ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI — A man on the front porch of his home in the Tower Grove South neighborhood was approached by three people around 11 p.m. on October 22nd. One of the three pointed a gun at the man, who then drew his own gun and shot the suspect in the legs.
Responding police officers found a 14-year-old male with gunshot wounds, who was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. A gun was recovered at the scene, and the boy was listed in serious but stable condition. The other two male suspects fled in a silver SUV.
The homeowner, an unidentified 26-year-old, was not injured. The investigation continues and there is no word on any charges that may be filed.
This serves as a reminder that we must be constantly vigilant, even when in a familiar place such as our home. Perhaps the homeowner realized that the gunman was a teenager and made the decision to wound him in the legs instead of taking aim at the more lethal torso area, or perhaps he was aiming for center mass and missed.
Regardless, the young man could have still fired a fatal shot at the homeowner. When acting in self-defense, never assume that a single shot will disable the individual or eliminate the threat to your life.
