On November 25, 2014, Kathryn Ann Pawlak, a 48-year-old woman from Little Rock, Arkansas, was found deceased outside a tattoo parlor in a shopping center at the intersection of University and Asher Streets. She had been shot in the back. Pawlak was known to be homeless and had been seen in the area prior to her death.
Michael DeCarlo, the owner of the tattoo parlor, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with Pawlak's death.
According to an arrest report, DeCarlo shot Pawlak after she threw rocks through his store windows. He claimed he fired the shots believing someone was attempting to break into his business.
However, prosecutors later decided to drop the charges against DeCarlo. They cited Arkansas law, which permits the use of deadly force to prevent the commission of a burglary by a trespasser. Given that Pawlak had thrown rocks through the windows, prosecutors concluded that DeCarlo was within his rights to use deadly force under the circumstances.
The decision to drop the charges was met with criticism from those who knew Pawlak. Aaron Reddin, founder of The Van, a nonprofit organization that assists the homeless, expressed his dismay, stating, 'I don't know how it's ever, ever okay to shoot a defenseless person.' He also questioned the justification for using deadly force against a homeless individual, suggesting that Pawlak's status may have influenced the outcome.
Despite the legal conclusion, the case highlighted the challenges and complexities involved in addressing incidents involving homeless individuals and the use of deadly force. It also underscored the importance of considering the circumstances and the individuals involved when determining the appropriateness of such actions.
