GUILTY GA - Bryan Mough, 21, shot to death, Bogart, 25 Feb 2008

[LinasK]

No personal offense taken, I just have a different take on the situation than alot of the posters on this thread, I guess. Once again, I am NOT saying this guy deserved to be shot, or that the shooter shouldn't face charges, he made a decision and should deal with the consequences. I'm just saying that for him, maybe facing charges and prison time, was a better decision than letting something happen to his daughters.

Has anyone even considered that maybe this guy was after the girls from the get-go, and maybe HE rammed THEIR vehicle to try to get them to pull over? It's happened many times before. Women have been raped by men posing as police officers pulling them over, men will cause accidents to get the woman to pull over, and then abduct, kill or rape them. I agree that brandishing a weapon everytime there is a minor dispute is a bad idea and would definitely cause more problems. But we live in a crazy world and you never know what someone is going to do. So YES, if someone followed me home like that, I would assume my life was in danger and I would do whatever it took to protect myself. You CAN NOT just assume that someone like that is not going to hurt you.

I agree with you StillHoping. This is how I'm thinking about it.

It happened when I lived in San Diego. Just Google Craig Peyer, CHP officer for more info on the women he killed and pulled over.

 

[reportertype]

Well, being a motorcyclist and being around motorcyclist all the time - I don't know a single person on a motorcycle that would "ram" a car!!!! Who is going to lose in that battle??!!! That's like going to a gun fight with a knife. Give me a break - yeah, that motorcyclist was after those girls, mad at them, and rammed their car in retaliation, pluuuuleeezzzz. Nobody on a motorcycle would intentionally ram a car - they'd end up on the pavement head first and dead.

And anyone standing at the END of their driveway with a gun shooting at a passing motorist in the street has a few too many screws loose, if you ask me, regardless. If his precious girls made it home, then he should have locked the doors and called the police. Self-defense my azzzzzz.

I completely agree with you. I don't believe for one nanosecond that anyone on a motorcycle would intentionally ram into a vehicle. That would just be nuts. I don't know what happened that caused this guy to follow these girls, never will because he can't tell us. Daddy is a nutcase who wanted to shoot somebody. Plus, it's not against the law to drive behind somebody. Stalking laws wouldn't come into play unless he repeatedly harassed these girls.

 

[NewMom2003]

Nothing about this sounds like self defense (IMO). I think it's a cold blooded murder.

I'm not making light of this, but it sounds like a case of shooting first and asking questions later. Sad that people resort to that. The father could have easily called the police, but instead he murdered him by shooting him in the back.

 

[kgeaux]

So stalking is not illegal?

Please.

At the most, this is an angry young man who followed two girls home, made NO attempt to enter their driveway, and turned around to leave by the same route he'd come.

At the least, it is an innocent young man who was hit by two girls and followed them to get the pertinent information to deliver to authorities. I lean toward this interpretation. Simply because the girls said "he's following us!" NOT "he's hit our car daddy, and now he is following us." And because they've admitted THEY shot him the bird. That would be a strange thing to do if someone had just run into you, wouldn't it? You'd just call police, wouldn't you?

 

[sherri79]

well lets ask the guy why he followed the girl. find out if it was stalking or if he was just trying to find where they live since they left the scene of a accident. oh wait... damn he cant answer being dead and all.

lets look at this another way. if every detail in the story staid exactly the same except when the helmet was removed they found me (a 34 year old married mom) would more agree it was just cold blooded murder? do some people think it was justified because it was a young man involved and that the actions in themselves are not as threatening coming from a woman.

 

[kgeaux]

Everyone keeps saying that the girls should have called police if they were scared, but nobody is admitting that this guy should have done the same thing when/IF they hit his car rather than following them home and scaring the crap out of them. Then the WHOLE situation would have been avoided. Or if the girls hit him, they should not have taken off if that was the case. And I will say it one more time.

