A Memphis man shot and killed two home intruders. (Photo: Local Memphis)
“Do you really need an AR-15?”
Gun owners who have been asked this question might point to a recent incident in Memphis, where police report that a homeowner shot and killed two intruders with his AK-47.
“He picks up his weapon, he turned around and pointed it at me,” the man, who has asked to remain anonymous, told local media.
He says that the intruder’s gun jammed and both suspects ran to the kitchen.
“I’m assuming they were trying to go out of my back door so as they go through there I jumped in the closet and get my AK 47,” he said.
He found both men on his front porch, where he says one of them was aiming his handgun at his cousin.
“So I just let loose. Not knowing I hit both of them,” he explained.
He told local media that he was just trying to protect himself and did not want to kill either of the two men.
“It was just fast, rational thinking,” he said. “It was them or it was me, and unfortunately they was at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Police have identified the suspects as 28-year-old Azell Witherspoon and 17-year-old Demond Robinson. Both were found dead at the scene.
The homeowner was initially taken into custody but has since been released. Police say he won’t be charged.
The individual who was detained has been released without charge. All evidence was presented to the DAG’s Office and it was determined that no criminal charges will be filed at this point. https://t.co/a1EvyXEvRA
— Memphis Police Dept (@MEM_PoliceDept) June 2, 2018
SEE ALSO: Store Owner Uses AK-47 to Repel Burglars
The homeowner said he came home from the barber shop around 7pm to find his door had been pried open and his dog was barking.
“You know you see your stuff ransacked, you’re puzzled and you trying to figure out what’s going on,” the homeowner said.
That’s when he found the two men snooping around his house.
He believes the men came to his home because they think one of his friends owes them money.
“Gun crime, violence, it’s getting out of hand in Memphis,” he said.
The University of Memphis’ Public Safety Institute reported that both property crime (+10.6 percent) and major violent crime (+9.9 percent) ticked up between 2016 and 2017, though 2017’s numbers represent a decrease in both categories since 2006.
The first quarter of 2018 shows promise of improvement, as major violent crimes decreased 5.1 percent, murders were down 37.8 percent, and burglary was down 10.3 percent.
In northern Illinois I’d be going to jail for doing what this guy did, even if I didn’t use a big scary rifle. Going outside with my gun (meaning, trying to keep my family safe) would have been moot. I’m single so I can’t claim family protection and although I’m cc licensed I rarely carry. I’m more afraid of cops and prosecutors than bad guys. God forbid I even pulled a gun which in most cases would be enough deterrence. I’d still be charged, with concomitant negative publicity, loss of income and legal costs.
They charged the homeowner with a violation anyway: LITTERING
I’m surprised they didn’t get him for discharging a firearm within the city limits into a public nuisance.
I live less the three miles for that individual and I jumped for joy and I called most of the people I know and the few I shoot with. They been thinking I was crazy to own the guns i do and have some hide all over the house for situations like this. as soon as all the hype wears off, i’m going and shake this man hands, sometime we have to help the Police and he did a damn good job, two more criminals we don’t have to worry about
…….Good!!,….That’s two less DemocRAT Leeches that wont vote!!,….
What makes you think they won’t be voting?
Would this be called “a robbery gone right”?
Tired of hearing “a robbery gone wrong” in the media and movies.
My handgun training was from the local police chief and a firearms instructor aththe local college law enforcement training program. Both agreed. In a defesive situation your goal is to stop the attack. You shoot as quicly as possible, aiming for center of body mass. If you miss by a few inches you will probably still incapacitate the attacker. If you aim to only wound you will not fire as quickly, and if you miss by a few inches you will likely miss completely.
No doubt, that because of this case (and similar cases) in the near future, some IDIOT lawmaker is going to propose that you cannot use SUPERIOR force, to defend your life. i.e. You will first have to determine the caliber of THEIR weapon, the capacity, barrel length, and type of ammo that’s being used AGAINST you. Then, and only then – will you be allowed to respond with EQUAL or lesser force. Because an AK against a handgun wasn’t really FAIR to the thugs, and they deserve to know that you will not have a ballistic or strategic advantage AGAINST them. Either that, or they will start a government funded “program” to buy BETTER guns for thugs and robbers, so the “playing field” will be 100% equal. What MADNESS.
I know they probably won’t but I surely hope the left don’t read this; it may give them the idea to try and implement the ‘ equal or lesser ‘ force plan
Leaving armed burglars alive is not a good option. Either they will kill you or sue for injuries and don’t leave room for the authorities to get it wrong.
Azell and Demond
I am sure we will hear how these were such good boys and how they were on their way to church,got lost and merely stopped at the house to ask for directions to the church.
Rocket science suffered a setback this day
They should not have sent a rabbit to do a fox’s job
No one has come to the defense of the break-in dirt bag saying how they were just trying to make a living, were good boys, were going to be something like a doctor, attended church each sunday with their grandmother, got a visit from Messy Jackson & Al Charlatin, etc, etc, etc…
Odd how I live I the crap hole called Memphis, I never herd about this , only negative here
That should be considered a national sport
Most home invasions are done by 2 or more persons…with intent to cause you bodily harm (since they likely know house is occupied) that is why my AR is located where I can readily get to it to defend myself and family…that is my first choice in such a situation, instead of the hand gun I “carry”…I want the advantage of survival, not to use a less justified force…it is my life and that of family members at risk… so I will take NO chances by being under armed!
Quote: ““So I just let loose. Not knowing I hit both of them,” he explained.
He told local media that he was just trying to protect himself and did not want to kill either of the two men.”
I just let loose, but didn’t want to kill, is quite contradictory. First he has an AK, but not a handgun, c’mon and what would you use in a close quarters situation? Second letting loose is nothing like taking aim, in which case someone claiming he didn’t want to kill should at least aim to wound instead of letting loose which could have caused all kinds of collateral damage. Stupid people with guns reflects poorly on the rest of us. I could CC my 454 Casull, but common sense behooves me to carry my P320 instead, knowing I can at least try to leave a suspect alive.
Two points 1) A pistol is NOT suitable for any situation except one that by its use allows you to transition to a rifle. ie; you dont see many door kickers clearing with a pistol. The best gun for self defense is the one you have at the time. 2) He is obviously a blackman and being Memphis may not have the best education. However, that is no way takes his right of self defense. Same goes for white people after a tornado hits a trailer park. Its a tramatic experience in which we should be too literal in thier statements.
We do not want to leave them alive, they need to be taken out of the gene pool.
Why in hell would you want to just wound them??? If I shoot thugs, I mean to send them straight to hell!!!
The man protected himself and his cousin, and you want to pick him apart. Bravo to him!
If you ever “shoot to wound” someone, and are foolish enough to make that statement, you will spend the rest of your days paying for it. In a dire situation you “shoot to stop” the threat. Whether the perp dies or lives is irrelevant. If you are in fear for your life, you don’t shoot to wound. If you’re not in fear for your life, you don’t shoot at all.
Of course, if you accidentally shot the bad guy in the leg, and that stopped him, good on you.
Easy for you to criticize while sitting in your computer chair, he most likely grabbed the first gun within reach. In life or death situations, you don’t have time to “take aim”, let alone ponder which gun he should pick out to do the job. Shut your big mouth, moron.
Well said.
Regardless of what he meant to do, he not only defended himself, but he saved future victims from these criminals. For that, all his neighbors owe him a debt of gratitude.