Aftermath of a Shooting – Part 4: Role of the Victim

Mike Darter and John Risenhoover talk about the role of the victim in a self defense shooting case, and the importance of identifying yourself as such. Now, with all the physiological effects and confusion that is produced from them, it would not be advised to give a full interview or statement directly after a shooting. But by simply stating that you are the victim, identifying the suspect, and that you had to use deadly force to defend yourself, immediately identifies you as the victim.

If you are involved in a legitimate self defense incident, you are a victim.  That’s the one thing that gets lost in translation.  You’ve been attacked.  That within itself may be a significant critical incident, then add on top of that, you had to shoot someone – another critical incident. The problem is that within the criminal justice system, the fact that you were just attacked, sometimes gets lost in the latter investigation of a shooting, or homicide if the attacker is killed.  This is why we say to identify yourself as the victim.

Watch the Series:

1. The Aftermath of a Shooting Video Series
2. The Aftermath of a Shooting – Part 2: Officer Involved Shooting Protocols
3. Aftermath of a Shooting – Part 3: Physiological Effects
4. Aftermath of a Shooting – Part 4: Role of the Victim
5. Aftermath of a Shooting – Part 5: The Investigative Process
6. Aftermath of a Shooting – Part 6: Bail Bonds, Civil Actions and Long-Term Effects