PA Homeowner Won’t Face Charges in Fatal Shooting of Armed Intruder

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The unnamed homeowner used his legally-owned handgun to defend his family from an armed intruder.

U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- Local PA news outlet PennLive reported Friday, that a man who was forced to defend himself with a firearm will not face charges after defending himself with lethal force. The intruder illegally entered the man’s house shortly after midnight, kicking in the front door while wielding a revolver. After pointing the firearm at both the homeowner and his wife, the homeowner used his legally owned firearm to engage and defeat his assailant.

This comes in the wake of changes to PA’s Castle Doctrine that previously unjustly restricted the rights of PA gun owners defending themselves and loved ones. Under the original law, PA citizens had a duty to retreat before utilizing deadly force. The same insane requirement still stands in several anti-gun states like MA which places undue risk on citizen’s lives to protect criminals.

PennLive reports Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele stated that the homeowner was, “Fearing for his life and the lives of others in the residence.” and that he would not face charges or prosecution because “all necessary elements were met”. This is great news for PA residents who previously had to come to terms with the sobering reality that in the past defending their loved ones with a firearm would likely mean losing their freedom, livelihood, and savings.

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Stone

Unfortuanly, Knute is right about this. Although in PA self defense insurance is legal, I know a guy that lost time from work and lawyer’s bill and spent the night in jail because he hit a person in the head with a golf club when the guy broke into his house. While he wasn’t criminally charged, the man brought civil charges against him for lost wages and medical bills. The man who was drunk took a wrong turn on the way home, claimed he thought his wife had locked him out again, so broke out a window to get into… Read more »

nobodyuknow

Stone . . . I wonder what would have happened if the golf club guy had hit this intruder in the head with a high velocity, 200 grain .45 ACP hollowpoint?

Arny

He wouldn’t have been able to give his piss poor excuse.

Finnky

@Stone – Sounds like a DUI confession. Arrest the perp, yank his drivers license and confiscate his car. Then give his wife shooting lessons and help her rekey the house. Imagine he’d not survive his next “return” home.

Says a lot when a man says he thought his wife locked him out AGAIN!

Knute

So he gets to keep his freedom. As for his livelihood and savings, the jury is still out. Did he lose his job as soon as the story hit the papers? Many do. DID he spend his savings defending himself against this absurdity? Probably.

Finnky

Should counter sue for cost of window, golf club replacement, legal costs, lost wages, pain & suffering, plus punitive damages.

Knute

Like perps have assetts you can put liens on…. LOL.
Crims tend to have only what is in their pockets at any given moment. Much like gun control, it only works on the law abiding. Likely the money this dead one had on him has lined some police fund’s pockets by now. All six bucks of it… 🙂

james

If citizens must retreat before using deadly force, law enforcement should be required to do the same in the states that have that requirement for the common folk.

Ryben Flynn

In those other “duty to retreat” States, can your relatives sue the State when you are shot in the back and killed while “retreating”?

StWayne

Can you imagine having an antiquated law stating that you MUST allow the assailant the right to decide if he’s going to murder you and your loved ones, before you can engage him with lethal force? I am of the opinion that he made his intentions clear when he broke down the door and entered the homeowner’s domicile armed. According to the omnipotence of the whacky left, you have to prove this by adding your body to the assailant’s overall kill count. Only then, will they believe you. And even then, maybe because you COULD have said something to set… Read more »

Phil in TX

Another Goblin bites the dust! Unfortunately, there are a lot more of them out there and this virus outbreak will bring more of them out to try to plunder, pillage and rape. As one of the other posters here says: Arm up, carry on.

Phil in TX

nobodyuknow

At least there appears to be some sanity in PA government. Kudos to the homeowner who shot the scumbag home invader DEAD!!!

