Atlanta Carjacking Twist: Victim Faces Charges After Shooting Alleged Teenage Thief

An Atlanta man found himself in handcuffs after allegedly shooting a teenager attempting to break into his vehicle. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, police were called to an incident involving a gunshot victim just before 3 a.m. in the Fairburn Mays area, about 20 miles south of downtown Atlanta. Upon arrival, officers from the Atlanta Police Department discovered a male under 18 who had been shot in the foot, as per the police report. The young victim reportedly confessed that he was shot during an attempted car break-in. He was subsequently transported to a local children’s hospital, where he is expected to recover. Carter, the vehicle owner, informed police that the shooting occurred during a confrontation with the teenager, the news outlet added. Carter was later arrested and is charged with aggravated assault, according to police. He was booked into the Fulton County Jail. Under Georgia law, there is a statute that covers “use of force in defense of property other than a habitation.” A person is justified in threatening or using force when they reasonably believe it’s necessary to prevent or stop criminal interference with property they lawfully possess, according to the statute. However, the use of force that is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm is not justified to protect property, unless the person using the force reasonably believes such force is necessary to prevent a “forcible felony,” according to Georgia law. Georgia also has a “no-duty to retreat” statute, which says those using force as self-defense, defense of habitation, or defense of property, do not need to retreat. Police did not confirm if self-defense laws apply in Friday’s case, according to the report.