I'M NOT SAYING THIS GUY DESERVED TO BE SHOT, BUT YES, HE WAS IN THE WRONG FOR FOLLOWING THESE GIRLS HOME. EVERYONE IS GETTING UPSET THAT THE FATHER TOOK THE LAW INTO HIS OWN HANDS, BUT ISN'T THAT EXACTLY WHAT THE MOTORCYCLE GUY DID???? THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT THE GUY IS DEAD, AND THE GIRLS ARE NOT, BUT COULD IT NOT HAVE JUST AS EASILY BEEN THE OTHER WAY AROUND???

Let me see if I can explain. It is NOT wrong to follow someone home if they've hit your vehicle and left the scene of the accident. If the poor guy had been in a car, maybe he'd have had a hand free to call police, but on a motorbike the best he could do was follow them.

How is driving behind someone "taking the law into his own hands?" Taking the law into your own hands means that you have acted as officer, prosecutor, jury, judge, and in this case: executioner.

When you can explain to us how shooting this kid in the BACK prevented this from being "just the other way around" maybe I'll be able to understand your point. But from where "I" am sitting, this young man made no threatening gestures whatsoever, at least none that are documented at this time.

 

[kgeaux]

Apparently, this same man shot at other teenagers in 2006. He was never charged, even though the mother of one girl reported it to police.

http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/022808/news_2008022800152.shtml

And here is LE's take on the situation:


"The physical evidence we recovered from the scene and elsewhere doesn't reflect that Mough was the primary aggressor," Berry said. "There is no evidence he tried to hit Gear, and his motorcycle never went on Gear's property."

 

[Brefie]

I really want to hear more from these girls. I do not know them, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did hit him and wanted to get to daddy first with their story.

 

[j2mirish]

Thank you pixies, ITA. People are jumping down my throat cause I said I don't blame the guy. Do I agree the dad shot him? NO, but I think he did what "he thought" he had to do to save his girls. And right or wrong, if someone followed me home like that, and turned around to drive by again, either myself or my fiance would probably have a gun in his face too.

I hope we arent neighbors-
I have no problem with anyone defending themselves- but before we start putting guns in peoples faces, and shooting people in their back ---there needs to be a defined reason for defense to come into play

 

[luthersmama]

Whatever he "thought he needed to do" he did a bad, bad thing.

So he's standing in the driveway, with a gun and the biker drives by twice. Doesn't come on the property or even toward him. Doesn't make a single move toward the daughters.

WHY THE HECK SHOOT HIM IN THE BACK?????

Only one reason: he's pissed off.

THAT ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH!!!!

He committed murder. Plain and simple. Those girls were not at risk at that point in time. Brandish the gun - oK. Be prepared if he makes a move. But don't shoot the dude in the back!

NO EXCUSE!

 

[MeoW333]

Well, being a motorcyclist and being around motorcyclist all the time - I don't know a single person on a motorcycle that would "ram" a car!!!! Who is going to lose in that battle??!!! That's like going to a gun fight with a knife. Give me a break - yeah, that motorcyclist was after those girls, mad at them, and rammed their car in retaliation, pluuuuleeezzzz. Nobody on a motorcycle would intentionally ram a car - they'd end up on the pavement head first and dead. I'm 99.99999999% sure those girls cut him off and it was an accident pure and simple - either they didn't see him or they didn't respect the fact that he was on a motorcycle OR he accidently hit their car. But nobody can make me believe he rammed their car in some sort of road rage over them gesturing to him. That's suicide for the motorcyclist.

And anyone standing at the END of their driveway with a gun shooting at a passing motorist in the street has a few too many screws loose, if you ask me, regardless. If his precious girls made it home, then he should have locked the doors and called the police. Self-defense my azzzzzz.

I agree with you, it would be way to risky for someone on a motorcycle to hit a car.
This whole situation is a mess and could have been avoided; a lot of times some motorcyclists weave in and out of traffic on highways; they're smaller, i give them room; if one cut me off, i wouldn't care; i give them their space if i'm behind them.
He cut the girls off, the girls made obscene gestures at him, i'm guessing he was pissed and followed them and possibly was tailing them and they stopped short; or they bumped his bike at some point when he was in front of them. Depending on how fast they were going, even a bump could have sent a motorcyclist crashing.
He may have just drove past the house twice to try to get the house # in his head for insurance purposes. If the girls were that concerned they should have called the police. Yet they call their dad who is known for shooting at people before. hmm sounds like anger problems in that family.

