ALMOST SHOT A MAN TONIGHT - LITERALLY

Vanity | October 6, 2004 | Jaysun

[Jaysun]

I was sitting in my study tonight when I heard something at my front door. I already knew that my family was in bed, so I retrieved my pistol before going to investigate. As I got closer to the foyer I could hear the doorknob jingling. The motion lights were on, so I was sure that someone was trying to get into the house.

I stopped at the doorway into our dining room where I had a clear view of the front door. I cocked my revolver, aimed at the door, and waited. Suddenly this swings open and this guy steps into the house. I hadn’t said anything at this point, and my heart was hammering away like a sewing machine.

I said, “Stop! What are you doing?” I didn’t yell it at him, mostly because I was too nervous to muster anything much louder than a normal tone. He looks around to see where my voice was coming from and when he saw me with a gun aimed at his face he freaked out.

He immediately dropped what looked like a gym bag and threw his hands into the air. He took his eyes off of me, ducked his head, and started bending at his knees to get into a kneeling position. I kept my aim trained on his head. He was saying, “SH*T SH*T DON’T SHOOT! OH GOD DON’T SHOOT, OH SH*T!…” So I said, “Do not move! What in the hell are you doing in my house?” At this point I was both angry and scared at the same time.

He said, “I’m here to stay with Patricia…..my Aunt Patricia…I’m from New York and I’m here for the week.” Of course, there is no Patricia here, and I told him as much. By this time, my wife had awakened and she alerted me to that fact by letting out a shrill yelp. I told her to get the phone and call the police. He continued to insist that he was here to stay with Patricia. Somewhere in there he also mentioned someone named Dan. Then it dawned on me. Dan and Patricia are my neighbors. I told Melanie to call them and ask if they were expecting company.

Dan and Patricia confirmed his story so I lowered my gun. They walked over and he finally stopped hyperventilating long enough for us to figure out what happened. Patricia had mailed him a house key in a letter a few weeks ago. At that time he wasn’t sure exactly when he’d be here, and they wanted to make sure he could get in if they were out of town (they just got back).

So he followed her directions, came to what he thought was her house, put the key in the lock, and turned the knob. Their key unlocks my door and vice versa. We have no idea how we ended up with two doorknobs with matching locks. I’m still trying to figure that one out.

Anyway, I just sat back down and I’m still somewhat shaken. He has no idea (or maybe he does) how close I came to blowing his head off when he walked in the door. His name is Kevin. He ended the night by saying, “Damn! I knew Alabama was going to be different, but I though that I’d at least get my bags unpacked before almost being killed.”

Whew. I’m still shaken. Just thought I’d share this bizarre event with you guys.

[Jaysun]

In case you’re wondering, my choice for protection is a .32 Magnum Smith & Wesson police issue from 1903. I have newer guns, but this one is easy to shoot and it’s surprisingly powerful.

[BADROTOFINGER]

Congrats on your control. Many would have just emptied the iron on 'em as soon as they walked in...JFK

[leadpenny]

Damn!

[hawaiian]

I know I shouldn't be laughing... but I can't stop!

[RWR8189]

Wow...Wow...

That's all I got.

[Termite_Commander]

Well, good job on staying calm throughout the ordeal. Or at least maintaining the appearance of calm.

[Lancer_N3502A]

You kept your cool in a tense situation and you should be applauded. Man, I hope that kid brought a change of underwear.

[ladyinred]

What a bizarre story. Thank God you were so controlled.

[LADY J]

Congrats on the self control.

Weird about the house key. Glad you're okay and safe.

[DSBull]

Your more steady than I. I am afraid that I would have shot then ask the question... the boy is lucky..I hope he didn't soil your entryway..


My choice is a S/W .45 double action revolver..what a nasty mess that would have made..

[SittinYonder]

Nice work keeping your head and not capping the guy. My brother nearly shot his brother-in-law under similar circumstances (didn't know his b-in-law was coming to spend the night). It sounds like you did everything right.

I'm sure the adrenaline is going like crazy for you. Good luck getting to sleep.

[Bush gal in LA]

WOW what a story! I started shaking just reading it! Glad your all ok!

[mn-bush-man]

Holy Smokes! Great job under pressure! I really feel for the "intruder"! Be grateful that you have this experience under your belt... (the adrenaline rush, the confrontation, etc... you handled it by the book!)

[MEG33]

I am so thankful this ended the way it did!!

[Flyer]

Being armed for self defense is an awesome responsibility and it sounds you you handled it properly.

[FesterUSMC]

I had the same experience ONCE, but I was on the receiving END! My friend and I were about 18 or 19 and we were out late drinking (My Father HATES it when i used to drink) but we walked into the doorway, it was about 2am... The house was in total darkness and I thought my parents were sleeping... I flicked on the landing light, look up the stairs and Jeff and I were staring the barrel of a 45 Long Colt! My dad said, "Wrong Move!" I totally was freaking out... he just kept the gun trained on us and for a second I thought he freaked out and lost his mind... I was like.. uhhh dad are you OK? He was like, what the hell do you think your doing coming in and out at all hours of the night... Needless to say Jeff found a new respect for dad after that episode...

