Pharmacist says he thought robber would kill him

A 57-year-old pharmacist charged with first-degree murder for shooting a would-be robber says in a cable television interview that he feared for his life as the attempted robbery was taking place.

[zorro america]

he committed first degree murder.. if he feared for his life why did he reentered the store when he was safe outside...he didnt fear the dieing man on the foor , he reentered the store to kill and then phone the police...he shoot in anger, maybe race played a part, but it wasnt fear, it was that he was a coward and killed a wounded suspect like a dog!!

[deepspace12dotco m]

First off, before you comment, it might help if you learn to spell. Proper grammar helps as well. Although you have every right to say what you wish here, it is very hard to take anything you say seriously when you type at the 5th grade level.

Amazing that most of the comments you read and hear about this case are in support of the criminal. Let's focus on the fact he was shot rather than the fact he was breaking the law in the first place.

Did the pharmacist fire too many shots? Maybe, yes. Can we judge him? Not really. Not only do we not know the detailed facts in this case but we were not in his shoes.

It is very easy for us to sit here and throw stones like children at this man. I wonder just how we would have reacted at that same moment under that same stress.

One never knows. Anyone that says they do is full of crap. I have seen combat. You can sit there all day long and tell someone what you would do but when it comes down to it, when you think your life is in danger, what you thought up until that second is total BS. The ballgame changes drastically at that moment.

[zorro america]

deepspace12dotcom wrote:

First off, before you comment, it might help if you learn to spell. Proper grammar helps as well. Although you have every right to say what you wish here, it is very hard to take anything you say seriously when you type at the 5th grade level.
Amazing that most of the comments you read and hear about this case are in support of the criminal. Let's focus on the fact he was shot rather than the fact he was breaking the law in the first place.
Did the pharmacist fire too many shots? Maybe, yes. Can we judge him? Not really. Not only do we not know the detailed facts in this case but we were not in his shoes.
It is very easy for us to sit here and throw stones like children at this man. I wonder just how we would have reacted at that same moment under that same stress.
One never knows. Anyone that says they do is full of crap. I have seen combat. You can sit there all day long and tell someone what you would do but when it comes down to it, when you think your life is in danger, what you thought up until that second is total BS. The ballgame changes drastically at that moment.

your a fool to even comment on my grammer... you dont know if its to a injury or age what.. its hard to take you as a concern citizen rather an as. hole..but who cares what you think..i would have done the same thing amigo , shoothing that guy in the first place..but when this guy left the building , he was safe. get it , amigo. he could of called for help. its clear his gun didnt work after he shot the kid.. he returned to get another gun . now some say it was stress. maybe this guy should own a gun . imagine him shooting people outside who had nothing to do with the attemped robbery..stress?...this guy went back into the store and displayed no fear and shot him 5 times..
as to the grammer think...does it make you feel good to pointout other people flaws .. do you need me to make you feel better..
let me help you with this.......
do it makin u feeal bader or goood two owink out oterpeole flwser.....huhhhhh i bet you feel good right now..

[Merchant of Menace]

zorro america wrote:

<quoted text>your a fool to even comment on my grammer... you dont know if its to a injury or age what.. its hard to take you as a concern citizen rather an as. hole..but who cares what you think..i would have done the same thing amigo , shoothing that guy in the first place..but when this guy left the building , he was safe. get it , amigo. he could of called for help. its clear his gun didnt work after he shot the kid.. he returned to get another gun . now some say it was stress. maybe this guy should own a gun . imagine him shooting people outside who had nothing to do with the attemped robbery..stress?...this guy went back into the store and displayed no fear and shot him 5 times..
as to the grammer think...does it make you feel good to pointout other people flaws .. do you need me to make you feel better..
let me help you with this.......
do it makin u feeal bader or goood two owink out oterpeole flwser.....huhhhhh i bet you feel good right now..

Sorry, Zorro! Sadly, even it what you did write had merit, it would be severely discounted, as well as difficult to interpret due to your poor usage of English. If you wish to be taken seriously you should brush up on your skills.

