When loud music is coming from a car, it can be disturbing, but if the car is moving the disturbance passes. When it sits parked and won't stop it can lead a person to take a stand. That's exactly what one man did when a group of teens were playing loud music outside of a gas station.

The man claims when he went to confront the group, he saw a gun and shot inside the car in self-defense. While the man was arrested, his criminal defense against a murder charge is being built under his state's Stand Your Ground Law, similar to the one in Tennessee. The law states that shooting is justified if you feel your life is in imminent danger.

In this particular case, there is a lot of debate. The 17-year-old who was killed in the shooting was African-American, and some believe that the shooting may have racial implications. While the suspect claimed there was a gun, one was not found on the scene. However, the possibility exists that a weapon was hidden or disposed of before police arrived. All evidence needs to be properly presented before the incident can be judged for sure.

Regardless of what the final outcome is of this case, it serves as a reminder that there are many situations where someone may feel threatened and feel compelled to defend themselves or their property. The details of the situation are not always clear, and even in cases where initial reports seem to favor the victims, there may be more to the situation than meets the eye. An expert criminal defense attorney can see that the incident is looked at fairly, and can help determine if the Stand Your Ground Law is applicable in a given situation.

Source: The Washington Post, "Fatal shooting of Florida teenager over loud music ignites comparisons to Trayvon Martin case," November 30, 2012