A homeowner in Berkeley County, WV, fatally shot an intruder during a suspected home invasion early Wednesday morning. The incident is under investigation by local authorities.
INWOOD, WV (2-minute read) — An early-morning home invasion in Berkeley County, West Virginia, ended when an intruder was fatally shot by a homeowner. The incident occurred on Winchester Avenue in Inwood when homeowner Michael Marshall received an alert from motion sensors installed in his mother’s vacant house. Berkeley County Dispatch received Marshall’s call at 3:46 a.m., and deputies were quickly dispatched to the scene.
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Marshall reported that upon arriving at the residence, he discovered a man, later identified as 38-year-old Joshua Boone of Williamsport, Maryland, inside the garage. Marshall confronted Boone, who allegedly turned toward him holding an unknown object, prompting Marshall to fire his handgun in self-defense. The bullet struck Boone, who collapsed on the garage floor.
Six deputies arrived and found Boone lying face down. Despite their immediate efforts to perform life-saving measures, Boone was pronounced dead by EMS shortly after they arrived.
Marshall informed investigators that he had previously reported a break-in at the same property on August 27. Following the break-in, he installed motion sensors to monitor any future activity. The sensors alerted him early Wednesday morning, leading him to the confrontation with Boone.
As the investigation continues, Marshall’s decision to use lethal force will be evaluated to determine whether it meets the criteria for justifiable self-defense under West Virginia law.
Realize that entering into an unknown situation, specifically when a home is known to be vacant, puts yourself at significant risk. If no lives are in danger in a situation such as this, the best course of action is to call police and let them handle the intruder.
Safety Tip: Ensure your home security system is fully operational and use non-lethal means, such as warning shots or verbal commands, when possible before resorting to deadly force. Always understand your local laws regarding self-defense and firearm use.
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I’ve got news for you…there is no law requiring police to respond to your call, to enforce a restraining order, or to risk their life to save yours. All of the previous points are settled points by judges, including SCOTUS.
So sure, call the cops, that puts you on record as reporting a possible crime in progress and goes in your favor, but they don’t have to show up.
On the other hand, if they do show up and you have a gun in your hand be very sure to comply with their lawful orders!