Elderly homeowner uses gun to defend himself during home invasion

The (Alliance, OH) Review is reporting that a 63 year-old Minerva homeowner was able to protect himself when a home invader rushed into his home.

From the article:

Ryan Johns, 33, of Canton, was shot and fatally wounded by homeowner William Dietrich Jr., 63, of Virginia Avenue.

Johns was pronounced dead on arrival at Alliance Community Hospital.

According to Columbiana County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Allen Haueter, Johns was allegedly going around ringing doorbells and waiting for someone to open the door before attempting to rush in.

Dietrich told detectives that after hearing the doorbell he opened the door. When he opened the door, Johns charged him and tried to force his way past Dietrich to get into the house. Dietrich fired one shot into Johns, who managed to walk to a neighbor's yard, where he collapsed.

The article says police have not yet said if charges will be brought against Dietrich.

Under Ohio's Castle Doctrine law, if someone unlawfully enters or attempts to enter an occupied home or temporary habitation, or occupied car, citizens have an initial presumption that they may act in self defense, and will not be second-guessed by the State.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary, BFA PAC Vice Chairman, and an NRA-certified firearms instructor. He is the editor of BuckeyeFirearms.org, which received the Outdoor Writers of Ohio 2013 Supporting Member Award for Best Website.

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