[Tony]

Even if the pharmacist left the building, there were his workers and customers still inside and they were in danger of being shot and killed. First from the robber laying face up on the floor who might have been playing dead but who may have had a weapon hidden on him; and second, the robbers who had run away but who could have returned at any time with guns blazing to rescue their accomplice inside. The pharmacist wanted to make sure that there was no trick.

The robbers could have planned a scenario like this: "If one of us gets shot, lay down on the floor and pretend to be dead. The others will run out and then return with guns blazing. That will be the signal for the person on the floor to pull out a weapon from behind his back and plug the rest of the people inside."

Hindsight is always 20/20 but when guns are pointed at you and your life is threatened, all bets are off and it's open season on the thieves and robbers!

[Darlene5030]

When you make the decision to pick up a gun and rob a store or person, you have tossed the dice...in this case, the kid lost, not only his "game" but his life...Mr. Ersland was protecting his life and the lives of his other two employees....What would any of us do when threatened with gun ??...Where were the parents of these kids that let them hang around with adults who put them up to this and gave them the guns ?? Instead of the families playing the race card, how about them looking to themselves for not knowing where and what their kids were doing....

[Butchey Weinstein]

zorro america wrote:

he committed first degree murder.. if he feared for his life why did he reentered the store when he was safe outside...he didnt fear the dieing man on the foor , he reentered the store to kill and then phone the police...he shoot in anger, maybe race played a part, but it wasnt fear, it was that he was a coward and killed a wounded suspect like a dog!!

Oye, pendejo! Tu mama chinga y chupa los borregos para obtener monedas.

[Butterfly]

How can I donate to the pharmacists defense fund? This is horrible that he's being charged for defending his life and the lives of his workers!

[Butchey Weinstein]

This is from http://www.markshannon.com/

Please help JEROME ERSLAND Send a check to:

JEROME ERSLAND DEFENSE FUND c/o FIRST NATIONAL BANK of CHICKASHA

PO BOX 1130 Chickasha, OK 73023

[just_a_name]

Thanks Butchey for posting the info.

[Good Justice]

I'm sure he was scared to death looking at someone lying unconscious on their back with no gun in his hand.

[just_a_name]

GOOD JUSTICE...How the heck would you know unless you were there in the moment. I think alot of people here just like to pass judgement without thinking about how it made him feel to have those thieves come into his store and possibly harm someone. TELL ME GOOD JUSTICE.. would you have ran out the back door with your tail between your legs? How about this one... if you were one of those workers standing there as these punks entered the store brandishing a gun.. and he saved your a s s as well.. would you still be talking so much chit? I dont think so.

[Fred Buck]

Murder II with a key to the city. He won't be over medicating himself in prison.

[Butchey Weinstein]

Good Justice wrote:

I'm sure he was scared to death looking at someone lying unconscious on their back with no gun in his hand.

The kid was still moving around, according to Ersland's testimony. I would believe the word of a decorated, disabled vet over that of an effeminite punk like yourself who wasn't even there, any day of the week.

[Butchey Weinstein]

Fred Buck wrote:

Murder II with a key to the city. He won't be over medicating himself in prison.

I'm sure you're an authority on over-medicating oneself.

[George Bushh]

This poor Junkie overreacted, I did it many times over past 8 years.

[jewel]

George Bushh wrote:

This poor Junkie overreacted, I did it many times over past 8 years.

You are so right. All four junkies over reacted. That is why they held up the pharmacist.

[George Bushh]

Disabled, Decorated Vet went to fight a war with a puny army like Iraq. What a one-sided war considering all the fire power the U.S. had compared to Iraq. Not even a close comparison fighting the SS Waffen army and SS stormtroopers in World War 2.

[Butchey Weinstein]

George Bushh wrote:

Disabled, Decorated Vet went to fight a war with a puny army like Iraq. What a one-sided war considering all the fire power the U.S. had compared to Iraq. Not even a close comparison fighting the SS Waffen army and SS stormtroopers in World War 2.

So go to Russia. This country is no place for the likes of someone with your opinion.

[GHQST]

George Bushh wrote:

Disabled, Decorated Vet went to fight a war with a puny army like Iraq. What a one-sided war considering all the fire power the U.S. had compared to Iraq. Not even a close comparison fighting the SS Waffen army and SS stormtroopers in World War 2.

are you slow?