Elderly woman uses firearm to defend against three home invaders

Lost in the wake of the terrorist attack at an Orlando nightclub was yet another case of a person using a firearm to defend themselves here in Ohio.

From WRGT (Fox Dayton):

Crime scene tape surrounds a home in the 1100 block of Oakridge Drive, police standing by while detectives question an elderly woman in inside.

"When we arrived here we found a male who had been shot in the porch," said Dayton Police Lt. Mark Ponichtera.

Police got the call around 6:40 Monday night, June 6, 2016, of a burglary in progress.

"The homeowner here did in fact fire a shot at a suspect she believed to be breaking in her home," said Lt. Ponichtera.

The suspect was rushed to Miami Valley Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police described the injuries as "grave."

In coverage from WHIO, the victim's voice can be heard on a 911 call:

“A man is breaking into my house,” the caller told emergency dispatchers. “They broke out my window and lit up my screen. I shot a shot and I don’t know whether I hit one or not.”

A separate WHIO article quoted Ponichtera as saying the woman lives there with another elderly person, but was alone when the shooting occurred.

“People do have a right to protect their home if they feel as if their life is in danger,” the lieutenant said. “There are specific circumstances upon which that may occur and it will be up to detectives to determine whether or not those particular parameters have been met.”

Ponichtera said he did not have information as to whether the woman has a CCW [concealed carry weapon] permit.

“In your own home, [having a CCW] does not apply as long as long as you’re not a convicted felon or are under some restriction for having a weapon... It is not against the law to have a weapon in your own home for personal safety.”

WRGT reported that police brought in a K-9 to track two other possible suspects. The dog took them to a home on Edison Street nearby.

Witnesses told FOX 45 they saw three juveniles walking through the alley near the home just before they heard gunshots.

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.