When it is legal to shoot your gun

More than 17,000 people in the state of South Dakota have a concealed carry permit.

And one man is now facing criminal charges for using his firearm during a robbery.

Police are requesting a warrant for 22 year old Austin Hier who police say shot at suspects, Yuriah Anderson and Jaumal Shangreaux as they were running away from the scene of a robbery of a Corner Pantry on East Fairmont avenue June 22nd.

According to police because Hier did not witness what when on inside the store and he was never threatened by the suspects so police are calling his use of a firearm reckless. Captain of Criminal Investigation James Johns says.

You must evaluate any situation before choosing to pull the trigger.

Johns says, "There has to be that immediate fear that real life reality that you think terribly bad is going to happen to your family before you can shoot them."

Johns adds there's no black and white answer to when you can fire your gun for self defense.