Tidying up after self defense

"Police have now identified the victim killed as David Lee Butler (pictured left). Mr. Butler has an extensive violent criminal history including an active warrant for a previous Home Invasion Robbery out of Lake County."

"Victim?" He's got "an extensive violent criminal history including an active warrant for a previous Home Invasion Robbery" and he's the victim?

Why was this poor baby even out on the street where he could hurt? Why wasn't he in his nice safe cage?

Update: After several negative comments, the article has been edited so that Butler is no longer identified as a "victim", nor even accorded the "Mr." honorific.