My home invasion story
Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:53 pm
After reading Charles' story, I figured I'd share this one with all of you.
I turned 21 in Jan 2004, and bought my first gun, a Glock 22, and I loved it. I had just moved into my first apartment and I can't say it was the nicest place ever. It wasn't too bad, but it was affordable, which is priority #1 if you're a college student like I am. I had some rather criminal neighbors that lived both next door to me and across the lot from me. My apartment was in the back of the complex and was pretty hidden from the main street, so if you got into trouble with someone in the parking lot (which was maybe 200x200 ft) your were in screwed.
I began to notice that my neighbors never left the house. Ever. They stood out on the poarch all day, smoked, drank, and played loud rap music (not racist, but to help you get the picture I was the only non-African-American guy back there). I also began to notice that about 20 different cars showed up there everyday for about 2 minutes, and these guys were buying new stuff ALL the time Hmmm... I wonder how they could afford that. How could a bunch of guys who never work and party all day afford new TVs and computers?
Being a Criminal Justice major who is headed into law enforcement, I try to be more observant. One day, I finally noticed my neighbor (his door was no more than 4 feet from mine) smoking crack with his 3 year old right there with him. That was the end of the line for me. The next month or so was spent with the police showing up numerous times, some people getting arrested, and the neighborhood began to be more closely monitored. These guys figured that since I was the only guy back there not in "the business" that I was the one ratting them out. They were right. I began getting threatened and finally one night someone tried to break in.
It was about midnight or so in late February, and I was going to sleep and listining to some music. It was down low, so when I heard some noise in my kitchen, I sat up and turned the music off. It sounded like someone was trying to mess with my kitchen window. I made my way towards the kitchen and sat in the darkness about 20 feet from the window. I About 30 seconds later, I heard one guy tell another to step back, and an African-American leg came through my window. I had my glock with 15 rounds of .40 punch loaded and chambered. Next came an arm, and in his hand was a silver .38 special. I raised my weapon to shoot as he began to put his through the opening. I called out a cheesy "Stop or I will shoot!" and his hand began to move up. I immediately fired a shot. It went about 2 inches from his leg, and I mean to tell you I have never seen someone run so fast. To this day I don't know if I was afraid to shoot him or if I just missed.
When the police showed up the found a bullet hole in the wall, urine dripping from the windowsill where the perp was, and about 15 mins later, 2 black males, one with a crowbar, and the other with a silver .38 that I had described when I called the police.
I hope I never again have to use my weapon, but I hope that if I do, I don't hesitate to take the man down when I do. Needless to say I moved the next week.
I turned 21 in Jan 2004, and bought my first gun, a Glock 22, and I loved it. I had just moved into my first apartment and I can't say it was the nicest place ever. It wasn't too bad, but it was affordable, which is priority #1 if you're a college student like I am. I had some rather criminal neighbors that lived both next door to me and across the lot from me. My apartment was in the back of the complex and was pretty hidden from the main street, so if you got into trouble with someone in the parking lot (which was maybe 200x200 ft) your were in screwed.
I began to notice that my neighbors never left the house. Ever. They stood out on the poarch all day, smoked, drank, and played loud rap music (not racist, but to help you get the picture I was the only non-African-American guy back there). I also began to notice that about 20 different cars showed up there everyday for about 2 minutes, and these guys were buying new stuff ALL the time Hmmm... I wonder how they could afford that. How could a bunch of guys who never work and party all day afford new TVs and computers?
Being a Criminal Justice major who is headed into law enforcement, I try to be more observant. One day, I finally noticed my neighbor (his door was no more than 4 feet from mine) smoking crack with his 3 year old right there with him. That was the end of the line for me. The next month or so was spent with the police showing up numerous times, some people getting arrested, and the neighborhood began to be more closely monitored. These guys figured that since I was the only guy back there not in "the business" that I was the one ratting them out. They were right. I began getting threatened and finally one night someone tried to break in.
It was about midnight or so in late February, and I was going to sleep and listining to some music. It was down low, so when I heard some noise in my kitchen, I sat up and turned the music off. It sounded like someone was trying to mess with my kitchen window. I made my way towards the kitchen and sat in the darkness about 20 feet from the window. I About 30 seconds later, I heard one guy tell another to step back, and an African-American leg came through my window. I had my glock with 15 rounds of .40 punch loaded and chambered. Next came an arm, and in his hand was a silver .38 special. I raised my weapon to shoot as he began to put his through the opening. I called out a cheesy "Stop or I will shoot!" and his hand began to move up. I immediately fired a shot. It went about 2 inches from his leg, and I mean to tell you I have never seen someone run so fast. To this day I don't know if I was afraid to shoot him or if I just missed.
When the police showed up the found a bullet hole in the wall, urine dripping from the windowsill where the perp was, and about 15 mins later, 2 black males, one with a crowbar, and the other with a silver .38 that I had described when I called the police.
I hope I never again have to use my weapon, but I hope that if I do, I don't hesitate to take the man down when I do. Needless to say I moved the next week.
I do practice sitting, squatting behind cover, & even from laying on the ground. Role to cover & shoot from under it. (Not recomended for new shooters.) Try that at an indoor range w/ the push button target cables. 
Good post & excellent advice. I hope I never find out if my training has worked.