(DailyVantage.com) – An unidentified man met a fatal end when he allegedly attempted to illegally enter the home of a woman in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, after the homeowner defended herself and shot him.
According to a report from News on 6, the suspect was known to police has he had priors for domestic violence. However, his name was not disclosed to the public.
Police say that the woman said that she did not know the 23-year-old man. The woman had called 911 for help beforehand, but by the time police arrived at the scene, the woman had shot the alleged intruder and law enforcement officers found him lying on the threshold of the woman’s apartment. He was still alive before being transferred to a nearby hospital, but expired there shortly afterward.
The matter is still being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Division of the Bartlesville Police Department.
In March last year, Republicans in the Oklahoma state Congress passed House Bill 2049, which expanded homeowners’ “stand your ground” laws. The bill expanded what residents can deem their “castle” under the “castle doctrine” of self-defense, changing the definition of what can be deemed a “dwelling” to include the entirety of a property. This would mean that a home or property owner could potentially shoot someone they deem to be a threat as soon as an intruder or intruders cross the property line.
As of press time, the Bartlesville Police or the District Attorney have not announced any plans to press charges against the woman. In fact, while police deem the incident as “unfortunate,” they acknowledge that the woman acted within the bounds of what the law allows.
“The homeowner felt like they had to do what was necessary,” Bartlesville Police Captain Daniel Elkins said. “That’s ultimately their choice,” he added.
While the woman’s neighbors expressed concern about a firearm being fired in their neighborhood, many ultimately defend the woman’s right to keep herself safe.
Laci Robertson, a neighbor, said that her children had walked past the site of the incident just a few minutes before the shooting occurred.
“You never know when a stray bullet or something could go on,” she said, but added that she was glad that her neighbor took steps to defend herself. Robertson said that she hopes the incident will serve as deterrent for other burglary attempts in the future.
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