11-year-old brags about shooting suspected home invader

Washington Post ^ | May 1, 2016 | Peter Holley

[Innovative]

Chris Gaither was home alone “petting the dogs” on Wednesday morning when he heard a noise upstairs.

The 11-year-old boy from Talladega, Ala., told NBC affiliate WVTM-TV that he was scared, so he grabbed a knife and steadied himself.

Chris said that a man appeared on the stairwell, but when confronted, he ran back up upstairs. When the man reappeared moments later, the boy told WVTM-TV, the individual was holding a gun.

“When he was coming down the stairs, that’s when he told me he was going to kill me, f-you and all that,” Chris said.

Instead of running, Chris told the station, he upgraded his weaponry, picking up a 9mm handgun that was in the home.

[BatGuano]

in her defense, sorta, she might use the excuse of “getting some exercise!”

[SSS Two]

My guess is the mom was doing the horizontal bop with the “burglar.”

Hmm. Interesting theory. So you suspect Mom was "petting the dogs" in her own way.

[M Kehoe]

I’m at a loss
for an answer. I say we shoot the burglar, send mom to rehab, and give the kid a medal.

5.56mm

[kennedy]

Not only was Chris holding a real gun, the boy knew how to use it. His stepfather had been giving him shooting lessons, he told WVTM-TV.

Good man. Excellent way to bond with a step-son and at the same time give him skills to protect himself and others.

The title of the article is complete BS. The boy is not bragging about shooting a suspected home invader. He is simply describing how he was able to defend himself and avoid being a victim to an armed home invader.

It is like the author of the article would have been much happier writing an article entitled "Defenseless Boy Shot and Killed By Armed Home Invader."

[Thibodeaux]

The kid that killed Omar was only 8

[ozzymandus]

Good boy. Bad reporter.

[TigersEye]

Also safe to say the shooter was provably not in fear for his life.

Yeah, but he's eleven so I'd cut him a big break on that one. Atta boy, Chris!

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“Chris Gaither was home alone “”

[Mears]

““Chris Gaither was home alone “””

—

I was home alone from age 9.

What’s your point?

.

[4yearlurker]

So the guy upstairs is knocking socks with mom and hears a noise downstairs. He investigates and sees the kid who the “intruder” thinks is a intruder.....etc...

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

My point was a couple posters were saying his mom was upstairs having sex. According to the article, the kid was home alone.

[sport]

From his own story, he has let his mouth get him in trouble. From his own mouth, the guy was running away from him when he started firing for effect. Hence no longer an immediate threat. Plus, judging from the picture, the reporter got him on television tape doing what the reporter or headline writer described as bragging. If he was in Florida, he would at least be heading to Juvenile Court. If he would have shot him while he was still in the house, possibly advancing toward him, it would be a horse of a different color.

[sport]

What I read of the story, his mother was not mentioned.

[sport]

Yep! And that is what is going to tell the tale.

[SkyDancer]

Some say he was running away outside which wouldn’t make it a lawful shoot, right?

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“his mother was not mentioned.”

His mother was not mentioned. It was a couple of FReepers here that suggested the mom was upstairs having sex with the intruder.

[Hugin]

He’s lucky he’s in a state where you can shoot someone who is “Engaged in kidnapping, assault, robbery, or rape”. In a lot of states shooting a fleeing thief is illegal.

[TigersEye]

From his own story, he has let his mouth get him in trouble.

He isn't in any trouble or we wouldn't be reading his name or seeing pictures and video of him. He's a minor.

[napscoordinator]

I agree that the parents were awesome to teach him to shot a gun. But back to the gun range. It took 12 tries to get him. The NRA should give him free lessons.

[sportutegrl]

He saved the laundry basket by shooting it.

Thieves usually pick something to carry off their loot: a pillowcase, laundry basket, or box that they then fill with their stolen goods. He probably wasn't stealing just a $5 laundry basket.