On Oct. 8, Tatiana Duva-Rodriguez of Michigan shot at two shoplifters who were fleeing a Home Depot. Though no one was harmed, she was taken to court where she pleaded no contest to a charge of reckless use, handling or discharge of a firearm. On Dec. 9, she was sentenced by a judge to 18 months probation. She will also not be allowed to apply for a gun permit for another eight years, reported the Washington Post.
"I tried to help, and I learned my lesson that I will never help anybody again," said Duva-Rodriguez, according to Fox News.
"She's there to help; saw something happening; thought it was serious; pulled her gun. She didn't want to hurt anybody. We didn't know that there were any people in the parking lot, other than this person that was driving away this vehicle. She didn't shoot it in the air; she didn't shoot it at the window, at the windshield. She fired at the tires," said her lawyer, Steven Schwartz, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Many criticized her decision to draw her gun when the only thing at stake was Home Depot's property, but some have called her a gun-wielding Good Samaritan and assert that society would be safer with more people like Duva-Rodriguez. However, statistics say good people with guns are few and far between, reported the Chicago Tribune. Additionally, gun experts said she could have very easily injured a bystander.
"I made a decision in a split second. Maybe it was not the right one, but I was trying to help," said Duva-Rodriguez in court, noted the Washington Post.
"I don't believe any malice was involved in what you were doing, but I believe you have to think about what could have happened," said the judge, reported the Washington Post.
