The man was moving around in the darkness of J's home with a gun. He was certain J. and his family weren't there, but he was wrong. When a door suddenly opened and a dark figure fumbled for the hallway light, he had only a moment to act. As the light came on, he launched himself at the figure, whom he instantly recognized as J's wife. Using his revolver as a club, he delivered a blow to her head. Just as suddenly he saw another figure emerge. The last thing he saw was the automatic in J's hand -- a small caliber Ruger pistol. Without a word, J. began shooting. The intruder dropped his .38, but not before J. had unloaded his 10-shot magazine into his head and chest. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
But the plot thickens, as they say. J. is an active Jehovah's Witness. It was ruled by the cops justifiable homicide and the state's attorney agreed. So how about the elders in J's Kingdom Hall? Do they initiate any sort of any inquiry, or investigation, on their own? In short, do they back J., or are they upset that J's affiliation with the Watchtower Society might reflect poorly on them? The intruder's family is angry because their dear P. was shot ten times in rapid succession. Did he have to fire so many shots? Both J. and his wife, considered ordained ministers in Jehovah's "organization," and they testiy that P. had not dropped his weapon until all the shots had been fired.
Is this going to be a theocratic issue or will J. be vindicated because it was a clear cut case of self defense? In the Old Testament, killing an intruder after dark was justifiable. Does that cut J. any slack? And will J. be in trouble because he grabbed his wife and used her as a human shield while he emptied his weapon into P.?