Would You Act In Defense of a Stranger?

Most self-defense stories evoke a bit of "WTF were they thinking?" This story is even stranger than usual. District attorney: Erie man acted in self-defense when he shot man at gun range

Two "friends" were at a shooting range, taking turns firing a pistol. Their girlfriends were also present, when one of the guys turned and started shooting at his "friend." (With friends like that, who needs enemies?) He shot his friend 5 times before he was stopped.

The 67-year-old man in a neighboring shooting stall, whom authorities said had no connection to the two men and who authorities did not identify, fired his weapon at Eppley in an attempt to stop the attack, killing Eppley.

"He's aware he took someone's life and he has remorse over what he did, but listening and watching his statement to the state police, he believed it was necessary for him to do what he did at the time," [Erie County District Attorney Jack] Daneri said.

More amazing than that he acted on behalf of a stranger is that he was only armed with a .22 caliber pistol. And in another example of "reporters don't know anything about anything," the story references a 22mm Ruger pistol. Which would be closer to an artillery weapon than a sidearm. I think that .86 caliber is a bit on the large side of the scale. (I was surprised to find that there is actually a .600 Nitro Express revolver, but at $40 per round, or so, it would make for an expensive day at the range.)

The District Attorney has ruled that the shooting was justified. Investigators have no idea what set the dead-guy off, and started him shooting at someone he knew, though his blood alcohol level was way over the legal limit, proving once again that drinking can be hazardous to your health. And of course guns and alcohol never go together.