Shooting Through Doors: Legal Risks Explained

Shooting through a closed door does not automatically grant you legal immunity under the

Castle Doctrine. A homeowner in Indiana was just charged with voluntary manslaughter after killing a

cleaning worker who mistakenly went to the wrong address. She was struggling with a key on the

porch, and instead of announcing himself, the homeowner fired through the door.

His lawyer is arguing self-defense, but prosecutors say the threat wasn't reasonable since

she never entered. This is a critical lesson in criminal law. Self-defense requires

a real, immediate threat, not just fear of a noise. If you pull the

trigger without verifying the danger, you are likely facing prison time.