Black Bear
Unknown
Age at time: unknown
Weapon: claws
Kevin Doerr
White male
Age at time: 40
Weapon: gun
unharmed
Case type:
Animal attack
Location:
Defendant's Property
Initiator:
Victim
Witnesses:
No
Case year:
2009
Location details: Shooter's property in Fort Myers, Lee County, on May 07, 2009
What happened: Kevin Michael Doerr shot and killed a black bear that wandered onto his property toward a pen of chickens. He said he didn't fear for his safety and the bear was not aggressive. Yet after spotting the bear, he went into his home, retrieved his .44-caliber Magnum, and shot the bear in the head from a distance of 19 feet. When the bear did not die immediately, he shot it once again. Doerr was charged with killing a protected species, a third-degree felony.
The outcome: Doerr's attorney filed a "stand your ground" immunity motion, which a judged denied. Doerr then accepted a plea deal that gave him two years probation and required him to donate $500 to a wildlife fund. Adjudication was withheld, meaning the charge will not appear on his record.
Case decision made by: Judge
Trayvon Martin’s death became controversial because circumstances leading up to the shooting cast doubt on who was to blame. The Tampa Bay Times reviewed other “stand your ground” cases for similar circumstances. The Times relied on available information, some of which may not tell the whole story. When the situation was unclear, that was noted.
| Yes | No | Unclear/ disputed |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Did the victim initiate the confrontation? |
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Was the victim armed? |
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Was the victim committing a crime that led to the confrontation? |
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Did the defendant pursue the victim? |
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Could the defendant have retreated to avoid the conflict? |
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Was the defendant on his or her property? |
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Did someone witness the attack? |
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Was there physical evidence? |
|
Source: Lee County Clerk of Court, May 7, 2009.
Source: Naples Daily News, Dec. 17, 2009. Link to original source
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Case last updated: July 3, 2012
