My home invasion story

[robert_de_niro]

After reading Charles' story, I figured I'd share this one with all of you.

I turned 21 in Jan 2004, and bought my first gun, a Glock 22, and I loved it. I had just moved into my first apartment and I can't say it was the nicest place ever. It wasn't too bad, but it was affordable, which is priority #1 if you're a college student like I am. I had some rather criminal neighbors that lived both next door to me and across the lot from me. My apartment was in the back of the complex and was pretty hidden from the main street, so if you got into trouble with someone in the parking lot (which was maybe 200x200 ft) your were in screwed.

I began to notice that my neighbors never left the house. Ever. They stood out on the poarch all day, smoked, drank, and played loud rap music (not racist, but to help you get the picture I was the only non-African-American guy back there). I also began to notice that about 20 different cars showed up there everyday for about 2 minutes, and these guys were buying new stuff ALL the time Hmmm... I wonder how they could afford that. How could a bunch of guys who never work and party all day afford new TVs and computers?

Being a Criminal Justice major who is headed into law enforcement, I try to be more observant. One day, I finally noticed my neighbor (his door was no more than 4 feet from mine) smoking crack with his 3 year old right there with him. That was the end of the line for me. The next month or so was spent with the police showing up numerous times, some people getting arrested, and the neighborhood began to be more closely monitored. These guys figured that since I was the only guy back there not in "the business" that I was the one ratting them out. They were right. I began getting threatened and finally one night someone tried to break in.

It was about midnight or so in late February, and I was going to sleep and listining to some music. It was down low, so when I heard some noise in my kitchen, I sat up and turned the music off. It sounded like someone was trying to mess with my kitchen window. I made my way towards the kitchen and sat in the darkness about 20 feet from the window. I About 30 seconds later, I heard one guy tell another to step back, and an African-American leg came through my window. I had my glock with 15 rounds of .40 punch loaded and chambered. Next came an arm, and in his hand was a silver .38 special. I raised my weapon to shoot as he began to put his through the opening. I called out a cheesy "Stop or I will shoot!" and his hand began to move up. I immediately fired a shot. It went about 2 inches from his leg, and I mean to tell you I have never seen someone run so fast. To this day I don't know if I was afraid to shoot him or if I just missed.

When the police showed up the found a bullet hole in the wall, urine dripping from the windowsill where the perp was, and about 15 mins later, 2 black males, one with a crowbar, and the other with a silver .38 that I had described when I called the police.

I hope I never again have to use my weapon, but I hope that if I do, I don't hesitate to take the man down when I do. Needless to say I moved the next week.

[Charles L. Cotton]

That's a feeling you cannot appreciate until you've experienced it. I'm glad you came out alright and good call on the move. I don't think you would have been on your neighbors' Christmas card lists.

Chas.

[seamusTX]

... urine dripping from the windowsill ...

I just now managed to stop laughing.

- Jim

[robert_de_niro]

... urine dripping from the windowsill ...

I just now managed to stop laughing.

- Jim

You can imagine it wasn't too funny when it happened, but yeah-it was way funny when it was over. The cops on the scene were rolling...

[seamusTX]

Distance makes all the difference.

I'm glad you survived what must have been a life-changing experience with no negative consequences.

I've never come close to that kind of situation.

- Jim

[aguyindallas]

All I can say is wow....and this folks is why you MUST be ready and armed, at all times.

Glad it turned out ok....how is that criminal justice degree coming along?

[dws1117]

That must have been on scary sleepless night. GLad everything has worked out.

Now that it has been some time since this event, could you share some of the lessons that you took from all of this? What has this taught you? Have you moved? Is there anything that you do differently now that you did then.

I know that we can't understand fully unless we have been in the same spot, but we can try to learn something from those that have.

[gigag04]

Wow....

+1 on the urine probably being funny after the fact.

I too am curious what you learned from all this.

-nick

[cjlandry]

Seriously, did you move?

I can't imagine staying somewhere like that, even if such an event hadn't taken place.

Since it did happen, I'd be afraid of retaliation in the form of an ambush.

[robert_de_niro]

That must have been on scary sleepless night. GLad everything has worked out.

Now that it has been some time since this event, could you share some of the lessons that you took from all of this? What has this taught you? Have you moved? Is there anything that you do differently now that you did then.

