"Elderly Man Defends Self in Home Invasion" Updated 4/22/2016

[Ron M.]

Would be quite ironic if the weapon used by the homeowner was an S&W Victory, wouldn't it....final score, homeowner 1, thugs 0.

 

[Whitwabit]

I'm glad he's being cleared, but the only way I'm opening the door at midnight, is to a neighbor I trust or a cop or fireman in uniform. Everyone else gets a 911 call.

At that time of night be careful even with someone dressed in a LEO's uniform or a fireman .. outfits like that can be easily bought and have been used in the past in robberies .. My German Shepherd Dog would be right at the door

I wouldn't open the door for either unless I had a really good idea why they were there and that they showed identification before I would unlock a door .. I live out in the country no neighbors for 1/2 mile .. no reason anyone should be around knocking on my door ..

 

[Targets Guy]

Good luck to him. Hope he keeps his mouth shut and hires a good attorney. That official statement from the authorities sounds a little lukewarm.

First lesson learned: Never commit an armed robbery with a BB gun.

 

[les.b]

Today's local paper has an update of the case. Turns out that the home invasion was not their first violent crime of the evening. They had just robbed and brutalized a man just half an hour earlier, about 3 blocks away.

Suspect in home invasion charged with second robbery | News | timeswv.com

Interesting gossip. Man I was talking to this morning knows the 80 year old victim. He says that he is a Navy veteran. Sometimes still goes to the local VFW, which is near his home. Apparently his money is no good there anymore. At his age he can't drink all of the drinks folks want to buy him.

Also, the gun he used was a 5 shot .38 special. Man I talked to did not know the make or model, but he still had two shots left when the altercation was over.

I'll keep you posted of any new developments. Pretty interesting case for me because it's my hometown, and because of my involvement with police work.

Best Regards, Les

 

[bigwheelzip]

At that time of night be careful even with someone dressed in a LEO's uniform or a fireman .. outfits like that can be easily bought and have been used in the past in robberies .. My German Shepherd Dog would be right at the door

I wouldn't open the door for either unless I had a really good idea why they were there and that they showed identification before I would unlock a door ..

That's a good point about impersonators, and verification. I'll keep it in mind for the future.

We don't have a dog, but we never answer a knock at the door unarmed, and I back-up my husband from cover if someone unexpected knocks. It's a simple enough precaution to take, and has become as habitual as always CC'ing.

 

[Hapworth]

He's wary enough of danger to have his revolver at the ready, but guileless enough to open his home to a stranger at midnight? Odd disjunction.

Happy the homeowner is safe and a couple bad guys got theirs, though...

 

[arjay]

80 year olds can have lapses in judgement,especially if they are tired.Good for him!

 

[dougb1946]

Surprisingly, most people open their doors without guns or guard dogs present, and nothing happens.
Disparity of force alone would make this self defense, but you have to expect the police to investigate completely before announcing any thing. And even then, the cops don't make the call.

 

[StakeOut]

80 year olds can have lapses in judgement,especially if they are tired.Good for him!

Well this 73 year old has no lapses in memory or judgement.

I'll put one between your running lights and not hesitate doing it.

Judged by 12 or carried by 6,it's mostly your choice

 

[Buford57]

At that time of night be careful even with someone dressed in a LEO's uniform or a fireman .. outfits like that can be easily bought and have been used in the past in robberies .. My German Shepherd Dog would be right at the door

I wouldn't open the door for either unless I had a really good idea why they were there and that they showed identification before I would unlock a door .. I live out in the country no neighbors for 1/2 mile .. no reason anyone should be around knocking on my door ..

Bearing in mind that REAL uniformed police officers and firefighters arrive in official vehicles, which should be parked outside. In the business, we called it a clue.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Bearing in mind that REAL uniformed police officers and firefighters arrive in official vehicles, which should be parked outside. In the business, we called it a clue.

Except my home has no view of the street or vehicle parking area, just trees, lawn, and pool. Clues begin at the door peephole for some people.

 

[Hapworth]

Surprisingly, most people open their doors without guns or guard dogs present, and nothing happens...

Goes without saying. But instead of comparing this incident to all front door knocks happening everyday, I wonder what the stats are on incidents in which a stranger is attempting to gain entrance into someone's home in the middle of the night, using one of the oldest con job lines in the book, turning out to be innocent and harmless...my guess is the "nothing happens" numbers plummet.

 

[Hapworth]

80 year olds can have lapses in judgement,especially if they are tired.Good for him!

Quite true -- often as people age the ability to recognize subtle humor, irony and deception diminishes.

What's interesting here is he clearly had the sound judgment to presume the possibility of mortal danger and prepare himself, and the poor judgment to still open the door needlessly.

 

[Whitwabit]

Bearing in mind that REAL uniformed police officers and firefighters arrive in official vehicles, which should be parked outside. In the business, we called it a clue.

Many of us live in buildings where the parking lots aren't visible from where our doors or windows are ..

So your clue wouldn't help !! In life we call it being careful !!

 

[Comrad]

This is terrible...he was only able to shoot two out of three.

 

[Buford57]

Many of us live in buildings where the parking lots aren't visible from where our doors or windows are ..

So your clue wouldn't help !! In life we call it being careful !!

Caution is always the first line of defense. I didn't mean that as advice to the blind, either. If you can look, look. Otherwise, use whatever cues are available and proceed with caution.

 

[Kronos]

Well he shot straight enough to kill one of them and come out the other side alive so I'd call that good enough.

I solve my "who's at my door?" things by just doing open carry around my place and a lot of the rural neighborhood I live in,all my friends know I carry and don't give a flip,and most of the rest know and feel the same.

And I'd venture that if someone came here looking for trouble they would find it,if you don't get shot you will get a beating these country boys I live around are some rough folks if you get them started

Actually why I love living here in WV.....

 

[chud333]

Before you start giving this armed citizen too much applause remember 2 of the 3 didn't go to meet their maker.

I'm glad he escaped unharmed and he was mentally prepared to do what he needed to do.

I hope he doesn't make any statements unless it's through an attorney.

You know the drill when the families start claiming they were good students and looking for a payday.

So from an LEO's perspective, you believe he ****ed up
by not killing everybody involved?
Seems to me he did fine.
He is still drawing breath and he protected himself and his
property. Legally !!

Chuck

 

[okiegtrider]

You know the drill when the families start claiming they were good students and looking for a payday.

Something tells me that the survivors were just getting their lives together.

 

[les.b]

Kronos: I'm pretty proud of our state!! Always glad to see other posters from WV.