[ravinson]

We have no idea how we ended up with two doorknobs with matching locks. I’m still trying to figure that one out.

Many years ago I was borrowing an apartment in Dallas from a friend of a friend for a few days while I looked for a new place for the school year, and one night after just a few beers I stuck the key into what I thought was the right apartment and was in the place about five minutes before I relaized that it was the wrong unit. Fortunately no one was home training a gun on me.

In that case the similarity of the locks was easily explained by the cheapness of the apartment construction.

[bad company]

I've had four armed encounters in civillian life, never having had to fire a shot. You did good in assesing the situation and deciding that the young man didn't need to be shot. The more confedence a person has in their abilities with a gun the more time they have to make that decision.

[flying Elvis]

Sounds like a few situations I experienced when I owned my own business. I would often work late, sometimes until well after midnight. Strangely enough, some folks thought that 2 a.m. in the morning was a perfectly legitimate time to stop in and ask me questions about vcr repair. After seeing that the door was locked, they would bang on it for five minutes. I could never figure out why they were taken aback when I answered the door well armed. I asked one fellow, who didn't get it, how would he answer the door at two in the morning?

[Redcloak]

You did a good job of being sure of your target; another fine example of how those basic firearm safety rules save lives.

[Shaun_MD]

I loved the 32 magnums.
Have several shotguns and two rifles.
Two 12 pumps, a 20 and two bolt action 22's that aren't really good for anything.

[Jaysun]

The fact that I was able to remain 'calm' and not disintegrate this guy's head as soon as he walked in should be credited to the Ancient of Days.

The whole thing had a dreamlike quality, and I was fully prepared to shoot him - but the thought that I needed to hold off kept going through my head.

[DSBull]

Thank God for protecting you and the other man...

[leadpenny]

Dan, Patricia and ADG (almost dead guy) owe you dinner, at least, and maybe a new door lock from Home Depot.

[Shaun_MD]

I had somebody tell me that if someone broke into my home,
and I shot at them, that I'd better make sure I killed them. Aim for the head. It was a police officer that told me that. I don't know if I could be as calm as you were.

[Lancer_N3502A]

Effects of adrenaline. As an ex cop I can tell you you did just fine. Did the law show up at all

[Madstrider]

"I’m from New York and I’m here for the week.” ...
“Damn! I knew Alabama was going to be different, but I though that I’d at least get my bags unpacked before almost being killed.”

LOL!

First, having experienced the "Oh-my-God-I-don't-want-to-shoot" TERROR of having to draw down on somebody (12 gauge pump, double-aught buck, 1 round chambered, 4 in the mag, safety OFF), I understand that armed self-defense is no laughing matter.

Second, your fire discipline is praiseworthy. I believe I'd have shot the minute that door started swinging open -- probably wouldn't have shot to kill, but I'd have shot something.

But third: HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! Welcome to Alabama, Kevin -- and won't you have a story to tell your buddies when you get back to New York! I dare say all of Kevin's friends in New York will be VERY CAREFUL if they ever set foot in Alabama!

[Jaysun]

I stuck the key into what I thought was the right apartment and was in the place about five minutes before I relaized that it was the wrong unit.

We're thinking that maybe the builder left the locks that way by accident. Sometimes they use the same key for several houses as once, particularly when the houses are in the same neighborhood.

[Jaysun]

Did the law show up at all

No, they weren't called. My wife called the neighbors first and that settled it.

[7.62 x 51mm]

Congrats on your self-control and situation assessment, J. I use a Remy 870 Synthetic Tactical 12ga, and a Kimber "Eclipse Target II" 1911A1 .45cal ACP - my carry piece - for home intrusion work.

I was robbed and shot with a .32 mag on 7/14/74, so I know it does the job.

Nice going, man.

[piasa]

If you go to HomeDepot you will also find that the doorknob sets off the shelf are coded on the box- and that you can go through their stock and find matching codes on several boxes yet only need half of what you find. Anyone could purchase the remaining ones with the same code so it's nearly as certainty that someone out there has a key to fit your house. These codes are for people who want the same key to open all their doors.

[dasboot]

I ed my revolver

Why? Single action?

[dasboot]

sorry...nanny at work editing c o c k e d

[Jaysun]

[Jaysun]

SORRY, THE SERVER THAT MY PIC IS ON KEEPS GOING DOWN!

[Jaysun]

If you go to HomeDepot you will also find that the doorknob sets off the shelf are coded on the box- and that you can go through their stock and find matching codes on several boxes yet only need half of what you find.

