NORFOLK, VIRGINIA — Neighbors were awoken to the sound of gunfire coming from a home around 1:30 a.m. Police were quick to respond and had a stand-off with the intruder as he attempted to flee the house. After a tense ten minute stand-off, police finally detained the intruder and discovered the occupant of the home had been shot.
According to one neighbor speaking on condition of anonymity to 10 WAVY News,
“I was sleeping and about an hour ago, and we heard, pop, pop gunshots. My son immediately came to the room, woke me up … I look out my window, and I see them (police) out there with their guns drawn.”
After a tense stand-off, the intruder did lay down on the ground and police detained him. They are now charging 22-year-old Robert Hicks with armed burglary. The occupant of the home is believed to be alive and in stable condition.
Not all bad guys just lay down when they see an occupant of a home that is armed. True, they will attempt to flee eventually, but if they’re armed, the worst thing any of us can do is take for granted the idea a bad guy won’t use his gun.
It’s unknown precisely how the intruder managed to force his way into the home in the first place. He may have just used brute strength to break down the door or he may have convinced the occupant to open the door. In either case, readiness and preparation are at the heart of any successful defensive gun use. Unfortunately, it appears this occupant didn’t get the opportunity to do either before an exchange of fire went down.
All I can honestly say about this type of situation is you have to make the call whether or not you intend to fight. Once that’s decided, let’s just hope your shot placement is better than the other guy’s.
A gun is a great tool for self defense in the home. At the end of the day, it’s only a tool. It can’t perform miracles. That means we have to be ready to use that tool properly at any time of the day or night.