As reported, a Pennington County, South Dakota homeowner used his gun to fend off a nighttime burglar:
Police say that just before 10:30pm, a burglar began forcing his way into a home on the 500 block of East Highway 1416, near Box Elder. Fearing for his safety, the homeowner reportedly grabbed his gun and fired in the intruder’s direction, intentionally aiming so as not to actually hit the intruder. This caused the burglar to flee, and the homeowner was unharmed. Police reportedly believe that the same criminal behind this burglar attempt had also burglarized a nearby home moments earlier, since items stolen from that home were found at the scene of this attempted burglary.
Home invasions are a deadly threat to the occupants of a home. The criminals who commit such crimes often murder, shoot, stab, torture, kidnap, and permanently injure their victims. The result is that the lives of law abiding, innocent people can be ended or ruined in an instant, all because of a criminal’s desire to make a quick buck. Fortunately, this homeowner was prepared to defend himself, and as a result survived this home invasion attempt unharmed. The burglar, who was lucky to avoid being shot, will likely think twice before invading this home again.