So Many Mistakes on So Many Different Levels

Legal & Second Amendment
1

Bradenton man sentenced after fatally shooting daughter’s boyfriend

By Michael Moore Jr.

Gregg Kielma

FFL-Firearms Instructor-First Aid Fundamentals Instructor-Gunsmith

AED Defibrillator Sales

A Bradenton father has been sentenced to two decades in prison for the 2022 fatal shooting of his daughter’s boyfriend.

Charles Heaven, 50, entered a plea of no contest to the lesser charge of manslaughter with a firearm on Oct. 24, according to court records. The plea comes more than two years after detectives say Heaven shot and killed 30-year-old Keith Smith during an argument outside his daughter’s Bradenton apartment.

Circuit Court Judge Frederick Mercurio sentenced Heaven to 20 years in prison with credit for time served. As part of his sentence, Heaven is barred from contacting Smith’s family.

Court records show Heaven was set to go to trial for second-degree murder with a firearm in October, but his defense attorney and the state negotiated a plea deal that involved Heaven pleading no contest to the lesser manslaughter charges.

The maximum sentence for second-degree murder with a firearm in Florida is life in prison, compared to a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for manslaughter with a firearm.

Heaven’s attorney did not immediately respond to the Bradenton Herald’s request for comment.

Detectives say the shooting happened on the evening of Sept. 20, 2022, at The Venue at Lockwood Apartments, in the 3200 block of 54th Drive E., Bradenton.

According to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Heaven arrived at his 24-year-old daughter’s apartment, where Smith was present. An argument erupted between the two men, escalating as Heaven and Smith moved outside the apartment building. Once outside, detectives say [Heaven pulled out a gun

Deputies found Smith gravely injured after responding to a 911 call reporting the shooting. Emergency responders brought Smith to HCA Florida Blake Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries.

Heaven fled the scene following the shooting, prompting a manhunt and a $5,000 reward. Two days later, [Heaven turned himself in.

Gregg Kielma

FFL-Firearms Instructor-First Aid Fundamentals Instructor-Gunsmith

AED Defibrillator Sales

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There must be a lot of additional information out there vs what’s in that article. Is there a breakdown of the mistakes?

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Read the last few sentences…I believe it’s self-explanatory.

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Fleeing the scene seems like a mistake. What were the other many mistakes?

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Just quoting. Really sir or madam, you don’t understand?

According to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Heaven arrived at his 24-year-old daughter’s apartment, where Smith was present. An argument erupted between the two men, escalating as Heaven and Smith moved outside the apartment building. Once outside, detectives say Heaven pulled out a gun.

Deputies found Smith gravely injured after responding to a 911 call reporting the shooting. Emergency responders brought Smith to HCA Florida Blake Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries.

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I don’t understand what the many mistakes were based on the limited information in that article, no.

I see fleeing the scene and a manhunt certainly looking like one of the mistakes.

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This was part of a domestic violence dispute between the girlfriend and boyfriend. The girlfriend called her father who arrived on scene, and instead of deescalating the incident it became violet in the apartment and continued outside between the father and boyfriend. The father shot and killed the daughter’s boyfriend and left the scene. Who was the reasonable person? No one. Tragic incident for all involved.

The father didn’t help his case by leaving the scene. Why he left is not known at this time. I’ll continue to investigate.

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He does this just to be a troll and likes to badger others. :roll_eyes:
He is also very lazy about looking things up for himself.

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No troll. I see only one stated mistake, curious what the others are so we can discuss and learn. The title led me to believe there were other specific mistakes OP knew about.

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Ah, that is new. That wasn’t in the article.

Do you have the link to where this is stated?

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AH!!! :thinking: So, that’s what led to what you posted, and :face_with_raised_eyebrow: I was trying to come around to just exactly what you just said about being part of a domestic violence dispute between the girlfriend and boyfriend. But, yet so many unanswered questions to learn from this scenario. Seems that there may have already been a toxic relationship between girlfriend and boyfriend, and maybe the girlfriend should have called 911 first, before calling daddy (maybe for support), depending on the situation, it should have been handled between her and the police to settle the dispute with the boyfriend, rather than calling and having daddy playing the policeman role where things surely went SOUTH QUICKLY! Where did that leave the girlfriend when daddy fled the scene (not good right off the bat). Daddy goes to jail (loosing years of FREEDOM :roll_eyes:). What if things went SOUTH the OTHER WAY! Daddy gets shot/stabbed, and dies from those injuries :grimacing:. THEN WHAT!! BURY YOUR DADDY :sob: for the stupidity of a toxic relationship? :thinking: Great post, and gives us something to think about.

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Bad judgment.

Signed,

Armchair Quarterback

Seriously, bad judgment on his part.

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Definitely bad judgement to flee the scene and leave his daughter there alone.

Without additional details it is hard to say whether or not he should have used the firearm. Was the boyfriend seriously threatening the daughter when the father arrived? Was he physically attacking her? Did he attack or seriously threaten the father with severe bodily harm once they went outside?

Based on the fact that the father fled the scene and has plead guilty to a serious charge it is likely he made at least one or more additional mistakes. But I see no information pointing to what they might have been. With a few of these unstated details going in the father’s favor we might be discussing how this was a totally justified use of force to defend himself and or his daughter.

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Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! As per usual this article prolly tells 1/2 the story.
As Sham points out many questions remain as to why, what, when etc etc.
As to the ‘So many mistakes’ I see a couple that aren’t really giving us the answers as to why?
Nathan was just pointing out what I am feeling also, without more info what were the many mistakes?
TRUTH he used a Firearm but what led to the altercation/shooting? THAT RIGHT THERE IS WHAT I’D WANT TO KNOW. Everything else could fall into place after that knowledge was revealed. This article makes it sound like he had words with the BF and shot him.
Reporting today lacks Journalistic insight. It’s get the sensationalism out front, scare on details.
Nathan wasn’t being a Troll (I’m an expert on spotting trolls) He wasn’t TROLLING, just inquisitive.

It’s Christmas Folk’s

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How can I help you?

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Not a thing Bruh, You did good job nice Topic.
The reporter was short on facts is all.
No worries
Just commenting on the lack of details these current
crop of ‘journalists’ haven’t learned about prose and facts.
There’s no substance in reporting anymore. They often get their 'stories
off the 'net or Police Scanners. Sorry state of affairs.
Ammoland and GOA, The Truth about Guns etc.
Now those folk’s know what we Gunner’s want–The ENTIRE story.
Who did it, What the Poe-Poe think, The Courts actions and WHY.
Not ‘A Guy shot somebody, somewhere…’ Sheesh!
It’s all good Brother.

WWG1WGA

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:thinking: Darn guns are killing people. something needs to be done about these guns. Basically, that’s what they want to report. :grin: Regardless of the rest of the details, it all leads to the “GUN”.

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‘I KNOW!’ I haveta lock em up @ night so they don’t load themselves and 'choot me in my sleep! Damn Worrisome! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Merry Christmas Brutha!

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Merry Christmas to you and your Sis!

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Too true. Unfortunately a lot of articles like this get posted with so little information as to be nearly useless other than knowing this guy won’t be coming home anytime soon

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