Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
A homeowner in Kent, Washington, shot a burglary suspect earlier this week after waking to find the man standing in his bedroom.
It happened at 1:27 a.m. according to the Kent Police Department. They received a 911 call reporting a burglary.
“The 911 caller stated that he had shot at a male who was burglarizing his home, and he was unsure if he had hit the suspect,” the report said.
When speaking to the news, the 34-year-old homeowner asked to be left unidentified.
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Burglar In the Bedroom
The homeowner woke when the perp turned on the light in his bedroom.
“It was quick. I woke up, and there was this giant standing in my bedroom,” he told KOMO. The homeowner said he began grabbing things from his nightstand to throw at the intruder.
“I think that helped,” the homeowner said, “to push him out of the door, and I had just enough time to run for my safe.”
The homeowner shot two rounds at the suspect.
Not Alone
The others present in his house made the stakes higher for this homeowner. He said his brother and sister-in-law were visiting from out of town. Together with his daughter, there were five children there that night.
“It’s terrifying,” the homeowner’s brother told KIRO7. “No one is expecting to come into your house, especially at night but like at any time when you’re asleep and it’s shocking.”
The homeowner expressed disbelief that he had to shoot. “You hear stories, and you never think it’s gonna be you until it’s you. Until it’s your family,” he said.
But he also stated he would repeat his actions if needed. “This is my safe house. This is my home.”
Once on the scene, police found several items the bedroom burglary suspect had allegedly stolen from the home.
The homeowner told police he did not know if the man was armed. The homeowner had a CPL and a legally owned firearm.
The Bedroom Burglar Himself
Later, around 3 a.m. police received a report of a man with a gunshot wound. They arrived at the apartment building and concluded it was likely the suspect.
The 39-year-old burglary suspect had a gunshot wound to the chest. Police treated him on the scene with assistance from the fire department.
The wounded individual was taken to a hospital. He has not been charged yet.
“I hope he gets what he deserves,’ The homeowner’s brother said, “and I hope in the future, no one else gets that courage to go to someone’s house.”
Harsh Reality
Unfortunately, this family in Kent is not unique in having experienced something like this.
According to the FBI, an estimated minimum of 1 million homes each year are burglarized in the USA. Sure, 1 million is better than 2 million, but it’s way worse than none.
READ MORE: Homeowner Shoots Intruder After Neighbors Hear Screams
Your chances of having your home, or bedroom, broken into change depending on your location. But the chance still exists.
As the homeowner said, he heard the stories but never expected it to be his home. That’s probably true of just about everyone who has their home broken into.
READ MORE: Missouri Homeowner Fatally Shoots Burglar, Receives No Charges
Don’t be caught off guard by something that has such severe implications. This homeowner had a gun and the legal prerequisites to shoot it.
When a suspect showed up in his bedroom, the homeowner was able to act.
He defended his family and his home. Wouldn’t you like to do the same?
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He had to run to a safe? He was really lucky, and should have had the weapon within reach.
Agreed! I’m an empty-nester, so I don’t have to worry about children in my home, so I have a mattress holster for my Glock and extra mags within arms reach. If I had kids in the house I’d buy and mount a lighted biometric safe/holster within easy reach. The last thing I’d want to do is try and open my safe under duress in the middle of the night scared witless!