[Wynder]

...and you need a bigwheel.

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.c ... 4969&rfi=6

Woman wielding Big Wheel breaks up fight after shotgun blast proves ineffective
By Paul Kirby, Freeman staff
05/02/2008

KINGSTON - A shotgun blast couldn't stop two men from fighting on a city porch Friday morning.

Advertisement
But a plastic Big Wheel did the trick.

Detrell Pittman, 28, of 209 Foxhall Ave., Kingston, and Jonathan Stevens, 34, of 143 Colonial Place, Kingston, wound up being charged with criminal trespass, a misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct, a violation, after the predawn incident, according to Detective Lt. Timothy Matthews of the city police department.

Matthews said the two men got into a fight about 3:25 a.m. near 202 Foxhall Ave. and that the scuffle ultimately moved to the porch of the residence.

Matthews said a resident of the home, thinking the two men were trying to break in, came outside carrying a shotgun. And when the man incorrectly thought one of the combatants had a knife and was about to use it, he fired a shotgun blast into the air in an attempt to scare the men, Matthews said.

But the two kept fighting.

Moments later, Matthews said, a woman showed up at the scene and whacked the two men with a plastic Big Wheel riding toy, and the fight stopped.

Police arrived a short time later and took Pittman and Stevens into custody.

The man with the shotgun and the woman with the Big Wheel were not charged, and police did not release their names.

[dave_in_delaware]

That situation could have gone south REAL fast, with at least one person possibly dead.

I thought shooting into the air was a no-no?

[Wynder]

That situation could have gone south REAL fast, with at least one person possibly dead.

I thought shooting into the air was a no-no?

It is -- generally considered a form of Reckless Endangering. However, considering the very limited range (75' or so?) of a shotgun, it probably wasn't that huge of a deal. With a pistol or rifle on the other hand, you're talking at least 1300fps until the velocity dies.

[dave_in_delaware]

Depending on where it happened, it could still be considered "discharge of a firearm within city limits" (or a similar statute) and the whole "unless in self defense" clause may not apply in this case, since the gun was fired to break up a fight, not defend one's life.

The range (i.e. lethality of projectiles) doesn't even matter in this case.