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CMPD: Burglar Shot By Homeowner; Dies From Injuries

Nick de la Canal
/
WFAE

A 37-year-old man has died eight days after he was shot by a homeowner in a small neighborhood just west of uptown Charlotte. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department says the man, Wayne Carrothers, had broken into a home on Greenleaf Avenue around 4 p.m. on June 15 when he was shot by the homeowner.

Carrothers was armed at the time, according to police. He was hospitalized at Carolinas Medical Center and died from his injuries early this morning.

Police are withholding the name of the homeowner, who has not been charged with any crimes. In a news release, police say the case will be presented to the Mecklenburg County District Attorney's office, which will determine if the shooter will be prosecuted.

North Carolina is among 27 states with a"Stand Your Ground" law in place. The law gives residents the legal right to defend themselves with deadly force in their homes, vehicles, and workplace, if they reasonably believe such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm, or if the person is an unlawful intruder, or is attempting to forcibly and unlawfully enter.

"If someone attacks you in your home, you can defend yourself, but you can't attack people from your home, unless you have reasonable fear of imminent bodily harm," UNC law professor Joseph Kennedy told WUNC in relation to a 2016 "Stand Your Ground" case in Raleigh.

In that case, a 39-year-old man was charged with first degree murder after fatally shooting a 20-year-old from his garage as the 20-year-old and a friend were walking through the neighborhood early one morning. Just before the shooting, the man had called 911 to complain of armed "hoodlums" in the neighborhood.

Nick de la Canal is an on air host and reporter covering breaking news, arts and culture, and general assignment stories. His work frequently appears on air and online. Periodically, he tweets: @nickdelacanal