Via TTAG
“This individual is lucky to be in jail,” the sheriff of Orangeburg County, South Carolina, commented dryly. “He could have been in the care of the county coroner’s office.”
That individual, a 37-year-old man named Michael Rowe, is now facing up to 15 years in the slammer for that burglary charge alone. The invasion was reported just before 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday (yesterday).
The homeowner had likely just woken up, only to find a stranger in his home. He was alerted to Rowe’s presence by a strange sound before he found the suspect. The homeowner then grabbed his gun and fired three times, although none of the rounds hit their target.
Rowe fled, but didn’t get very far as the homeowner called 9-1-1 immediately. He was caught within 500 yards of the home, that’s to a good physical description given by the homeowner.
Here’s a fun fact: 44% of South Carolinians own guns, which is well above the (reported) national average of 30% to 35%. Given the prevailing gun culture in the Palmetto State, breaking into homes there is an exquisitely bad idea. The sheriff is right that Rowe is lucky to be in jail.