Drew My S&W 625-5 Colt 45 Last Night

[TexasArmed]

I was in my recliner facing the living room door (olnly door), last night at 3:00 am, and I hear a loud knock at my door. My lights are off, and I am not dressed. The loud knocking continues, and I reached for my S&W 625-5 Colt 45 but I have two additional revolvers within reach. I turn the TV down a bit, but I don't answer. Right after that, he starts knocking loudly on the next door apartment, and I took that opportunity to look thru the peep hole, saw a young male black. I took the opportunity to put my cargo shorts on,
and holstered up my 45, my CA 44 Spl and placed my 38 Spl in my pocket, and asked "Who is it". I could not make out the name, but he said he was looking for his cousin. I told him I did not know anyone named Michael. He said something else. I never opened the front door, figuring that if I did he might grab for my gun and I might have to fire.

I then called the police and after about 10 minutes, I saw a vehicle in the street not moving but no blue lights. So I called dispatch back and they told me the officer had the subject did I want contact? I told them I did want to speak with the officer. I told the officer what happened. The officer said he was taking the subject to jail on several outstanding warrants and he had went up to the next building and was knocking on the doors there.

I have not found out what the outstanding warrants were for yet. But the question in my mind, is did I save myeslf from getting into a gunfight by not opening the door? I follow the rule I don't answer the door at night when the knocking happens because I don't want to give away my location if he kicks the door in. My door has a deadbolt and would take 2 or 3 hard kicks for anyone to get in.

I did learn the officer is new and is planning on moving into this complex. I plan to encourage the apartment manager to admit him to the vacancy next to me. This is a rough area, and in our county there have been a number of home invasions.

 

[nawilson]

I think you did things correctly. No point in opening the door and giving away your position. As far as not answering, I am conflicted. There are advantages to answering, like letting a bad guy know the place is occupied. If he is looking to commit a burglary of an unoccupied place, then he would probably move along. Then again, who knows what substance the guy was on at 3 a.m. Calling out may just enrage the subject or give away your position. In the end, it worked out, and you were ready had it broken bad.

By the way, the patrol car not running with blue lights isn't surprising. Flashing blue lights just give the bad guys a hint to run away. Better for the officer to try to keep the element of surprise.

 

[JJEH]

Sounds like you did everything right. Glad nobody got hurt.

 

[mc5aw]

Loudly banging on doors at 3am in an apartment complex isn't the usual MO for a B&E or home invasion. Mr. Outstanding Warrants sounds like the standard altered state low life making the rounds for another drug score. Seems like you did fine with your actions.

 

[CGhelofxr]

What you did must have been correct, you went to sleep in your own home and one more derelict is off the streets for at least one night!

 

[Jellybean]

But the question in my mind, is did I save myeslf from getting into a gunfight by not opening the door?

My guess is no, you didn't. In fact it sounds as if he wasn't armed at all.

 

[TexasArmed]

My guess is no, you didn't. In fact it sounds as if he wasn't armed at all.

You may be right. Another poster suggested this is not the MO for someone doing B&E. I am interested in finding out what the outstanding warrants were for before making a conclusion.

The thought occurred to me, if I open the door, and he tries to walk in uninvited, and grabbed for my gun I would have used mine. In Texas one does not have to be assaulted physically before defending himself. But lets say he was unarmed, and he tried to overpower me in my living room, I probably would have prevailed but might have been out a lot of legal expense. So the cliche avoiding a gunfight, is the best way to win one. I felt the hair on my neck rise, and my adrenalin rushed because I really thought this guy was going to try and kick the door in. But hd did not, and the facts are
no action can legally be taken till he tries to come in uninvited. But if one had to defend it, I can hear the prosecutor asking, "Why did you open the door to him at 3:00 am?"

I am thankful however, that I no longer live in another State where one had a duty to retreat to the far room of the house.
That state I think has since changed, Tennessee.

I still think when someone knocks hard on a door and persistently, most people have the inclination to open the door.

 

[Lost Lake]

(Soft knocks at the door)
CHONG: Who is it?
CHEECH: It's me, Dave. Open up, man, I got the stuff.
(More knocks)
CHONG: Who is it?
CHEECH: It's me, Dave, man. Open up, I got the stuff.
CHONG: Who?
CHEECH: It's, Dave, man. Open up, I think the cops saw me come in here.
(More knocks)
CHONG: Who is it?
CHEECH: It's, Dave, man. Will you open up, I got the stuff with me.
CHONG: Who?
CHEECH: Dave, man. Open up.
CHONG: Dave?
CHEECH: Yeah, Dave. C'mon, man, open up, I think the cops saw me.
CHONG: Dave's not here.

 

[CrossRifles2008]

You played it smart not opening up and inviting trouble, and equally smart calling the police before he found someone who would open up.

 

[OFT II]

No casualties.
No damage.
One arrest.

You did well.