 

[philamena]

SNIP

So he's standing in the driveway, with a gun and the biker drives by twice. Doesn't come on the property or even toward him. Doesn't make a single move toward the daughters.

WHY THE HECK SHOOT HIM IN THE BACK?????

Only one reason: he's pissed off.

THAT ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH!!!!

He committed murder. Plain and simple.
SNIP
NO EXCUSE!

You got that right luthersmama!
The dad was pissed off at someone and decided to take it out on the biker. Shooting someone in the back in certain states is considered first degree murder and the sentence can be life without parole.

 

[crypto6]

I agree with you, it would be way to risky for someone on a motorcycle to hit a car.
This whole situation is a mess and could have been avoided; a lot of times some motorcyclists weave in and out of traffic on highways; they're smaller, i give them room; if one cut me off, i wouldn't care; i give them their space if i'm behind them.
He cut the girls off, the girls made obscene gestures at him, i'm guessing he was pissed and followed them and possibly was tailing them and they stopped short; or they bumped his bike at some point when he was in front of them. Depending on how fast they were going, even a bump could have sent a motorcyclist crashing.
He may have just drove past the house twice to try to get the house # in his head for insurance purposes. If the girls were that concerned they should have called the police. Yet they call their dad who is known for shooting at people before. hmm sounds like anger problems in that family.

I disagree with everything the shooter did, but hear this plaintive cry to "call the police". The dad is not thinking about resolving the responsibility for an accident; he is (hot-headily) thinking of his daughters' safety. If you've ever been in a situation where you feel your or your loved ones lives are threatened, you know that calling 911 is not always a viable option for your immediate safety. The dad is so far over the line that it can’t be seen, but simply applying the balm of calling the cops is not the right thing to do if you are immediately threatened. Defensive action is in order (retreat to the cover of the house with the daughters, then call 911, shoot if approached), but in some states, there is no duty to retreat, so this is more complex than at first brush. If the father truly feels his daughters' lives are in jeopardy, he may be legally justified, even though he shot the rider in the back and not on his property, as in the rider was getting ready to turn around and looked back menacingly at the father and the girls, perhaps brandished a weapon. The details will make this case.

Crypto6

 

[philamena]

Naw, I don't see it that way at all.
You're right about the dad being mad. Heck he was livid because a biker followed his little girls home.
BUT it's not like the biker verbally abused the girls or insulted them, he had no physical contact with them...at least none that we know of.
The father was way outta line. He had a short fuse and wanted an excuse to light it.
He murdered someone, shot them in the back, without talking to him, with or without LE being present.

 

[KatK]

<snip>Has anyone even considered that maybe this guy was after the girls from the get-go, and maybe HE rammed THEIR vehicle to try to get them to pull over? <snip>

:twocents: :twocents: :twocents: :twocents: Below find my opinion and reaction to the idea expressed in these words, *NOT* what I think of the person who typed them in their passionate defense of their belief that the victim of murder somehow was up to no good.

On a MOTORCYCLE?!!! Hahahahahahahahaha! *long gasping breath* *wipes tears* *reads that again* *gains composure* :blowkiss:
You're serious?! You think a motorcycle vs. car collision is even remotely equal, that a motorcycle would have any chance of prevailing against a larger vehicle? You think *ANYONE* operating a motorcycle would deliberately ram A CAR to try to make some hawties stop?! (ETA: Bear in mind, there is no evidence at all that Mough was utterly insane, in fact, quite the opposite, he was a trusted employee given responsibility by the accounts that have been given.) Wow... You must not know anyone who rides a motocycle often, and I don't think you realize just how vunerable motorcyclists are. They take their own lives into their hands when they go out on the road in traffic, gambling that they won't encounter any stupid drivers, or that if they do they will have quick enough reflexes to react and save themselves.

 

[dimples37398]

I agree with the folks that said there is no way on earth him on a Motorcycle would try and ram a car, there is no way!!!!!

