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Self-defense doesn’t end when the threat goes down. That’s when the real battle begins. Lawyers. Prosecutors. Headlines. USCCA Members never fight that battle alone. Find out how.
A Colorado homeowner says he fired because a teenager came at him with a lawn chair. Prosecutors apparently see it very differently.
Robert Loesch, 52, now faces attempted second-degree murder and first-degree assault charges following an Oct. 1 shooting in Lafayette, Colorado.
The case raises a messy self-defense question. How far does a homeowner’s right to defend himself extend when the suspected intruder never actually enters the home?
Table of contents
Teen Allegedly Tried the Door
According to CBS Colorado, police received several calls shortly after 10 p.m. about someone causing a disturbance along Sidon Circle.
Witnesses reportedly described 17-year-old Riley Murray as yelling, speaking incoherently and appearing intoxicated.
Doorbell-camera footage cited in the arrest affidavit reportedly shows Murray trying to open Loesch’s storm door. He also allegedly banged on the door and a window.
Loesch retrieved a Kahr PM9 handgun. The footage reportedly shows a red laser being aimed at Murray from inside the house.
Here is where the situation took a major turn.
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According to the affidavit, Murray moved away from the entrance and picked up a lawn chair. Loesch then unlocked the door, opened it and stepped outside while holding his handgun.
Murray allegedly threw the chair toward Loesch. Loesch fired, blocked the chair with his arm and fired again. One bullet was later recovered from the chair. The second struck Murray in the abdomen.
The footage reportedly shows Loesch ordering the wounded teenager not to move. At one point, he placed a foot on Murray’s hand while pointing the gun at his back.
Loesch remained at the scene and cooperated with police.
Teen May Never Walk Again
Murray suffered serious injuries to his bowel, spine and kidney, according to the arrest affidavit.
His mother told CBS Colorado that he spent time in intensive care and underwent two surgeries. She said he could remain hospitalized for two or three months and might never walk again.
Loesch told investigators that Murray’s behavior frightened him. He described the shooting as a “reactionary moment” after the teenager came toward him with the chair.
Police arrested Loesch two days later after reviewing witness statements and video evidence. He posted a $25,000 bond and was released under conditions that prohibiting him from possessing weapons.
The charges remain allegations. Loesch is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Does Colorado’s ‘Make My Day’ Law Apply?
Colorado’s “Make My Day” law provides broad protection when someone unlawfully enters an occupied dwelling.
However, the statute specifically requires that the other person has made an unlawful entry into the home. The occupant must also reasonably believe the intruder committed or intended another crime and might use physical force against an occupant.
Based on the allegations, Murray tried the door but never crossed the threshold.
CBS Colorado legal analyst Raj Chohan said that distinction likely takes the shooting outside the state’s “Make My Day” protections.
That does not necessarily eliminate every possible self-defense argument.
Loesch’s attorneys could argue that the chair represented an immediate threat capable of causing serious injury. Prosecutors can counter that Loesch opened the door and stepped outside after Murray had moved away from the entrance.
That decision could become the central issue.
The affidavit also says Loesch initially intended to fire a warning shot. He reportedly told detectives that he kept a standard ball round in the chamber for that purpose, followed by hollow points in the magazine.
That statement may also receive plenty of attention in court.
What Would You Have Done?
This case does not present a clean home-invasion scenario.
Murray allegedly tried to open the door, acted erratically and eventually threw a chair. However, he apparently never entered the home. Loesch also chose to open the door and confront him rather than remain behind the locked door and call 911.
Was Loesch protecting himself from an immediate threat? Or did stepping outside turn a defensive situation into an avoidable shooting?
Let us know where you come down.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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