Hollywood teen shoots intruder after father says on phone, `Do what you have to do'

Sun Sentinel ^ | May 25 2006 | Marlene Naanes

[Guard Dog]

Javaris Granger wished his father was there instead of him.

His father was on the phone, urging Granger, 15, to get the gun they used for shooting practice. "Do what you have to do," his father said.

Granger did. He aimed the gun and fired at the violent intruder.

It was 3:30 a.m.

Granger woke with a start, hearing his mother's frantic voice and something slamming against the front window.

He ran out to the dark living room and saw his mother screaming as a man, cursing and muttering, threw a bicycle at the window.

Within seconds, Granger ran into his parents' bedroom, found the safety box, unlocked it and loaded two guns for him and his mother. He ran back to the living room as the intruder threw a bicycle at the door and started kicking it in.

The next moment the man kicked down the door and jumped into the living room, yards from Granger.

"I didn't want to hurt anybody, so I fired off a warning shot," the ninth-grader said.

The intruder didn't leave until four shots later.

[Guard Dog]

Great story. The bad part is, next month I'll be posting a story about how the perp is suing the kid and his family for a bajillion dollars, which he will probably get.

[Sender]

He would not be able to sue here in Georgia, where we recently passed a "castle doctrine" bill. Oh he could sue, but he would lose.

[trisham]

What a brave kid.

[babydoll22]

I got all excited but then found out the perp lived. What a bummer.

[Izzy Dunne]

The intruder didn't leave until four shots later.

Target practice ASAP.

[sneakers]

"Within seconds, Granger ran into his parents' bedroom, found the safety box, unlocked it and loaded two guns for him and his mother. He ran back to the living room as the intruder threw a bicycle at the door and started kicking it in."

For heaven's sakes! It's a wonder that the intruder didn't hurt somebody in the meantime!

[mtbopfuyn]

his mom says her family would have died if the man police later identified as Keil Jumper had laid hands on them.

No thanks to her hiding under the bed and leaving her 15 year old to defend her and the family. The kid is a true hero, but the mother should be ashamed of herself.

[sneakers]

sorry, still working on my HTML skills! lol

[sgtbono2002]

That took balls. I hope one day he runs as a Republican for the Senate. They need him.

---

bad.

[xrp]

Sorta self defense with a gun.

[volchef]

I agree. I can't believe she was too frightened to use a gun. These are her children for pete's sake. sigh.

[Old Grumpy]

Good story with a semi-happy ending. Better ending would have been an obit. in the paper for the villain. But a couple of bullets in him are better than none at all.

[fromscratchmom]

I loved this article. While I think the boy is deserving of our praise, I can't help thinking that you're a little too hard on the mom. There are people in this world who just don't react well in emergency situations. And then there are those who do and get the praise they deserve for it. Luckily my husband always reacts calmly and rationally when it is most needed. I would like to think that I would too, if it were really needed like with an intruder, but I can't say that I'm confident I would. I've been in situations in the past, (less important than what was described in the article, but adrenaline producing nevertheless) where I did really well and others where I later had to admit to myself that I should have been able to react more sensibly, more quickly.
That is why the real heroes stand out and impress us. I'm impressed with this kid (and the training he had received ahead of time), just like I was impressed with Rudi Guilliani and so many others on Sept 11, 2001, but it did not occur to me to be ashamed of the mom for not being the hero.

[Tax-chick]

Florida passed the Castle Doctrine first. Nobody can sue him.

[ml/nj]

Nice story, but who goes to visit a friend at a hospital at 3:30 in the morning?

ML/NJ

[isthisnickcool]

Granger does not face charges. The second oldest child in the family, he often goes to the range at Markham Park to practice shoot with his father. He was never a victim of crime before, but calmly went through all the gun safety steps his father taught him, even after one gun jammed after the first shot Saturday.

Victim? I don't think so.

[thegreatbeast]

So nice to read a good story with a happy ending.

[beancounter13]

I understand completely. Early in our marriage my wife literally shocked me when she asked if I would teach her how to use my 9MM for self-defense. I then asked her if she could really use it to kill someone. After she thought a while, she said "no". I then explained to her that for her, the gun is a liability and I would not show her how to use it.

[TYVets]

So nice to read a good story with a happy ending.

The alleged perp, Jumper, 22, is in Memorial Regional Medical Center with two gunshot wounds.

He has a string of arrests dating to 2001, including one for attacking a Seminole Reservation Police Officer the day before he allegedly broke into Granger's home.

Why wasn't he locked up for attacking the Police Officer?

It sounds like the young man protected his family very well, then called 911.

[dagoofyfoot]

but who goes to visit a friend at a hospital at 3:30 in the morning.


Struck me as really odd too, and then telling the kid, "do what you have to do".


Something wierd about a father saying that to his son in what could have very well been their last moments on earth. I think most guys would have been screaming, "Shoot the &%$#@*' b@$t@rd!"