Texas jury convicts man in ‘stand your ground’ case

Associated Press

HOUSTON

A Houston jury convicted a man Wednesday of murdering his neighbor during a confrontation outside the neighbor’s home two years ago, rejecting his claim that he was within his rights to fatally shoot the man under Texas’ version of a stand-your-ground law.

Raul Rodriguez, 47, faces up to life in prison for the 2010 killing of Kelly Danaher.

Rodriguez, a retired Houston-area firefighter, was angry about the noise coming from his neighbor’s home, where a birthday party was taking place. He went to the home and got into an argument with Danaher, a 36-year-old elementary-school teacher, and two other men who were at the party.

In a 22-minute video he recorded the night of the shooting, Rodriguez can be heard telling a police dispatcher “my life is in danger now” and “these people are going to go try and kill me.” He then said, “I’m standing my ground here,” and shot Danaher. The two other men were wounded.

Prosecutors called Rodriguez the aggressor who took a gun to complain about loud music and could have safely left his neighbor’s driveway any time before the shooting.