Man Who Shot And Killed 72 Year Old Alzheimer’s Patient Walks FREE!
by Bob Cull
Last November we told you the story of 72-year-old Ronald Westbrook
who suffered from Alzheimer's and was shot and killed while wandering
late at night in Georgia, mistakenly thinking that he was attempting to
enter his own home.
Westbrook
had lived in the neighborhood at one time, but at the time of his death
he lived approximately three miles away. He had left his home while
his wife slept to walk his dog, and in his confused state ended up at
the door of a home where 34-year-old Joe Hendrix resided with his
girlfriend.
When
Hendrix heard someone trying the locked front door, rather than calling
911 and waiting inside for police to arrive he grabbed his .40 caliber
handgun. While his girlfriend called 911, he slipped out the back door
and came around to the front to confront the "prowler" from behind.
Westbrook
was slow to respond to verbal communications and continued to walk
toward Hendrix when he demanded that he freeze, Hendrix fired four shots
striking Westbrook at least once in the chest killing him.
At the time, the investigation was ongoing and it had not yet been determined if Hendrix would face any charges in the killing.
We learned today that Hendrix will face no charges in Westbrook's death. District Attorney Herbert "Buzz" Franklin issued a statement referring to the incident as a "tragic shooting death,"
Westbrook's
widow, Deanne Westbrook said that she thought the police and District
Attorney had done a thorough job of investigating her husband's death.
"I really wanted to see it go before a grand jury, and then maybe before
a jury. But they tell me there's not enough evidence for that," she
said.
Hendrix
made no statement himself but his Attorney Lee Davis issued a written
statement on his behalf saying that he appreciated the care that the
police and District Attorney's office took in investigating the case.
"Mr.
Hendrix fully acknowledges the loss to Westbrook family, and his
thoughts and prayers are with them," Davis said in the statement.
h/t: Gawker
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