The recent fatal shooting of an alleged burglar by a Canton jewelry store owner has spotlighted Maryland’s legal standards for using lethal force in self-defense. Maryland law distinguishes between situations occurring at home versus in public. At home, under the Castle Doctrine, individuals may use deadly force if they reasonably fear for their life without a duty to retreat, provided the force is proportional to the threat. In this case, since the store owner lived in the same building as his business, investigators will examine the circumstances closely, including any interactions and video evidence, to determine if the shooting was justified.

In public, Maryland imposes a “duty to retreat,” requiring individuals to avoid deadly force unless no safe escape is possible, making its laws stricter than “Stand Your Ground” statutes in some other states. Past Maryland cases show prosecutors often decline charges when homeowners or business owners shoot intruders under perceived life-threatening circumstances. Ultimately, whether lethal force is deemed justified depends on the reasonableness of the threat and the specifics of each case, with decisions resting on prosecutors or juries.