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Teen Pizza Delivery Driver Escapes Injury After Being Shot at for Parking Error

A Tennessee homeowner opened fire on a teen delivering pizza, mistakenly believing him to be a thief, highlighting the peril of minor mistakes in a gun-heavy society.

A Domino's pizza chain
Protesters attend a rally for Black teen Ralph Yarl in front of U.S. District Court on April 18, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri. Yarl was shot by a homeowner after he rang the wrong doorbell while picking up his sibling.
A pizza delivery driver was delivering a pizza to a house on N Poole Street in Ashland City, Tenn., when he was shot at seven times.

Overview

  • 18-year-old Caiden Wheeler was shot at multiple times for parking in the wrong driveway while delivering pizza in Tennessee.
  • The shooter, Ryan Babcock, mistook Wheeler for a potential thief due to misinterpreting his actions on a doorbell camera.
  • Babcock was charged with aggravated assault but released on $50,000 bail, sparking debate over the adequacy of the charges.
  • The incident is part of a troubling trend where small errors can lead to severe consequences in areas with prevalent gun ownership.
  • Legal experts and advocates highlight the need for greater awareness and possibly reform of self-defense laws to prevent similar incidents.