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Lancaster man will not face charges in shooting death
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press Saturday, February 1, 2003.
By JESSICA LOGAN
Valley Press Staff Writer
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LANCASTER - A 73-year-old Lancaster man will not face charges in the fatal shooting of a man who investigators say stalked his wife and threatened to kidnap her child.
Jim Ragsdale was aware Monday night that his wife, Claudia, 23, had been stalked by a man whose name has not yet been released by the Sheriff's Homicide Department, investigators said.
The man would show up at Claudia Ragsdale's out-of-town workplace and had threatened to burn down the couple's house down with them in it and to kidnap Claudia Ragsdale's 1-year-old child and take it out of the country, investigators said.
"This guy made a nervous wreck of my wife," Jim Ragsdale said.
Only hours before the shooting, the man allegedly tracked Claudia Ragsdale down at her work and again made threats. She reportedly asked a friend to go home with her.
After they arrived at the Ragsdales' home in the 44700 block of Tarragon Drive, the man reportedly knocked on the door. Claudia Ragsdale's friend told the man to leave.
A second knock reportedly prompted a gun-toting Jim Ragsdale to go to the door and tell the man to leave. The man allegedly continued to make threats and moved toward the family. Ragsdale reportedly told the man not to come any closer.
The man allegedly came closer and shoved a hand in one of his pockets. Ragsdale said he shot him once in the head, killing him.
"As the old saying goes, give your soul to God, but come on my property and your *** belongs to me," the ex-Marine said.
Ragsdale was arrested, but Deputy District Attorney Greg Denton on Thursday declined to file charges against the man because he did not think that he could prove the shooting was not in self defense.
"We would have to prove that he was not acting in self-defense or the defense of others and we can't prove he wasn't," Denton said.
http://www.avpress.com/n/sasty5.hts
Wow! 50-year difference in ages, there. You go, Jim!
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press Saturday, February 1, 2003.
By JESSICA LOGAN
Valley Press Staff Writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LANCASTER - A 73-year-old Lancaster man will not face charges in the fatal shooting of a man who investigators say stalked his wife and threatened to kidnap her child.
Jim Ragsdale was aware Monday night that his wife, Claudia, 23, had been stalked by a man whose name has not yet been released by the Sheriff's Homicide Department, investigators said.
The man would show up at Claudia Ragsdale's out-of-town workplace and had threatened to burn down the couple's house down with them in it and to kidnap Claudia Ragsdale's 1-year-old child and take it out of the country, investigators said.
"This guy made a nervous wreck of my wife," Jim Ragsdale said.
Only hours before the shooting, the man allegedly tracked Claudia Ragsdale down at her work and again made threats. She reportedly asked a friend to go home with her.
After they arrived at the Ragsdales' home in the 44700 block of Tarragon Drive, the man reportedly knocked on the door. Claudia Ragsdale's friend told the man to leave.
A second knock reportedly prompted a gun-toting Jim Ragsdale to go to the door and tell the man to leave. The man allegedly continued to make threats and moved toward the family. Ragsdale reportedly told the man not to come any closer.
The man allegedly came closer and shoved a hand in one of his pockets. Ragsdale said he shot him once in the head, killing him.
"As the old saying goes, give your soul to God, but come on my property and your *** belongs to me," the ex-Marine said.
Ragsdale was arrested, but Deputy District Attorney Greg Denton on Thursday declined to file charges against the man because he did not think that he could prove the shooting was not in self defense.
"We would have to prove that he was not acting in self-defense or the defense of others and we can't prove he wasn't," Denton said.
http://www.avpress.com/n/sasty5.hts
Wow! 50-year difference in ages, there. You go, Jim!