Rick

There “used” to be some sanity when it came to guns in PA. However, we now have a Demoncrat for a governor who speaks out both sides of his mouth. Pro gun when he needed votes, but makes it clear now that he would confiscate every gun in the Commonwealth if he could. Of course when you have a forked tongue, double talking Senator like Twoomey backing him, what can you expect. Can’t wait till the next elections so we TRUE Pennsylvanians who believe in US Constitution, can drain our own sewer. “Guns, Guts, and above all, God!” Stay safe… Read more »

Rob

Although l don’t hunt, I enjoy range shooting. But until recently I haven’t regularly shot or even owned a gun that l personally bought with my own money. Now that my kids are gtown and no longer live at home my wife of all people suggested we get a firearm. Now a year later I have 3 pistols and even acquired an AR. My next purchase will be a home defense shotgun and at that point I feel I’m adequately equipped. I also attained my carry permit and sticked up on ammo. All this just before this “Wu-flu” pandemic. Stay… Read more »

StWayne

Rob —

Then your wife is not only sage, but you are among the lucky ones: to even have her.

Tionico

AND be smart enough to heed her good counsel. You are blessed to have such a woman.

Finnky

@Rob – Now to encourage your wife to join you. Then of course you’ll need pistols which fit her, and a home defense AR for her as well. 🙂 Best of luck. Couldn’t get my wife to the range for years. Finally she expressed interest at a point when I couldn’t manage – have since tried and it has been hard to find a time that works, and now she thinks she need professional instruction instead of me… Probably I talked too much while letting her dry fire an old revolver – over explanation plus struggling to see plain black… Read more »

StWayne

Hey Finnky —

That thing you say about your wife needing a “professional instructor” besides you, have I ever got a passage for you. And Jesus, said: “Verily, I say unto you, no Prophet is accepted in his own country.” St. Luke 4:24. It has something to do with familiarity breeding contempt that forces even Doctor’s wives to seek even simple medical advice from anyone but their husbands. But still you know you got to try.

Tionico

Look around for a local chapter of the group “Well Armed Woman”. They are in most states and areas. I believe they are all or mostly volunteer, all the instructors are extremely expereinced ladies that really care about women attaining a high level of skill at arms. I know two ladies who are instructors in this programme (as well as others programmes not so narrowly focussed. I work with both of them in rifle marksmanship training events, and they seem to be typical of the others across the nation.

Finnky

TY @Tionico. Not likely to occur in the immediate future, but I will try that. @StWayne – She’s got a good point. I tend to bury people with details, distracting from primary point. While I’ve taken a few classes and have an idea what works for me, I am still a neophyte shooter. While a good instructor knows many techniques and adjusts to what works for a particular student. Would hate to teach Cathy bad habits and have them become ingrained, easier when one learns the right way to begin with. I think aging eyes is a big part of… Read more »

StWayne

Finnky — I have a cousin that used to ride with the Hell’s Angels in northern California for many, many years. He’s big and he’s as tough as they come, but he can’t shoot for shit. So one day he asked me to take him out shooting to teach him what I learned in the military. Although I disagree with his lifestyle, I took him on. I taught him everything I know, and even to this day, he can’t hit a can at 10 yards out. No matter what I tried to get him to do, he would anticipate the… Read more »

Finnky

@OV – A coordinated pair is far more formidable than a single opponent. Infinite force multiplier if @Rob is not present to protect “@MRS Rob”.

Gindy

My wife and I have self defense coverage from USCCA. The core of their coverage is that you are covered in any situation by using any means to defend yourself.

In the litigious society we live in today it would be a catastrophe to find the money for legal fees in criminal or civil trials.

Don’t get me wrong that I’m trying to advocate business for them. We’ve done the research and are comfortable with their package. That’s all I’m saying in response to this article!

Wild Bill

@G, Does USCCA cover accidents with firearms?

Gindy

Not sure of that exact premise because of the insurance being ‘defense’ in nature. It’s worth a call in my opinion!

Gindy

Among the other features we liked is that I only bought one policy but used the ‘Spouse’ rider of which I paid an additional $ 47 to have my wife covered for the exact amount that I’m covered. And that from the moment the call is made for help they front all money and lawyers neccessary to defend me until everything is closed! Being self employed for over 40 years it didn’t take me long to understand that you need a ‘team’ to succeed. Accountants, legal, insurance, business planning, etc. etc. all come into play in the grand scheme of… Read more »

Arny

Not supposed to work that way. I live in this commy state of PA for now, how long is the question ? I never even knew we had a retreat law. Never had a RETREAT law in the military. See where that would get ya. We did have insurance in case you got shot during retreat. That will be my defense should I need one. LOL