BLUE MOUND — A homeowner who saw his wife threatened at gunpoint by an intruder wrested the gun from the man, killed him and wounded another intruder, police said.
The incident happened early today after two men kicked open the front door of the couple's home in this Fort Worth suburb.
Keith and Kellie Hoehn told police the men burst into their house and one of them pointed a shotgun at Mrs. Hoehn's head. She brushed the barrel aside, and a struggle ensued.
The husband got control of the gun and shot both men. The man who survived is being treated at a Fort Worth hospital.
Investigators said the homeowner is unlikely be charged. They said he shot the men out of concern for his sleeping children.
Police suspect that the intruders had broken into the garage of a nearby house earlier in the night.
+1 For situational awareness. I don't know if I could take an intruders shotgun and shoot them with it. He didn't even have to pay for ammo
IANAL, what I write should not be taken as Legal Advice.
"Why I may disagree with what you say, I’ll fight to the death your right to say it."
I think the point is that shooting them for breaking in is "punishment" or "vigilante justice", and one is only supposed to shoot to avoid harm.
The cops are trying to cut this guy some slack by saying he had reason to shoot, to eliminate a continuing threat to the rest of his family.
If they wanted to be miserable about it, they could say he never ought to have shot the guys once he took the shotgun from one of them, because the immediate threat to him was arguably over at that point.
I don't know.
Seems to me that the deadly threat isn't stopped until the two armed punks are not moving around in my house with my wife and kids there.
BobCat wrote:I think the point is that shooting them for breaking in is "punishment" or "vigilante justice", and one is only supposed to shoot to avoid harm.
The cops are trying to cut this guy some slack by saying he had reason to shoot, to eliminate a continuing threat to the rest of his family.
If they wanted to be miserable about it, they could say he never ought to have shot the guys once he took the shotgun from one of them, because the immediate threat to him was arguably over at that point.
Not according to the law. They don't have to be armed for there to be justification to use deadly force.
BobCat wrote:I think the point is that shooting them for breaking in is "punishment" or "vigilante justice", and one is only supposed to shoot to avoid harm.
The cops are trying to cut this guy some slack by saying he had reason to shoot, to eliminate a continuing threat to the rest of his family.
If they wanted to be miserable about it, they could say he never ought to have shot the guys once he took the shotgun from one of them, because the immediate threat to him was arguably over at that point.
Not according to the law. They don't have to be armed for there to be justification to use deadly force.
Not to mention... he is covered by the Castle Doctrine.
Quick thinking by the "wife" to brush away the barrel of the shotgun. You just never know what the outcome of these things might be or what the appropriate response (comply or fight) from the victims should be.
Each case is different, but one thing is sure: Home Invaders are a "whole 'nother animal" when compared to common burglars. Anyone that has the nerve to break into your home (knowing you are there)... is a serious threat...and will be treated as such in my home.
phddan wrote:I don't know.
Seems to me that the deadly threat isn't stopped until the two armed punks are not moving around in my house with my wife and kids there.
Dan
What Dan said.
You are on a roll today.
Anygunanywhere
"When democracy turns to tyranny, the armed citizen still gets to vote." Mike Vanderboegh
"The Smallest Minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities." – Ayn Rand
Well he had to get his shotgun back so he could rob the next door neighbor too
A sheepdog says "I will lead the way. I will set the highest standards. ...Your mission is to man the ramparts in this dark and desperate hour with honor and courage." - Lt. Col. Grossman
‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’ - Edmond Burke
Exemplary courage, tenacity, and outstanding teamwork by a couple who really have their act together and were prepared to resist evil when confronted with it.
The children's actions certainly suggest that "what ifs" had been discussed with them prior to the incident.
It also helped that the husband knew how to operate the safety on a Remington 870, and the deceased home invader did not.
Excaliber
"An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." - Jeff Cooper
I am not a lawyer. Nothing in any of my posts should be construed as legal or professional advice.
Respectfully and Semper Fi,
F. Phil Torres
Colonel of Marines, Retired
Independent Security Contractor
NRA Certified Firearms Instructor
Unarmed Combat Instructor
NRA Life Member