A Tale of Two Home Invasions: One Intruder Dead, One Shot in Face

in Authors, Defensive Use of Firearms, Jordan Michaels, This Week
A Tale of Two Home Invasions: One Intruder Dead, One Shot in Face
Ronald Fleet (left) and Zachary Hornya (right).

Two home invasions this week, one in Florida and the other in Kansas, ended badly for both intruders as homeowners utilized their Second Amendment right to protect themselves and their loved ones.

In Florida, law enforcement reported that 55-year-old Ronald Fleet burst into a Land O’Lakes home on Saturday afternoon looking for his estranged wife.

The wife was planning to divorce him, and she was living with her family during the court proceedings. Detectives believe Fleet was upset that she was being supported during the divorce.

Armed with a handgun, Fleet kicked down the door and entered the house. He and the homeowner exchanged gunfire, which prompted Fleet to flee. Then, a short time later, Fleet returned, and the homeowner fired again, killing him.

SEE ALSO: Home Invasion Tips

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco told reporters that the homeowner was lawfully exercising his right to self-defense.

“Any loss of life is tragic, but the victim was utilizing his Second Amendment right to protect himself and his family from the fear of Ronald who was carrying a gun and kicking in the door. I can’t imagine the fear they were going through,” he said.

In Kansas, 27-year-old Zachary Hornya broke into a home in Great Bend and began physically assaulting the homeowners, according to police.

Details are still sparse, but during the course of the altercation Hornya was shot in the face. Officers were called to reports of a disturbance, and they found Hornya still inside the home.

SEE ALSO: Shots Fired as Woman, 79, Halts Home Invasion by Herself

Hornya was transported to KU Med Great Bend, where he was flown by Eagle Med to Wichita. He has been released from the hospital, but his wound is still considered critical due to its location, according to local media.

The case has been submitted to the county attorney for possible prosecution, and Detective Heather Smith told local media that she anticipates an arrest warrant will be served “depending on his condition.”

It is still unclear why Hornya entered the residence or why he assaulted the homeowners. Reports so far haven’t indicated whether or not he had a firearm, and there’s been no word about prosecution of the homeowner.

Local residents expressed support for the family whose home was invaded.

“I love this family they are wonderful people my heart goes out to the both of them to have to experience such a violent act in their own home so I’m proud of you I would’ve done exactly the same thing to protect my family!! prayers for your recovery,” said a Facebook user named Bernie Herl.

Another commenter suggested that this wasn’t Hornya’s first attempted home invasion.

A Tale of Two Home Invasions: One Intruder Dead, One Shot in Face

Someone else named Robin Robison claimed to know Hornya and suggested that there is more to the story than has been reported.

A Tale of Two Home Invasions: One Intruder Dead, One Shot in Face

Hornya is a felon with convictions related to illegal drug and weapons possession. Fleet had been arrested in 2011 for domestic battery.

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About the author: Jordan Michaels has been reviewing firearm-related products for over six years and enjoying them for much longer. With family in Canada, he’s seen first hand how quickly the right to self-defense can be stripped from law-abiding citizens. He escaped that statist paradise at a young age, married a sixth-generation Texan, and currently lives in Tyler. Got a hot tip? Send him an email at [email protected].

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  • Jons_On December 15, 2021, 2:03 pm

    Why is an arrest warrant possibly being served “depending on his condition”? WTF does his condition have to do with whether or not he gets arrested? They guy broke in and assaulted the home owners. He should have been arrested in the hospital.

  • JCitizen August 17, 2020, 4:25 pm

    I must run with the wrong crowd as both those crooks look familiar to me! I shudders the thought, I tells ya!

  • skipNclair August 17, 2020, 1:19 pm

    Good job perfection would have been they are both dead.

  • David August 17, 2020, 5:13 am

    Play stupid games win stupid prizes.

  • chumley ortega August 14, 2020, 2:58 pm

    How ’bout some 411 on the gun & ammo? A survived face shot arouses significant curiosity.

  • Ken August 14, 2020, 11:41 am

    A forcible entry into a dwelling while people are inside is called a home invasion.

    It is a serious felony offense… right up there with kidnapping and armed car jacking.

    In most jurisdictions you can legally presume that a home invader constitutes an eminent threat of death or serious bodily injury so you can respond with deadly force.

    Stop shooting when the threat is neutralized and call 911 immediately.

  • Paul Hillar August 14, 2020, 11:39 am

    Slim, I think you got the stories mixed up. The x wifes father killed him. The other couple now have to fear for their lives. Hopefully the douche bag will get killed doing some other stupid thing. You would think that getting shot in the face might make you think about another line of work, this one certainly isn’t working out for him.

  • Zupglick August 14, 2020, 10:51 am

    Always double tap a head shot.

    • Michael Zubrod August 18, 2020, 12:11 am

      Two to the chest, one to the head, so i’m told.

  • Cowboy Dave August 14, 2020, 8:18 am

    It is called a “double bind” ! A criminal can attack you, set fires, loot your home or business, threaten you with death or rape, vandalize your property BUT you have to stand there and decide if shooting the “hump” is over reacting. BS! The scales of justice have tilted way too far to the left. “Let’s see, the guy is kicking me in the head, SETTING MY STORE ON FIRE and I am bleeding but would shooting him be over reacting?” B S

    • chinchbug August 14, 2020, 3:00 pm

      He might be toppling your statue too.

  • Hendrik Joseph Haan August 14, 2020, 7:29 am

    Are we obligated to ask an intruder if he has a gun or just take the beating like a man?

  • John August 14, 2020, 4:16 am

    Such a shame that hornya didn’t die from his gun shot to the face.

  • Slim August 14, 2020, 4:14 am

    Depending on his condition… WHAT BS!!!!! So basically if the government is going to have to PAY for doctor visits and wheel chairs or whatever they WILL LET THIS ATTEMPTED MURDERER go! Which means that his ex is FOREVER at risk at ANY time to catch a bullet to the head or worse(lots!)! Do you think a guy who kicked down a door with people inside carrying a gun is a person who cares about laws?! Especially now that he has NO FACE AND I HOPE he looks like Freddy from the 80’s horror movies! He’s going to want to return the favor to the guy or female who shot him in the face AND his ex the reason his crazy self was there in the first place. SAD FOR THE GOOD PEOPLE TO HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THAT IN FEAR AT ALL TIMES!

    • Jerry S August 14, 2020, 10:17 am

      I believe you misread the post a little. The guy with the ex-wife problem bought the farm. It was the other invader that took a round to the face, but still good outcomes for both.

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