U.S.A. — We come in contact with people all the time. We assume that the next stranger we meet will act like the people we’ve met before. That rule works well almost all the time. It was after midnight when a robber broke into a home in Calhoun County, Texas. The homeowner was forced to shoot the robber and defend his family. This robber would not take “No!” for an answer.
Both homeowners were at home with their two young children. It was around 1 a.m. and the family was asleep. The adults woke up to the sound of breaking glass. The male homeowner told the rest of his family to stay in their rooms while he went to investigate the unusual sounds. According to the incomplete reports, the homeowner was also armed.
The defender walked to the middle of his home and saw an intruder standing there. He shouted for the intruder to leave. Instead of creating distance between himself and the homeowner, the intruder moved toward the homeowner. The homeowner shot the intruder with his 38 caliber firearm before the intruder could grab either him or his gun. The robber stopped advancing so the defender stopped shooting. Now the robber turned aside and ran into a bathroom. The intruder locked the bathroom door.
Rather than break down his bathroom door, the defender called for his family. They left the home and called 911 from outside. Police arrived and found the bathroom door locked. They broke down the door and found the intruder bleeding on the floor. Officers applied pressure to the wound until EMTs took over treatment.
EMTs took the robber to a local hospital. He was assessed and then moved to a major hospital in San Antonio.
The homeowners gave statements to the police. The homeowner used verbal commands to try and diffuse the situation. The police knew the robber due to his criminal history of drug abuse and robbery. There were several reports that evening from other neighbors along the street. The neighbors reported someone trying to open their locked doors in order to gain entry to their homes.
The defender was not charged, given the reports from the neighbors, the evidence of forced entry into the home, and the statements of the homeowners.
This home invasion/robbery must have been a shock, but this family wasn’t alone. There are about seven thousand home invasions a day. These crimes used to occur mostly during the day when we were at work. With Covid lockdowns, that changed and more home invaders meet the homeowners both by day and by night. Drug addicts commit a disproportionate number of these breakings as they look for money, valuables, or drugs in the bathroom medicine cabinet.
This homeowner responded to an unexpected noise. He was armed. He stopped the intruder from grabbing him. He and his family then retreated to a safe distance and called 911. That is the start of a safety plan.
What would you add to the plan for your family in your home?
This story is one of many that go under-reported by the mainstream media because it shows a positive image of a law-abiding gun owner defending their life and their family. It is our responsibility at AmmoLand to report these stories to you. While we will continue to report these stories, groups like the Crime Prevention Research Center, led by Dr. John Lott, are fastidious in studying the use of firearms for self-defense. Stay up to date with all news on self-defense by following CPRC and AmmoLand News.
About Rob Morse
