No charges in self-defense shooting
Home intruder died after confrontation with resident

VENICE — No charges will be filed against the victim of a home invasion who shot an intruder who died a short time later.

Aaron Bean’s use of deadly force was justified under Florida law, the State Attorney’s Office determined, according to a news release from the city of Venice.

Murphy got access to the complex by scaling a perimeter wall, police said at the time, and there had been prior conflicts between the men.

The confrontation continued into a bedroom, where Bean retrieved a firearm and fired three times.

After being shot, Murphy fled the apartment, went down two floors in the building and entered an apartment that had been inadvertently left unlocked, where he collapsed, officials said at the time.

Both Bean and the occupant of the second apartment called 911.

“Bean immediately reported the shooting, cooperated fully with investigators and voluntarily provided footage from a security camera inside his apartment,” the release stated. “Investigators reviewed digital evidence that corroborated testimony provided by Bean.”

Bean had no duty to retreat within his own home and reasonably believed that force was necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm, so the State Attorney determined not to prosecute the case, it states.

“Our detectives carried out their duty to conduct a thorough, impartial investigation, allowing the State Attorney’s Office to reach a determination based on the complete evidence and applicable law,” Venice Police Capt. Eric Hill said in the release. “While this decision closes the criminal investigation, we recognize the gravity of the incident and the loss of life involved.”