Estranged Husband Shot During Break-In and Attempted Rape

JEFFERSON COUNTY, AL — A man is currently in law enforcement custody after attempting to rape his estranged wife mid-morning the day after Independence Day, AL.com reports.

The man either didn’t know, forgot, or didn’t care that his estranged wife had a pistol. She was more than willing to defend herself against his attacks, and the man, identified as Eric Austin, is very fortunate to have survived the ordeal.

According to AL.com:

Chief Deputy Randy Christian said deputies were dispatched about 10 a.m. to a home in the 2800 block of Seventh Street N.E. A woman told lawmen her estranged husband had broken into the house and tried to sexually assault her. The woman was armed with a handgun and shot him in the leg to fend him off, Christian said. The suspect fled in vehicle but was stopped by deputies in the 1900 block of Old Springville Road. He was taken to the hospital with injuries that aren’t life-threatening.

Detectives questioned the suspect, who they identified as Eric Austin. After questioning, Austin was arrested and charged with attempted rape and second-degree domestic violence.

Austin remains hospitalized under guard and will be booked into the Jefferson County Jail once his medical care is complete.

That’d be another point for the Equalizer.

Let’ acknowledge the obvious: when it comes to violence in the aftermath of a relationship, men tend to be far more likely to be the physical aggressor than the women. What’s more, men all-too-often can overpower their current or former partner. That can put women at an extreme disadvantage in some scenarios.

As the estranged wife of Eric Austin can tell you, however, an Equalizer in hand can really turn things around.

Don’t be afraid to recommend arming oneself to a neighbor, friend, or relative that feels unsafe. Neither of you will regret it.

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