Akron and Lorain homeowners defend own lives during home invasions

Two home invasions began badly for the homeowners, but ended badly for the atackers.

Lorain's Chronicle-Telegram is reporting that a man was forced to use a gun to defend his own life when he was assaulted by a man in a home invasion robbery.

From the article:

A man was shot to death after he allegedly invaded a home in Lorain Tuesday afternoon and assaulted the resident inside, according to Lorain police.

Glenn Smith Jr., 34, of Elyria, was pronounced dead at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Lorain Tuesday.

Police responded to a house on 1921 East 40th St. around 5 p.m. Tuesday after its resident, Alejandro Melendez, called to say that he shot a man who assaulted him during an apparent home invasion, according to a news release from the Lorain Police department.

Smith was in the house when police arrived and was taken to the hospital.

According to the article, Melendez told police he arrived home after a trip Tuesday to find a man – later identified as Smith – near his front door. He said Smith assaulted him near the door and continued assaulting him inside the house. The report says that, once inside, Melendez was able to reach a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun that he kept near his front door and shot Smith several times in what police are calling an act of self defense.

According to the report, other witnesses near the scene confirmed Melendez’s account of events, and officers investigating the scene found that Smith was carrying items that indicated he was intending to rob Melendez.

Police say no charges have been filed against Melendez.

Meanwhile, in Akron, police are still searching for a second suspect in a home invasion robbery that leftone attacker dead.

From WKYC (NBC Cleveland):

Neighbors tell Channel 3 News they heard three shots coming from the house. They said they then saw a tall man running out of the house, headed for the woods.

Investigators said an occupant at the home shot the suspect's partner dead in what appeared to be an act of self defense. Police said the homeowner, identified as David Hillis, grabbed a gun and shot one of the suspects.

The suspect's body was found outside the home. His identity was not immediately available.

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.