhood mom-and-pop grocery and gas store has had their glass front door smashed and been robbed three times. It was on video, and the perps have been picked up, charged and released twice. They have stopped replacing the glass, now the door is plywood. The only thing the homeowner did wrong is he used a gun instead of a baseball bat. One perfectly misplaced swing and ooooOOPS! Dead trash nobody has to clean up after anymore or pay to incarcerate -- IF they could actually get convicted and put away.