Homeowner thwarts break-in with handgun

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RoyG

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Nice to see people are still able to defend themself in Kentucky. Only thing better is if he had been a little better shot.


Homeowner thwarts break-in with handgun
Two suspects left with gunshot wounds after N.Ky. incident

By Sheila McLaughlin
Enquirer staff writer
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DRY RIDGE - Two burglary suspects were hospitalized Saturday after a 79-year-old homeowner said he opened fire on them after they broke into his Ellen Kay Drive residence.

The men, whose names were not available, were listed in serious and fair condition at University Hospital in Cincinnati, a nursing supervisor said. They were flown by medical helicopter after the pre-dawn shooting.

Gayle Martin, who lives alone, said he was awakened shortly before 5 a.m. by the sound of his back door being battered. He grabbed his .357-caliber Magnum handgun and went to check out the noise. He said he saw two men and figured they were going to rob him.

"They were in the house. They had just broke in. I didn't let them get any farther," Martin said. He started shooting and the men ran from the house. Martin said he did not recognize either man.

Sheriff's deputies arrived at Martin's house after receiving a 911 call from the residence at 4:55 a.m. They found the suspects, suffering from gunshot wounds, after searching the area.

Grant County Sheriff Randy Middleton called Martin lucky. "He's very lucky. They probably would have killed him."

Middleton also said Martin's marksmanship was impressive. "He's a good shot," he said.

Neighbor Nancy Collins, who has lived on Ellen Kay Drive for 30 years, said break-ins in the somewhat rural neighborhood are uncommon. "I felt safe on this street until now," she said.

She described Martin as a "very nice gentleman," who "stayed off by himself."

Deputies have not filed any charges in the case.

"We probably won't, because they were trying to break into his house," said Middleton.

Six hours after the shooting, Martin said he was feeling lucky that he wasn't hurt.

"I'm still a bit shook up," he said.

Staff writer Eileen Kelley contributed to this report.

E-mail [email protected]



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RoyG, just how much better of a shot does the guy need to be? There were two intruders and he shot both of them. There were no bystanders hurt, nor was the homeowner. The shots apparently were sufficient to preclude the intruders from carrying out their intended plans and they vacated the area, only later to be found by the police and then had to be taken to the hospital where they are in serious condition.

So how come you don't think he was a good enough shot and yet the cops think he is an impressive shooter?

At 79 years of age, I would say the homeowner kicked butt, took names, and had done more by 5:00 than most cops do in an entire day.
 
At 79 years of age, I would say the homeowner kicked butt, took names, and had done more by 5:00 than most cops do in an entire day.

+1

I say good shootin' gramps. The question did occur to me though, how's his hearing now after firing a 357 indoors? That had to be insanely loud.
 
RoyG, just how much better of a shot does the guy need to be?

I suspect he's referring to the fact that both intruders lived. I agree with you. The thread was ended with no one who counts injured, so good job grampa.
 
Grand Jury To Hear Home Shooting Cases

Update...

Grand Jury To Hear Home Shooting Cases



channelcincinnati.com
Grand Jury To Hear Home Shooting Cases
Names Of 79-Year-Old Resident, Break-In Suspects Released

POSTED: 2:47 pm EDT July 11, 2005
UPDATED: 4:43 pm EDT July 11, 2005

DRY RIDGE, Ky. -- A grand jury will hear the cases of two men who allegedly broke into a home and the 79-year-old resident who allegedly shot them with a .357 magnum revolver.

The Grant County sheriff identified the homeowner as Gayle Martin of Dry Ridge, Ky. The wounded men are 19-year-old Justin Moore and 25-year-old Paul McGraw. Both are from the Dry Ridge area, the sheriff said.

The prosecutor is seeking burglary charges against Moore and McGraw. Charges against Martin will be up to the grand jury.

The grand jury will hear the cases Wednesday, the sheriff said. No charges have been filed.

Moore and McGraw are still being treated at University Hospital. Their conditions have not been released.

Police answering a call about a break-in and burglary early Saturday morning found two wounded men outside a home on Ellen Kay Drive.

One was in the driveway, and police followed a trail of blood to the other nearby.

The homeowner told police the two men kicked in his back door just before 5 a.m.

Stay tuned to News 5 and refresh ChannelCincinnati.com for updates.

Previous Stories:

* July 9, 2005: 79-Year-Old Shoots Two Intruders, Police Say

Copyright 2005 by ChannelCincinnati.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 
The couple of posters from MD commenting on concealed carry. Kind of like someone that has lived their entire life on a tropical island describing a blizzard.

Now Now Roy, some of us MDers have and still have CCW from other states.
 
I actually thought that other thread was pretty reasonable on balance. There were three blatantly anti statements and the rest of it was either congratulatory of the guy or just arguments about semantics.

[edited because I asked a stupid question]
 
Grant County Sheriff Randy Middleton called Martin lucky. "He's very lucky. They probably would have killed him."

Yep, he's lucky that the guys didn't take the gun away and use on him, as usually happens in this kind of case, according to police "fraternal associations", of which the Sheriff is apparently a member. He wasn't *smart* for having used the gun in self-defense, oh no, he was lucky......
 
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