PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA — A hero can come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. In this case, the hero is a young man who would do anything to save his young sister.
That young man fought hard when a stranger came into his home, with the suspect reported to have multiple stab wounds to his hands and side.
The Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell said 15-year-old Khyler Edman was inside his home on Thursday afternoon when a man, identified as Ryan Clayton Cole, broke in.
“The suspect broke into this residence a violent encounter ensued where we believe that teenager was trying to protect the home and protect their younger sibling,” Prummell said.
via abcactionnews.com
Around the same time, police received a call of an injured man who had broken into another home. Police caught up with that man, identified as Cole, and took him into custody.
The teen did not make it, and was found when police entered the home. His 5-year-old sister was also found, unharmed.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with funeral costs, and has already received over $50,000 in donations.
On September 26th Khyler lost his life being a hero protecting his 5 year old sister, when a man broke in our home in Port Charlotte. Please help my family at this time give Khyler a proper burial he deserves, he was only 15 years old and lost his life due to a senseless act of a stranger. My son had a long life ahead of him, that was taken too soon. I have given Crystal Stone and Chad Ackermann permission to help my family at this time.
What young Khyler did was a very brave thing, and he paid the ultimate price at the hands of a criminal with no regard to life. Even the life of a child.
If you have teens like Khyler at home, and you’re a gun owner, it’s a good idea to teach them about self-defense with a firearm. A 15-year-old is plenty capable of safely handing firearms, and teaching them at a young age is important.
Our hearts go out to Khyler’s family for this terrible loss.
While Cole hasn’t yet been charged in the teen’s death, it’s only a matter of time until the evidence is put together so that they have a solid case against this animal.
