HANFORD, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Following an incident where a Fresno man shot a vandalizer threatening to kill his family, a firearms expert spoke about what circumstances qualify as self-defense in California.
“Are you willing to die or go to jail for what you are about to do?” said Todd Cotta.
Vandalizer shot trying to break-in, kill family in Fresno, police say
Todd Cotta is the owner of Kings Gun Center in Hanford.
“We built this place in 2015. So, we’re going on ten years next year with this building,” he said.
Cotta is also an official carry concealed weapons instructor for the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.
In any case of self-defense, Cotta says the force you use to protect yourself must match the threat level of the situation.
“If you can escape, escape if you can avoid it, avoid it. But if you can’t avoid and you can’t escape, all you have left is defend,” Cotta said.
In a recent particular case , Fresno Police say 48-year-old Baldemar Lugo vandalized several vehicles near Hoxie and Whitney avenues Friday night with a hammer.