Posted on 12/13/2021 7:35:47 AM PST by Red Badger
SPANAWAY, WA – In what he states was a self-defense situation, a Washington man opened fire against a pair of armed home intruders, killing one.
Jerahme Smith - screenshot, local media report
On Thursday, December 9, 2021, according to Pierce County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) spokesperson Darren Moss, rental home resident Jerahme Smith, 31, called 911 at approximately 4:20 am to notify police of a home burglary and a shooting.
Smith later told Fox 13 that he and his sister were in the house when two suspects kicked in the back door.
'I have the right to protect myself:' Washington man shoots, kills suspected home burglar https://t.co/RSJvXorRfZ
— Deborah W (@Deborah80868801) December 11, 2021
Fox News reports that:
“One of them had a weapon, prompting Smith to open fire in self-defense.”
There is no further information at this time on the weapon that the suspect allegedly held.
Even in the moment of crisis, Smith took the time to collect himself and reflect on making what he thought was the correct decision.
He told Fox:
“When everything first started, the first thing I had to do was take a few breaths and calm myself down because I knew it could have gone one of two ways.”
He continued:
”I didn’t know who they were, I didn’t know what they had, but the first thing I did–and it’s the honest to God truth–is I took a few breaths to myself.
“That way I knew I was calm enough to make a proper judgment decision.”
When deputies arrived at Smith’s residence, they found a 24-year-old unidentified male suspect unresponsive in Smith’s front yard. Medics declared the suspect deceased when they arrived on scene.
Deputies searched for the other suspect, but they were unable to locate him.
Smith and his sister were not injured in the incident.
'I HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROTECT MYSELF': Deputies said Jerahme Smith shot at the two suspects as they kicked in his back door. The intruders then ran into the front yard where deputies later found one of the suspects dead. https://t.co/feNy2X8XmP
— FOX 35 Orlando (@fox35orlando) December 10, 2021
Smith has been renting the home for the past 3 years with his wife and children.
He told King5 News:
“This is, for all intents and purposes, my property, and I will protect it.”
He continued:
“I took action upon that, which was unfortunately taking one life, and the other one ran.”
Reflecting further on the decision-making process necessary at the time of the shooting, he added:
“You get to talk about it a lot with your friends, or you get to talk about it with your family and go, yeah, we all carry, but you know, this is what I would do, this is what you would do.
“It’s way different when it actually happens.”
Homicide Investigation in Spanaway. This morning a homeowner shot at 2 suspects breaking into his house near A St E and 165th St E. One of the suspects died from his injuries, the other suspect is not in custody. Detectives and Forensic Investigators are on scene. pic.twitter.com/BBeX1wnbp6
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) December 9, 2021
Smith also told King5 that he felt the shooting was “justified,” adding:
“I have the right to carry and I have the right to protect myself and I have the right to protect my property.
“We practice. You never want to put it in action because it’s still a human life, but my life is more important to me than theirs is, and me going home to my family and my kids is more important than theirs is.
“I don’t know what they wanted out of this house, and I don’t know what they were doing, but I don’t care.”
Jerahme Smith, 31, claimed he was at home with his sister when the two potential robbers kicked in his back door at around 4:20am He noted that one of them had a weapon, which i what made Smith open fire against them to defend he and his sister pic.twitter.com/47VJNOdsR4
— Space-reporter-news (@Spacereportern1) December 11, 2021
Smith has “no plans on moving” from the neighborhood, despite being a crime victim, saying he “won’t be scared away.”
According to other residents, the area has seen increasing crime.
One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, told Fox that he recently purchased security lights and a surveillance camera for his home. He added:
“If it ain’t one thing it’s another.”
He continued:
“That kind of upsets me that we have this kind of crime going on in the neighborhood.
“It’s not a good feeling because we don’t know—it could be something happening tomorrow, tonight, you know? Same old thing.”
At this writing, no charges have been filed in the case.
King5 reports that detectives were investigating the incident as a homicide, but PCSD spokesperson Darren Moss stated that “it could be determined the homeowner was using self-defense.”
2A Ping.....................
For WA being Blue state we don’t really don’t have restrictive gun laws.
EFFIN’ A BRO!
Mr. Smith looks like the guy with the eye patch in Dr. Hook.
I thought he looked more like Hank Williams Jr.!...............
Sound totally justified.
I’m sure he’s telling the truth, but in the event of a necessary use of lethal force I am thinking it would be wise to claim to have seen a gun if one or more of the thugs gets away.
Maybe that will cause crime to drop a bit in the neighborhood.
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Why do citizens need to know intruders have weapons to kill them, they break in, their life is forfeit..no one knows what else is happening in those situations
Never, Never, Never talk to the press after defending yourself. He should have a lawyer. They will try to convict him on something. He just made himself a target.
Another one bites the dust!
I luv real "gun control."
Hmmm, maybe not. Story smells as if there’s more to it.
I believe it was Jeff Cooper who said that “When you are interviewed by the police after a defensive shooting, BE SHOOK! BE VERY SHOOK!
When the police are gone, break out the Champagne!”
Good point! Lol
If he were in a red state, they wouldn't be investigating.
All killings of humans are ‘homicides’.................some are even ‘justifiable’................
By crossing a clear threshold - a secured door on a home by deliberately breaking it - intruders demonstrate felonious malice & intent, and demonstrate an expectation that they can overcome an armed occupant. No further discussion, negotiation, demonstration, nor threat is needed to explain the situation to all involved. Having functionally fulfilled the scenario of the Teuller Drill, the intruders have unilaterally given the occupants cause to strike first.
Just remember that the goal is to stop the threat, not kill. If the threat stops, you stop.
IANAL, go discuss with one.
It is a homicide. But it is a lawful homicide by reason of self defense. Some people don’t grasp that homicide isn’t always criminal.
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