An elderly Arizona man was found with “serious and bleeding” face injuries after an altercation with his stepson that resulted in justifiable homicide.
Last month, Arizona police responded to a 911 call from 74-year-old Stan French who explained that he had shot his stepson in self defense. French, who had an order of protection against his stepson, was greeted at his home by 40-year-old Derek Christopher Farar. Farar violated his order and assaulted French. From there, the two’s physical altercation escalated until French feared for his life and shot Farar with his handgun.
“At this point in the investigation, it appears Derek Farar forced his way into Stan French’s residence and assaulted him. During the incident, Stan French was able to retrieve a handgun and shot Derek Farar.”
Graham County Sherriff’s Office
Farar was taken to a local hospital in Safford, Arizona to be treated for his gunshot wounds but ultimately died as a result. The altercation is still under investigation by local law enforcement; however, it does not appear at this time that French will face any charges.
With the large amount of stories in the news about criminal acts of violence that include a firearm, it is important to remember the countless number of lives that are saved in this country by responsible gun ownership each year. While the exact number of crimes prevented by an individual owning a firearm is unknown, various estimates range between 500,000 to over 3 million.
With all known details of this case, French’s actions were justifiable. While the aftermath of this case is unfortunate for all parties involved, it is yet another great example of the use of a firearm to save a life. If French did not have a gun to protect himself, the result of this interaction could have been far different.