I know that we can't understand fully unless we have been in the same spot, but we can try to learn something from those that have.

Yeah I took a lot away from the experience. I wish I would have been able to call the authorites before anything happened. Also things move almost in slow motion in a situation like that. All that, "If anything ever happens to me I'm gonna do this and that" all goes out the window when you see that gun come up at you. It's all down to trained reaction and instict at that point. I think it would be smart for anyone with their CHL to practice their draw and even practice at the range from some different or unusual positions.

When I fired I was crouched down to make myself less visible and a smaller target. I didn't intend for it to be like that when it happened; it was instinctual to stay low. It's different shooting from a crouched position. It may be the reason I missed. But practicing from on your back or proned can help you in case you ever have to fire after being knocked down or "hitting the deck" in a shooting.

All in all, perfect practice makes for perfection. You can never go through too many scenarios in your mind, and if you ever have to use lethal force, the practice could mean the difference between life or death.[/b]

[robert_de_niro]

Seriously, did you move?

I can't imagine staying somewhere like that, even if such an event hadn't taken place.

Since it did happen, I'd be afraid of retaliation in the form of an ambush.

Yeah I was originally thinking "I'll be damned if anyone's gonna tell me where I can and can't live," but I definitely got the hint after that. The good news is that the PD here make regular patrols down that alley now. Hopefully that slowed those guys' business down a bit...

[longtooth]

Yeah I took a lot away from the experience. I wish I would have been able to call the authorites before anything happened. Also things move almost in slow motion in a situation like that. All that, "If anything ever happens to me I'm gonna do this and that" all goes out the window when you see that gun come up at you. It's all down to trained reaction and instict at that point. I think it would be smart for anyone with their CHL to practice their draw and even practice at the range from some different or unusual positions.

When I fired I was crouched down to make myself less visible and a smaller target. I didn't intend for it to be like that when it happened; it was instinctual to stay low. It's different shooting from a crouched position. It may be the reason I missed. But practicing from on your back or proned can help you in case you ever have to fire after being knocked down or "hitting the deck" in a shooting.

All in all, perfect practice makes for perfection. You can never go through too many scenarios in your mind, and if you ever have to use lethal force, the practice could mean the difference between life or death.[/b]

The practice in awkward positions is the best word you can give to the new to CHL whether young or old. Many ranges do not allow such as that. I am fortunate to be a member of an outdoor range with plenty of room. Places to set up & shoot virtually any scenario you are creative enough to set up. Probably the hardest to set up is the one you described. shooting UP & at a distance. You can only pile burms so high. I do practice sitting, squatting behind cover, & even from laying on the ground. Role to cover & shoot from under it. (Not recomended for new shooters.) Try that at an indoor range w/ the push button target cables. Good post & excellent advice. I hope I never find out if my training has worked.

[propellerhead]

I'll probably catch some flak for this but why did you shoot his leg? Did you mean to shoot his leg? I've always been told to shoot at the center of the torso and that shooting a limb is reckless and should not be done. Should you have waited until the upper torso was inside your apartment then take the shot?

[cyphur]

I'll probably catch some flak for this but why did you shoot his leg? Did you mean to shoot his leg? I've always been told to shoot at the center of the torso and that shooting a limb is reckless and should not be done. Should you have waited until the upper torso was inside your apartment then take the shot?

If the one shot averted the situation then it was successful in this case. Waiting for the target to become more available could have put him in more danger - ie, someone else unseen could be there and was now warned off, or the target could have been better prepared to react to being fired upon iff he waited.

If I ever have to fire my weapon in anger(self-defense), then I hope they're either dead or running pissing their pants. I won't miss on purpose - ever - but I can't say I'd be disappointed if I could avoid killing someone. I've trained to kill and its a sobering experience if you take your training seriously. Doing the deed must be infinitely more profound.

[KBCraig]

I'll probably catch some flak for this but why did you shoot his leg? Did you mean to shoot his leg? I've always been told to shoot at the center of the torso and that shooting a limb is reckless and should not be done. Should you have waited until the upper torso was inside your apartment then take the shot?

He already stated: he missed. He didn't hit the BG's leg, only hit near it, and even if he had hit the leg, it would have been a miss.

Kevin