Man uses AR15 to Defend Self, Girlfriend against Masked Home Invader

AmmoLand ^ | 22 November, 2019 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

At about 4 p.m., on 31 March 2019, a suspected gang member broke into an apartment at Blackhawk Apartments in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Blackhawk apartments are a large, two-story apartment complex in a decent neighborhood. A couple was inside the apartment, in the bedroom.  From journalgazette.net:

The man grabbed his Tactical AR-15 pistol after hearing what he thought were multiple people entering his apartment and took a position on one knee, pointing his firearm toward his bedroom doorway, documents said.

The accused armed home invader, Edwin D. Calligan, 23, was wearing a mask and was armed with a semi-automatic, 9mm handgun.

Calligan broke down the front door. The boyfriend was inside the bedroom of the apartment with his girlfriend when they heard the door being broke. The man grabbed his AR-15 pistol and took up a defensive position covering the bedroom door. He thought, from the noise, there were multiple home invaders.

As Calligan appeared in the doorway, masked, dressed all in black, with a two-tone semi-automatic handgun in his hand, the resident fired. He is not sure if Calligan fired simultaneously or not.

The gunfight continued into the living room, where they exchanged more shots. The invader, Calligan, ducked into the kitchen for cover, while the resident with the AR15 pistol and Calligan continued to exchange fire.

The resident retreated to the bedroom and Calligan, wounded, ran out the front door, bleeding heavily.

When the police investigated they found numerous empty 9mm and .223 casings on the floor of the apartment. The home defender estimated he fired between 14 and 17 rounds out of a 40 round magazine in his AR15 type pistol.

[familyop]

9mm cartridges can over-penetrate, too. If defending yourself in your house, don’t miss. Nearly anything will go through a sheet rock wall and do some damage, and people are not gelatin. Bullets fly right through many parts of the human anatomy. For AR-15 ammo, like other calibers, look at the numbers and penetration depths before choosing self-defense ammo. And don’t miss.

The AR for Home Defense: One Expert’s Opinion
The NRA
by American Rifleman Staff - Tuesday, May 26, 2015
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2015/5/26/the-ar-for-home-defense-one-experts-opinion/

Best Choices for Self-Defense Ammo (FAQ)
.223
https://www.ar15.com/ammo/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/#mozTocId803443

In my opinion, training is more important than cartridge choice by far. I’ve seen in person, that even most people in civilian or military uniforms can’t hit what they’re firing at very well, even on ranges. The best marksman as a group are hillbillies.

[familyop]

"Good for the resident but, 14 rounds? He needs some tactical defensive training.."

In firefights lacking real cover that will stop rounds, especially in urban environments, frequent mobility is an advantage. Physical condition is very important.

In other words, hitting an attacker who is moving laterally and from high to low, especially behind walls and other objects, can be difficult. And a determined attacker might retreat and advance several times very quickly. Many criminals have moved around much while fighting and have killed their armed victims by doing so. Many of them were slim and in good physical condition.

That's the real reason for soldiers having expended enormous numbers of rounds in training with laser gear and in combat in both urban and field terrain environments.

[familyop]

I wrote, “The best marksman as a group are hillbillies.” That should have been marksmen. A long time ago, I lived with hillbillies for years, did years of Army training for a combat specialty and graduated from a police academy.

[Spacetrucker]

I cannot accept your gratitude as I was proven incorrect - the AR-15 pistol is in fact a thing.

[FreedomPoster]

Those folks grew up hunting and shooting. Many to put bonus meat on the table. Think Sgt. York; it pre-dated your era, and I suspect that like me, you’re no Spring chicken.

[AlaskaErik]

Not my gunfight. No need to chase down an armed man, after you've successfully plugged him a few times.

As long as he's in my house he's a threat and I will continue to engage until he is neutralized and no longer a threat, or he's outside of my house and no longer a threat. As long as he's in the house I don't know if he's trying to escape or trying to regroup and come after me again. The victim took the correct action in this case.

[AlaskaErik]

Just watching the Denver news channels, I’ve been bombarded with Bloomberg commercials the last couple of days.

That's one of the great benefits of not having a TV...no commercials.

[AlaskaErik]

Still, he gets a passing grade on the 1st Rule of a Gunfight: Have a Gun.

And a passing grade on the 2nd rule of a gunfight...have enough ammo. That's why a wheel gun will never be my primary defensive firearm.

[familyop]

Yes. I’m an “old, white male.” ;D

[nonsporting]

The victim took the correct action in this case.

The victim left cover. I would remain behind cover in my BR, unless their are innocent third parties in the house. No mention of children, if I recall. If he enters through the doorway -- the kill zone -- he will be shot again.

I suspect he has had enough of the gunfight. The intended victim turned about to me armed. The attacker thought he could have his way without push back. The attacker now has a new "perspective".

The victim took an unnecessary risk.

[AlaskaErik]

The victim took an unnecessary risk.

I'm retired LE and retired military, including six years in the Marine Corps. Cowering while there is a threat in my home is not an option. I will always advance so that I am in a position to neutralize any threat inside my home.

[nonsporting]

Cowering while there is a threat in my home is not an option.

Gung-ho tactics might be called for on the battle field or when police must chase down an active threat, but under the circumstances described in the article, the most PRUDENT course of action is to "cower".

It's your gunfight. I wish you success.

[gundog]

There are several variations of 60 round mags.

[Cobra64]

Thanks! I stand corrected.