That's a possibility. It's very strange that we happen to have the same key AND we live next door to each other. I told him I'd let myself in his house in the morning and help myself to the refrigerator, make a few long distance calls, and peek in their bedroom to make sure they're OK :o)

[anyone_but_kerry]

In case you’re wondering, my choice for protection is a .32 Magnum Smith & Wesson police issue from 1903. I have newer guns, but this one is easy to shoot and it’s surprisingly powerful.

The only reason to shoot someone is to stop them doing whatever they are doing or may do in the next few seconds. I would not trust a .32 (Magnum or not) to do that. .45 or 10 mm handgun or 12 gauge shotgun with 00 or #4 buckshot is the way to do that and even then it is not 100%.

To the original poster. Congrats. You did everything right. These things can go wrong in countless ways. All the way from killing or maiming an innocent person to this being a genuine bad guy who either kills you with his own weapon or with yours.

I wonder - did you prepare mentally in advance or train for this kind of threat? By prepare I mean have a plan, do mental imaging, get familiar enough with your weapon that even under extreme stress you would handle it properly - not just hit what you had to hit, but make it safe when appropriate, etc.

[snopercod]

I'm proud of the way you handled that. Nice going. I don't expect you slept much last night ;-)

Where I used to live some old geezers shot and killed a drunk college kid through their sliding glass door. He was "confused" and apparently thought their house was his.

[R. Scott]

We have no idea how we ended up with two doorknobs with matching locks. I’m still trying to figure that one out.

If your home is in a housing development where all were built by the same contractor it is not unusual. Locks are bought in quantity.

[Northern Yankee]

Wish you were my neighbor!

Nice job keeping your composure.

[Jaysun]

I would not trust a .32 (Magnum or not) to do that. .45 or 10 mm handgun or 12 gauge shotgun with 00 or #4 buckshot....

I have a 12 gauge and a 500 S&W Magnum (I was told it's one of the most powerful pistols made) as well as other things - but as I said, the little .32 that I have is surprisingly powerful. I've shot it for years, and I'm confident that I could hit a golf ball at 100 yards with it (slight exaggeration). In short, I use it because I'm comfortable with it and I know that I'd have no problem hitting someone where it counts.

I wonder - did you prepare mentally in advance or train for this kind of threat?

I'm comfortable with my weapon, and I decided long ago that no person or thing was going to bring harm to my loved ones. Other than that I haven't thought much about it.

[Jaysun]

I'm proud of the way you handled that. Nice going. I don't expect you slept much last night ;-)

I didn't sleep all that much. I slept none, to be exact. Thanks.

[snopercod]

From the way you handled the situation, I suspect you have read Massad Ayoob's book In the Gravest Extreme.

[snopercod]

Oh, I forgot to mention. If you take your door locks to Home Depot, they can re-key them for you in a few minutes. They just remove the tumblers and pop in new ones.

(Out in the woods where I live, we don't normally lock our house anyway, though.)

[230FMJ]

That's a nice old 32 Hande Ejector. I have a couple of them and really enjoy shooting them at the range.

As a 23 year veteran police officer, I recognize the time distortion and increased focus that you experienced in a potential lethal force confrontation. You performed very well. You were obviously confident with your weapon and shooting skills, and were consequently able to focus on clearly understanding the situation. Ya' done good!

[Jaysun]

From the way you handled the situation, I suspect you have read Massad Ayoob's book In the Gravest Extreme.

Actually I haven't. From what I understand those books speak to liability issues (among other things.) I lived in Texas until about 10 years ago. You can shoot anyone that breaks into your home there without fear of repercussion. Also, I don't worry about what some Judge or Jury might think about it - I have a family to protect. Having said all of that, I'm sure he covers a lot of other things and he may not harp on liability as much as I think.

Is it a book that you recommend?

[Dave Hamilton]

Remarkable restraint. I might not have done as well.

Peacemaker, baby...

[snopercod]

Yes, I recommend the book. It does address liability issues (may be out of date), emotional issues, and practical issues.

The book addresses ways to protect yourself so you don't have to kill someone in the first place: Locks on doors, "situational awareness", etc.

Then it discusses how to use a firearm properly if you have to.

Then it discusses the aftermath - your own emotional reaction, and then what to expect from the police/court system.

You did everything right.

[Jaysun]

That's a nice old 32 Hande Ejector. I have a couple of them and really enjoy shooting them at the range. As a 23 year veteran police officer, I recognize the time distortion and increased focus that you experienced in a potential lethal force confrontation. You performed very well. You were obviously confident with your weapon and shooting skills, and were consequently able to focus on clearly understanding the situation. Ya' done good!

Thanks very much. As I said earlier, I'm no Clint Eastwood. If anyone deserves credit for a happy ending it's the Lord of Host.

[mtbopfuyn]

Mr. M bought me that one long before I was Mrs. M.