The father of a German exchange student who was shot dead in Montana after he allegedly trespassed on a man's property is blaming his death on the state's self-defense laws.
Diren Dede, 17, was shot dead on Sunday after he allegedly entered a garage at the home of a firefighter, the BBC reported. Thinking the teenager was an intruder, the firefighter took his shotgun and fired several rounds into the garage, killing Dede. The shooter has since been charged with Dede's death. But his father says he would never have let his son study abroad if he knew the state allowed deadly force in self-defense.
"I didn't think for one night that everyone here can kill somebody just because that person entered his back yard," Celal Dede, the teenager's father, told a German news agency, according to the BBC.
A diplomat from the German consulate was sent to "put pressure on the authorities to investigate thoroughly," a consulate spokeswoman told the BBC.
Diren Dede was a student at Big Sky High School in Missoula as part of a one year exchange program. It is not yet known why he entered the garage at the home of 29-year-old Markus Kaarma the night he died.
Kaarma said he detected someone in his house when his motion sensors went off at around midnight, the BBC reported. Without any warning, Kaarma fired his shotgun into the garage.
Kaarma reportedly told authorities that his house had been burglarized twice and that he stayed up late at night to shoot trespassers.
"We know with no question the individual entered the garage," Paul Ryan, Kaarma's defense attorney, told the BBC. His client is to plead not guilty to the charge of murder.
"Kaarma didn't know who [Diren] was, his intent or whether he was armed."
The firefighter was released on $30,000 bond.
Under Montana law, residents can use deadly force to protect their homes if they "reasonably" believe they are in danger.
In the meantime, Democrat state Representative Ellie Hill announced plans to get the law repealed.
"It's created a culture that it's OK to shoot first and ask questions later," Hill told the Missoulian.
