Woman Fatally Shoots Intruder Who Kicked Down Her Door

Pensacola, FL – A woman fatally shot a knife-wielding man who kicked down the door of her home and started searching for her and her children, police said.

The terrifying incident occurred at a residence on James Taylor Lane on Tuesday afternoon, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) said, according to WALA.

Security footage showed the 54-year-old suspect as he marched up to the front door of the house and started kicking it and yelling.

He punched the side of the home while cursing and screaming, then headed back to the front door and kicked it down, the video showed.

“You wanna f—king play? Let’s f—king play!” he yelled repeatedly.

Once inside, the suspect grabbed a knife and announced he was going to hurt the woman who lives there, who is also the mother of his children, WALA reported.

Deputies said the enraged man went from room to room, searching for the woman and her children.

The woman ended up shooting him twice, killing him, WALA reported.

“Florida State Statute allows people to take reasonable steps to protect themselves from harm,” Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said. “You can see from the video – his demeanor and intent were clear.”

“The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will defend a person’s right to reasonably protect themselves against harm, even with the use of deadly force,” Sheriff Simmons continued. “We do not intend to bring charges against the occupant of the home.”

According to investigators, the suspect had a domestic violence injunction against him at the time of the break-in, WALA reported.

He was supposed to be heading to anger management treatment when the incident occurred.

Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said the sheriff’s office consulted with his office during the investigation.

“The Sheriff’s Office has completed its review into this incident, and they have determined that the individual acted in self-defense to determine that charges are not appropriate,” Marcille told the Pensacola News Journal. “We were consulted in that decision, and we agree that the individual who fired the shot was acting in self-defense and therefore agree that no charges should be filed.”