Casey Landes
White male
Age at time: 24
Weapon: unarmed
Victim photo: Florida Department of Corrections
Charles Podany
White male
Age at time: 49
Weapon: gun
Defendant photo: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Case type:
Citizen enforcing the law
Location:
Public
Initiator:
Victim
Witnesses:
Yes
Case year:
2008
Location details: On a public street in shooter's neighborhood, Bay Hills Circle in Thonotosassa, Hillsborough County, on Feb. 29, 2008
What happened: Charles Podany, 49, saw a truck speeding through his neighborhood and called 911. The operator told him to get the truck's tag number, so Podany grabbed his gun and rode his bike down the street. When he reached the home where the truck was parked, one of the truck's passengers, Casey Landes, hit Podany in the face and knocked him off his bike. The driver testified that his friend, who was drunk, was beating up Podany in a one-sided fight before Podany shot him in the head with a .40-caliber handgun. "The guy was scared, man," the witness, Evin Aguayo, said. Although Landes was unarmed, Podany was smaller than his attacker.
The outcome: Prosecutors filed manslaughter charges against Podany, but a Hillsborough County judge later granted him immunity and dismissed the charge. The judge said Podany was in a place where he had the right to be and had the right to defend himself while retreating from a confrontation.
Investigating agency: Hillsborough County Sheriff
Case decision made by: Judge
Trayvon Martin’s death became controversial because circumstances leading up to the shooting cast doubt on who was to blame. The Tampa Bay Times reviewed other “stand your ground” cases for similar circumstances. The Times relied on available information, some of which may not tell the whole story. When the situation was unclear, that was noted.
| Yes | No | Unclear/ disputed |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Did the victim initiate the confrontation? |
 |
||
Was the victim armed? |
|
||
Was the victim committing a crime that led to the confrontation? |
|
||
Did the defendant pursue the victim? |
|
||
Could the defendant have retreated to avoid the conflict? |
|
||
Was the defendant on his or her property? |
|
||
Did someone witness the attack? |
|
||
Was there physical evidence? |
|
Source: Tampa Bay Times, Sept. 2, 2009.
Source: Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court, Hillsborough County, Sept. 16, 2009.
Click here for more information about how we compiled these cases. Know of something we missed or have a photo to share? Submit a case here.
Case last updated: July 3, 2012
