An Oklahoma woman shot and killed a man who broke into her Bartlesville apartment, police said.
The woman told Bartlesville police she did not know the suspect was a 23-year-old man.
A woman called 911 on the morning of Jan. 12 to report someone had broken into her apartment in the 1800 block of South Keeler Avenue, police said. As officers were en route, the woman said she shot the intruder.
Police said the woman was justified in using deadly force to protect herself inside her home. After questioning the woman, police said she was released.
A man claiming to be an Oklahoma pastor and his wife is accused of locking children in a bathroom and beating them with a board.
An Oklahoma woman fatally shot a man who broke into her apartment. (Bartlesville Police Department)
Officers arrived at the scene and found a man suffering from a gunshot wound at the entrance to a residence, where they provided aid until emergency medical personnel arrived, police wrote on Facebook. The man was taken to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
“It's extremely unfortunate. We're glad no one else was hurt during this process,” Police Lt. Daniel Elkins told The News on Monday. He said, “Homeowners felt they had to do what was necessary, but it was ultimately their choice.”
Neighbors told The News on Tuesday that they were most shocked by the incident, which occurred in broad daylight as families were getting ready for work or school.
“That's what's happening here, you never know when a stray bullet or something is going to come flying in,” one neighbor said. “You know something is going to happen, but you really don't expect it to happen this close to home.”
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The woman told Bartlesville police she did not know the suspect. (Bartlesville Police Department)
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“Because at that moment when you're dropping your kids off at school, you don't know what to do if someone walks by,” the neighbor added. “And in that moment, what should I do?”
Neighbors said they're glad the homeowner was able to protect themselves and hope other burglars think twice before breaking into someone's home.
“You live in a certain place and you think, 'Oh, I'm safe here,' 'I'm fine.' But the world is just getting crazier by the day,” she said.
