Florida man faces attempted murder charge after he ‘shot burglar several times with an assault rifle as he begged for his life on his knees’ – Corthoris Jenkins claims he ‘blacked out’ and can’t remember shooting Xavier West
Corthoris Jenkins of Miami, Florida faces attempted a first-degree murder Wednesday
Jenkins, 28, is accused of shooting an alleged burglar several times with an assault rifle as he begged for his life on his knees’
He chased the man down the street, caught with him at an intersection before the shooting
Police said the suspected burglar, Xavier West, was caught on video on his knees, begging for his life
Eight bullet casings were found at the scene, about 582 feet from Jenkins’ home
Jenkins who was arrested and charged with first-degree attempted murder, initially claimed he “blacked out” and didn’t remember anything about the shooting
During a court hearing Wednesday afternoon, Jenkins appeared to admit to the shooting. “I didn’t shoot him while he was on the ground,” he said, adding: “I’m the victim, ma’am”
It’s unclear if Jenkins or West were known to each other prior to the incident
Surveillance video showed West running from the direction of Jenkins’ home, and police executing a search warrant against the home, found no signs of forced entry

A Florida man faces an attempted murder charge after he chased a supposed home burglar into the street and allegedly shot him multiple times while the man begged for his life.
Corthoris Jenkins, 28, of Miami, was arrested December 1, after police found him near the shooting scene, which was about 582 feet from his home.
Jenkins was then charged with attempted first-degree murder with a deadly weapon.
He was accused of using an assault-style rifle to shoot Xavier West, who Jenkins and his girlfriend claim had broken into Jenkins’ apartment.
The Miami Herald reports that Jenkins told police he was in his bedroom playing video games when West broke into the apartment,
Instead of calling 911, Jenkins picked up his rifle and then chased West out of the home and down the street, police said.

At a preliminary hearing Wednesday, Miami-Dade Detective Iry Watson described the contents of a surveillance video that captured the incident.
Watson said that the video showed West running across the street, with Jenkins in pursuit. At the street corner, Watson said it appeared that West ‘pleads for his life’ before walking north.
Then, Watson said the video shows West appearing to get on his knees and ‘He begins to what appears to be to beg for his life. But the defendant takes the assault rifle and shoots him multiple times.’
According to the police report, obtained by the Miami Herald, police found eight bullet casings on the ground where the shooting occurred. Officers found Jenkins walking away from the scene and he immediately turned over his gun.
It was unclear if Jenkins or West were known to each other prior to the incident, but Det. Watson testified that the surveillance video showed West running from the direction of Jenkins’ home.
When police executed a search warrant at the home they did not find any signs of forced entry, which appeared to draw a surprised ‘no?’, out of Jenkins, who was also in court.
Jenkins’ landlady told police that only Watson and his girlfriend were supposed to be on the property, police said.
West was taken to Ryder Trauma Center, where he was treated for his wounds. Watson said he had not been able to speak with West because he was still intubated.
After listening to the detective’s statements, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer mulled over whether premeditation was evident.

Jenkins ‘had time for reflection as he’s pointing the gun as he’s begging on his knees. That’s premeditation,’ Glazer said.
Jenkins could then be heard claiming from the stand that ‘I didn’t shoot him while he was on the ground’ and that ‘I’m the victim, ma’am.’
Glazer told him not to say anything before speaking with a lawyer.
She also noted: ‘You’re the victim of a potential burglary, but you can’t just go around shooting people.’
According to his arrest report, Jenkins had told police that he ‘blacked out’ and didn’t recall any details about the shooting.
Florida has a ‘Stand Your Ground’ self-defense law, which allows the use of deadly force to counter a threat without requiring retreat, first. Critics have said that this law encourages vigilantism and makes it easier for judges to give ‘immunity’ to people who they believe were acting in self-defense.
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