 

[Chuck1217]

I agree, can't think of anything I'd do different. Even if he hadn't had warrants, he needed to stop knockin' on strangers' doors at that time. Funny thing, my wife woke me up at 1:30 two nights ago, someone in back yard- which is fenced, no one should have been there. Big house, when I looked outside couldn't see anything, so got my pistol and tact. flashlight- walked all the way around the house (didn;t turn light on) but never saw anyone. After not seeing anyone THEN i turned the light on, searched as far as I could (and that's about 3 houses each direction- really good f'light.) Hope all my 'alarms' are false, like that one.

 

[GKC]

When someone rings my doorbell or knocks on the door, regardless of time of day or night, I first look through the peephole. In daytime, if I recognize them or I can see that it is a uniformed delivery person (like FedEx or UPS) or service person (if I am expecting a service call) then I will open the door. Otherwise, I ask them (without opening the door) what they want. At night, I do not open the door, period, without first asking what the person wants...unless it is family or a friend, and if they call first.

All of our family/friends know to call before they come over...if for no other reason, so I will have time to put on pants. They have learned that lesson the hard way! No courtesy call, no pants...usually only takes once.

 

[TexasArmed]

Loudly banging on doors at 3am in an apartment complex isn't the usual MO for a B&E or home invasion. Mr. Outstanding Warrants sounds like the standard altered state low life making the rounds for another drug score. Seems like you did fine with your actions.

Well I got an update on this! The Chief of Police called me and thanked me for calling them this morning. He said that the man was wanted for armed robbery in a neighboring county, a series of assaults, and also sexual assault, and that he will be going away for a long time he thinks. But he was unarmed. He said this one was really a VERY BAD ONE and would be going away for a long time.

Nevertheless, the Chief thought that his intentions may have been to rob whoever opened the door. He could have also been looking for a woman to open the door. He is off the street for now, but since he was in the police cruiser while the officer talked to me, he probably saw where the officer went. I hope he does not come back to get revenge.
I had a feeling about this guy and my instincts were right. I think if I had opened the door he would have tried to overpower me, and I might have had to shoot him.

 

[GregG]

Don't open the door unless you have to. You did what I would have done.

Glad the guy is off the streets for a while.

 

[feralmerril]

It turned out good so why question what you did? You obvisely did right in your case.
I had a very similar incident many years ago. A black youth knocked on my door about midnight. I had a nickle 2 1/2" python in my hand and opened the door. He sized me up and asked if this was where the party was! I never pointed the gun at him but let him see it. I told him there was no party so git! He got some gone. It worked out well too except I thought I might have the distastefull job of shoveling up his eyeballs and maybe some other debrie off my door step the next morning.

 

[GKC]

I hope he does not come back to get revenge.

If he does, don't open the door.

Seriously, if he is going away for a while, then you probably don't have anything to worry about. On the other hand, if you already live in a bad neighborhood, I would move...this is just an additional reason.

 

[TexasArmed]

If he does, don't open the door.

Seriously, if he is going away for a while, then you probably don't have anything to worry about. On the other hand, if you already live in a bad neighborhood, I would move...this is just an additional reason.

Yep, at my age and with all my health problems it is likely that if he is gone for a long time by the time he gets out I might be in a nursing home. I would say that this neighborhood does have a bad reputatiion but it is not as bad as it once was. I have insurance to cover burglary if I am not home, but a home invasion I would have to deal with.

This was not a local criminal and I think it is more of a random act that he picked this complex. I probably would move if I were living down on the southern border, but I am in Northeast Texas. I have alarm systems for my vehicles, and I am now thinking about putting in some video surveilence outside my apartment. I don't want to buy a home because if my health problems worsen, might have trouble selling it, and might have to move closer to the VA.

I like living here because I feel that as long as I carry my handguns that I can protect myself and my daughter, and I like the laws of Texas, regarding SYG and no duty to retreat.
I won't cower in the corner of my house while a criminal attempts entry but will stop any criminal from getting past my door if I am home. I have been at this location about 8 or 9 years now, and I have not become a victim yet. I think the biggest problem here, is that the dope heads, have to get money to support their habit, so they pick any place where they can get some money, even nice houses. I don't know whether dope played a part or not in this criminal's history.

 

[jlrhiner]

I ALWAYS take a firearm with me when someone comes to my door at night. Anyone who knows me will already be talking very loudly so I recognize them.

Either that or I send the wife to the door.

 

[Frizzman]

I have two very large dogs who love to bark and howl whenever anyone knocks at my door. I have firearms available if needed and my entry doors are strong, steel doors. I think that whenever you avoid a physical confrontation then you have made the best decision. The first and best self-defense tactic is to avoid the incident and it seems you did. You did well.

 

[Texas Star]

I don't have a great deal of faith in the chain on the door, but if it's broken, that shows the cops that whoever I might shoot forced entry.

I do answer the door armed AND LOOK THRoUGH THE PEEPHOLE FIRST.