A man was killed Wednesday night after breaking into a Martinez apartment, where the renter’s son shot him with a .22-caliber rifle, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
Two men broke into a Cedar Lane apartment about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Capt. Steve Morris said. After a brief struggle with the renter, the renter’s 15-year-old son fired at least two rounds, striking and killing one man. Columbia County Coroner Vernon Collins declared that man dead on the scene.
Morris said the second man ran away, and there is no indication that he was injured. The second man was described as black, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, wearing black clothing and a mask. He was still at large Wednesday night.
Eventually, these low lifes will get the point!! People are sick and tired of being robbed of things they worked hard to obtain.
Keep it up. It will cut down on these incidents. And don't let our primary line of defense be taken away.
There's one the judges won't put on probation. Too bad the kid couldn't get a twofer. Nothing helps the cops solve a crime like a dead perp or a good blood trail.
I glad everyone innocent is okay! I hope the young man will be okay after taking the life of another person... trust me, you're never the same even if you were 100% right to do so.
Anyways, this is two days in a row where good citizens prevented a robbery of a home. I hope this trend continues and is promoted and celebrated by the entire community. Maybe people will get the hint to stop taking what's not theirs.
It would have been epic if he said, "Hasta la vista, baby!" as he pulled the trigger.
Seriously though, I hope that the child that had to shoot won't suffer too much mental anguish. He probably needs to get counseling, ASAP! He did the right thing, but I'm sure he will have a hard time dealing with the decision.
Joke and boast as much as you will, but please remember that an innocent 15 year old CHILD took the life of another person. That CHILD will have to live with this for the rest of his life. God willing he will find peace within himself and know that he did what was probably his only option in that situation to protect his family. Not all children today are mean or hardened and want to kill anyone who enters their lives with malicious intent. This child may be permanently scarred for life due to the ignorance of two other human beings. I pray for him and his family. What if it had been YOUR child? YOUR family?
Kid deserves nothing less than front page recognition for protecting his daddy and home! Way to go son, you are a hero tonight!
believe, that is why I said that he needs help, ASAP. He was forced to take a life, but hopefully he'll realize that he had to do what he did because a lowlife forced his hand. It was the bad guy or daddy. He did what he had to do.
I feel sorry for this young man who had to shoot someone to protect his father- it will no doubt affect him in some way for the rest of his life. However, it would be much worse if the same young man had to watch his father being beaten or possibly killed by the same intruder. If someone is breaking into a home, there is really no telling what they might do to those who live there. To me, thats the ultimate threat...someone INSIDE your house! I am proud of this young man and I know his daddy is proud of him for helping protect his family.
This is such a sad situation. This young man will be touted for his bravery and saving his father, rightfully so but he will also have to deal with the emotions that come from taking a human life. This didn't happen in some random place that he can just avoid seeing again. This happened in his home. Every day, every night he will be reminded of tonight's events, not just in his mind and memories but within the physical walls of his own home. I really hope this young man gets all the love, support and counseling he needs to appropriately deal with the emotions that come from something this traumatizing.
BoredinAugusta, exactly!!! There should be nothing, but elation on the young man's part. He would have likely been hurt badly or killed if he had not been lucky enough to get off a good shot. I hope you wouldn't expect me to feel distraught after probably saving my life and the life of my father. Too bad he's too young to drink, I'd be toasting a few to myself if I were him. Saving your life is better than winning the lottery.
Two opinions: First, it would not bother me one bit if the kid had taken out BOTH perpetrators, thereby saving us taxpayers from having to fund the search for and prosecution of the second perpetrator.
Second, perhaps this will deter OTHER would-be perpetrators from attempting future break-ins. I want my family and me to feel safe in our dwelling. That boy is a hero in my opinion. I suppose that makes three opinions.
Defense of self and 3rd party...hopefully, these home invasions will be deterred due to homeowners protecting themselves.
Kid must've been a good shot to take somebody out with a .22. Good on him.
What River said! This kid will/should feel good in the long run that he stepped up like an adult and protected his dad. If he has nightmares about anything, it should be the events leading up to causing him to use deadly force.
This sounds pretty cut-and-dried. There's no better justification for lethal self-defense than a home invasion. Unfortunately, a large segment of our society seems to have bought into the concept that everyone's a victim, including the perpetrators of such home invasions, and that provides the basis for the expectation of guilty feelings and second thoughts on the part of someone who defends themselves with lethal force. I hope I've raised my own kids to be a bit stronger than that.
Self defense is absolutely necessary these days. I always find myself asking why don't reporters include more information in these articles. How did the young man get a shot off... with a rifle in an apartment... while his dad and one or both perpetrators fought? At what angle did he shoot... where did he hit the perpetrator... must have been concerned about hitting dad... how close were they, etc., etc., etc. If this young man was raised with the values that I suspect he was, and taught how to use weapons, and how to protect himself and others, he courageously followed the plan... and likely saved his father's life... maybe his own too. Godspeed to them both.
This is a perfect example of why everybody in your household (young and old) need proper gun training and to know where where they are in case of emergency such as this. I am sure the kid did not want to take someones life, but he is a hero in my book. Who knows what could have happened if he didn't act accordingly and responsibly.
I feel sorry for countries like England where guns are banned nationwide. The criminals still get the guns illegally and the law-abiding citizens have no way of protecting themselves. Long live our 2nd Amendment!
I agree nanowerx, being the wife of the man who caught the burglar red handed on Monday and held him at gunpoint until the police arrived, I believe as you do that every member in the household needs proper gun training. We have to protect ourselves and our property!!! I too consider this young man a hero!!! It's time we stand up and fight these criminals!!! Maybe now with all thats happened this week they (the criminals) will get the point, people are not gonna stand back and idly watch anymore!!!!
Criminals should know that it is a risk they take when commiting crimes.
Fatboy, believe,& Martinez: If the brave son ever needs therapy, it's because you have placed second thoughts into his head about the values his father has instilled in him. This young man, NOT CHILD, has been reared to become a man, in a society that has chosen to make boys, passive sissies.
There were many 16 year old American boys who signed up to be soldiers during WWII; lied about their age. They would have never never been called CHILDREN! We need to stop codling our children. We need to let them learn to grow up in a tough society and prepare them for the challenges that lay ahead, like this father did. CONGRATLATIONS, DAD! CONGRATULATIONS, SON! (You will be bonded for life after this life-saving experience. No therapist could ever achieve that objective!)
The young man did what he had to do. No person should ever feel regret and public opinion should not pressure someone into thinking this was anything other than a reaction. There was no option or alternative he could have employed. He removed the threat and that's that. Move along folks....