Ohioans use firearms for self-defense in two post-Christmas home invasions

News stations in Dayton and Columbus are reporting on two separate post-Christmas home invasion incidents in which the victims were forced to use firearms in self-defense.

First, WRGT (Fox Dayton) documents an incident in which a women defended herself and two children who were also sleeping inside:

Trotwood Police were called to a home at the dead end of Atlas Road around 6:00 Monday morning.

Police tell FOX 45 three masked men armed with firearms forcibly entered and attempted to rob the homeowner.

"Any time you have a homicide or a home invasion of this magnitude it's unusual unless they're looking for something specific," said Trotwood Police Capt. John Porter.

Porter said the homeowner called 9-1-1.

"I got my gun and I started shooting and they ran," the female caller told dispatchers. "They all three had guns, I'm confused ... they must not have had bullets because after I pulled the trigger they just took off, instead of firing back. I don't know if I hit one or not, I don't see blood anywhere."

The news report goes on to say that the three suspects were caught on home surveillance outside the residence, before they kicked their way inside.

"He hit me in the head with the gun 'cause I was in the laundry room," the caller stated.

The victim told Trotwood Police the suspects then demanded she lead them to "the money," and that she complied, leading them into a back room where a safe was located and two other kids were sleeping.

Trotwood Police said two of the suspects tried to steal a safe, while the third held the victim and two kids at gunpoint. They say the homeowner was able to get away and grab a gun she had hidden in the room, then started firing shots at the suspects.

"I got my gun and I started shooting and they ran!" the homeowner told dispatchers.

Trowood police later found one of the suspects laying dead outside the home, still armed with what WRGT erroneously reports was a TEC 9 "submachine gun." (The TEC 9 is a semi-automatic pistol, chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum - NOT a fully-automatic sub-machine gun).

Police are still looking for the deceased suspects two accomplices.

Meanwhile, WCMH (NBC Columbus) is reporting on another home invasion that ended safely, thanks to the homeowner being able to exercise their Second Amendment rights:

According to the Columbus Division of Police, at about 2:31 p.m. Monday, officers were called the area of Rodgers Avenue and Scott Street on the report of a shooting.

Police say a man ran to his neighbor and asked her to call 911 because someone had tried to rob him and he had shot them. A police report states similarly that the suspect was in the process of a home invasion when he was shot by the homeowner.

When officers arrived on scene they found the suspect, 18-year-old Amir Jamiel Kirby, inside the home, suffering from a gunshot wound. Medics pronounced him dead shortly thereafter.

The homeowner has not been charged.

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.

WRGT (Fox Dayton):

WCMH (NBC Columbus):