Resident Shoots Armed Acquaintance After Early Morning Break-in

FRAYSER, TENNESSEE — ‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer’ is probably not the intended idea for one Memphis resident after discovering an armed acquaintance in his home at 5:30 a.m. Thankfully, he kept his own gun handy and was able to shoot the intruder.

According to the Commercial Appeal, the suspect was unresponsive when Memphis police arrived and he is believed to have died on the scene. The resident was briefly taken into custody but released after the police found no justification for a homicide charge. It is believed that the acquaintance, whom was known by the resident, was acting in a criminal manner by breaking into the resident’s home at that time and the homeowner, in fear for his life, responded with deadly force.

This is the sort of odd situation that we all hope to never face. Someone we know and knows us relatively well, taking advantage of us at a time when he believes our guard to be down. This is the importance in keeping your firearm handy and maintaining good situational awareness.

When an intruder steps foot inside your home without your permission, you have mere seconds to differentiate friend from foe. When it’s a person you recognize, that makes that call all the more difficult.

Thankfully, he was able to make the call and take the shot before he got hurt himself. Wandering into another person’s home with a gun, especially at that hour, promises nothing good can come of it.

The only person who has permission to enter your home without your explicit consent is you, those you care for under your own roof, and those you expressly tell have permission to do so.

Sneaking in with a gun isn’t part of the plan. Good thing the resident is safe and won’t be facing charges.