Man Fatally Shoots Woman In Self-Defense, Authorities Agree That He Was Justified

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURRI — A man who fatally shot a home invasion robbery suspect will not be charged, according to authorities. Speaking to a local media outlet in reference to the fatal shooting, St. Louis County prosecutor’s spokesman Christopher King said, “It’s just legitimate self-defense. There’s no evidence of a crime.”

The incident occurred around 3:20 am Tuesday in the 300 block of Lancashire Road, in Glasgow Village in an unincorporated area in northern St. Louis County.

The woman who was shot was identified as Shabria “Bria” Furlow, 23, of Brittany Circle Drive in Bridgeton. She was allegedly one of several suspects involved in an attempted home invasion and robbery, according to Sergeant Tracy Panus of the St. Louis County Police Department. The male who fired the fatal shots was cooperative with detectives when he was questioned.

Furlow and the man responsible for the shooting knew each other from previous interaction in Arkansas. The man, who was not identified by police, was not a resident of the Lancashire home where the incident occurred but was an invited guest there.

King provided additional comments supporting St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell’s decision not to file charges in the self-defense case. The case was presented by the detective working the case, and he and Bell agreed on the case of self-defense.  King said that Furlow approached the home with four men, two of whom were armed with guns.  None of the men have been located yet, so authorities haven’t been able to fully determine their motive for the confrontation.

Missouri’s self-defense law, known as the Castle Doctrine, provide people who encounter an intruder in their homes the ability to use lethal force in self-defense without fear of criminal charges or civil lawsuits. The protection extends to individuals who have a legal right to be there, such as invited guests.