I once dated a guy that rode a Crotch Rocket(so there called). He and his friends always complained that people in cars didn't pay enough attention or whatever, and cut the motorcycles off. I have seen that first hand while on the back of his Motorcycle.

Maybe the motorcycle guy was going to follow them home to get the tag number, seeing as he probably thought police would not make it there before the girls were gone. He didn't really have an extra hand to write a tag number down...It wasn't a old motorcycle so he might have been upset if they accidently cut him off, or barely hit his cycle.

When he followed them to there road, maybe he was gonna talk to their dad about their driving........drove by and seen Daddy with a gun, I know I sure as hell would turn around and leave too instead of stopping and talking to him......He didn't figure any sane person would shoot someone in the back, so he turned around to leave.......knowing where they lived now so he could tell the cops........

If he had groped one of them, or tried to get in their car, or pulled a gun or knife on the girls, then maybe I would feel different.....but as of right now, This dad should very well go down for murder.....plain and simple...As I said he didn't do anything aggresive.....as far as we know. I agree the girls prolly accidently cut him off and bumped him....he followed them so he could tell cops where they live or either to talk to Daddy.

I guess we will never know for sure huh......he is dead and can't tell his side of the story......

Kel

 

[Karole28]

Or - the rural South, take your pick!

Uhh, this is a suburb of Athens. (UGA) It's not exactly rural.

Having lived in "rural" Georgia all of my life, I can say that this isn't exactly typical. (which is why it's made national news)

 

[NewMommy09]

I disagree with everything the shooter did, but hear this plaintive cry to "call the police". The dad is not thinking about resolving the responsibility for an accident; he is (hot-headily) thinking of his daughters' safety. If you've ever been in a situation where you feel your or your loved ones lives are threatened, you know that calling 911 is not always a viable option for your immediate safety. The dad is so far over the line that it can&#8217;t be seen, but simply applying the balm of calling the cops is not the right thing to do if you are immediately threatened. Defensive action is in order (retreat to the cover of the house with the daughters, then call 911, shoot if approached), but in some states, there is no duty to retreat, so this is more complex than at first brush. If the father truly feels his daughters' lives are in jeopardy, he may be legally justified, even though he shot the rider in the back and not on his property, as in the rider was getting ready to turn around and looked back menacingly at the father and the girls, perhaps brandished a weapon. The details will make this case.

Crypto6

Thank you Crypto6, I think your words explained what I was trying to say much better than I was able to. I feel like everyone is not even really reading my posts before they jump on me for my opinions. I have said in almost every post that I don't agree this guy was shot, I just think there are underlying factors here that nobody wants to pay attention to. And as posters on a board like websleuths, I would think that there would be more understanding of how crazy this world is and that things aren't always black and white. Unfortunately, we only have some of the details here.

As for the motorcycle hitting the car on purpose, stranger things have happened. It was a simple theory of possibility that is justifiable (whether likely or not) until we have details that state otherwise. Even if he didn't hit the car on purpose, we have no fact or proof yet, that he didn't hit the girls. And while all of you are defending motorcyclists, don't forget that they also cause accidents, cut people off, drive where they shouldn't be driving, and go above the speed limit, just like drivers of cars.

 

[Paladin]

You can't shoot people for what you think they MIGHT do. It's not a justification.

 

[KarlK]

You can't shoot people for what you think they MIGHT do. It's not a justification.

Goes without saying, if we could dispose of people based on what we think they might do without any actual physical indication of their intentions I'd reckon at least 25&#37; of the people in this country would have committed murder or aggravated assault. "This guy looks like he might be up to no good" is a thought that crosses my mind every day while driving given the number of insane people that are unfortunately misdiagnosed and allowed to drive.

After deputies charged Gear with murder, residents called the sheriff's office to report other times Gear may have drawn a gun, Berry said.

This is a far cry from the exemplary family man described by neighbors in initials reports. One can wonder if they had said that because they fear him. Something else to consider is if this guy perhaps has a booze or drug problem that makes him act irrationally because it's hard to believe a sober individual would display such lack of judgment. Hopefully the trial (I don't think he can avoid it) will provide more insight on what actually drove him to such an extreme.