Woman, 80, fatally shoots intruder who stabbed husband
SEATTLE » An 80-year-old woman fatally shot a man who broke into her home north of Seattle and stabbed her husband, authorities said.
The woman called police around 8:30 p.m. Thursday saying she had just shot an intruder, according to Shari Ireton with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.
The woman told police the man broke in through a back door and that she heard a noise, went to investigate and saw a stranger standing over her husband holding a knife.
Merlin Halverson, Snohomish County Fire District 5 chief, told KOMO-TV the woman ran to a bedroom, dug around in a closet and came back with a gun.
“(She) comes out, fires several shots and kills him,” Halverson said.
It appeared the man was looking for drugs, Halverson said, noting pill bottles near the man’s body.
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The suspected intruder, a 25-year-old man from Gold Bar, died at the scene, Ireton said.
Ireton said the woman’s 75-year-old husband was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with abdominal stab wounds. He was in serious but stable condition Thursday night.
The woman was not injured and neither was the couple’s 45-year-old son, who was in the home during the incident.
Detectives believe the man was attempting to burglarize the home and that he didn’t know the residents.
The names of those involved have not been released.
87 responses to “Woman, 80, fatally shoots intruder who stabbed husband”
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What a great story, and I’m glad the media reported on it. It is glorious when homeowners protect themselves. Rah Rah!
Agreed. And there’s no reason to suspect that she too would not have been killed had she NOT had the gun. End of story.
A good gal with a gun!
She had every right to use it. In Hawaii, guns are very restricted. With the decline of an inept and corrupt HPD, we may need to loosen the gun laws to allow self-protection.
All the gun laws in the world will not prevent a determined criminal from committing the desired crime. HPD is very efficient in solving crimes but there is only so much they can do after the fact.
Yeah yeah! What HPD should be doing is picking up all these criminals on the street who have multiple warrants out on them.
Yeah yeah they do! Sadly the other part of the Judicial system releases these criminals. 20+ priors? Don’t you read? Who do you think caught them those 20 times?
You are wrong – when you read about HPD catching someone for committing a crime, the report, in most cases, say that the criminal had many outstanding warrants against him. If the HPD went after and caught the criminal for those outstanding warrants, the last crime would never have happened.
You need to learn to read – not just the reports but comments like mine.
Read my comment again – I did NOT say “priors”. I said “warrants out on them”. Do you know what “outstanding warrants” are?
saveparadise – you seem rather dense so let me give you an example. April 26, 2016 SA reported that a man who escaped from police was captured in Nanakuli. He was caught after being spotted riding in a red Explorer. The man already had 3 warrants and “A woman driving the SUV was arrested for seven warrants”. Here is a case where the woman had 7 WARRANTS but was free driving around the island. HPD should have gone after her long ago and arrested her for the warrants.
HPD fails to go after their own criminal elements. The public is losing confidence in the hPD under the clownish “Chief” Kealoha.
Well, it did in this case! Good for her! Tempted to get a gun myself!
Allie, because all the booze and guns on the rez are a great combination, right?
Violent burglars deserve death.
Better than letting him go free for a “nonviolent” crime!
That is the weakest strawman argument I have ever seen in my life. Burglary and assault with a deadly weapon are not nonviolent crimes.
When seconds count, the police are only a few minutes away.
Go Granny!!!
Probably a life-member of the NRA as they owned a gun?
cojef, so what if she was an NRA member (life or not)? What’s your point? Do you even have a sensible point?
So, Delta, kids being killed is ok, right?
advertiser1, I think cojef is well capable of answering for himself.
As for your comment, not only is it patently ridiculous, but shows you to be willfully obtuse as well.
Why is it so very hard for you to admit to a lie? Is bruising your petty pride so traumatic for you – even on an anonymous venue like this? You were given a chance to save face days ago but all you’ve manage so far are pointless jabs with no real insight or substance.
Put simply, you can’t prove your assertions by researching the Star-Advertiser archives because the proof you need simply isn’t there. I’m sure you would’ve crowed your heart out here had it been otherwise.
So continue shuckin’ and jivin’ as long as you like. But just consider, you’ll be called out as a liar each and every time you profess to know more than you actually do.
ding, ding…that’s the sound of delta deflecting
To all readers here, I rest my case. advertiser1 simply does not respect the truth, likely due to poor and inept parenting and upbringing.
Give her an award!
Awesome outcome!!! She did the right thing, if not she would have been his next victim. Homeowners take a stand and protect yourselves….you have that right!!!
That would be justifiable even in Hawaii.
That would be justifiable anywhere in the US.
But not, unfortunately, in countries like England.
@ choyd – jus saying that any other time you shoot someone here, you go to jail. If the burglar just stood there with a knife, and did not stab anyone yet, you would be expected to retreat.
Before readers seriously consider what advertiser1 has to say, consider that he previously made two assertions: first, that I always support excessive use of force by police and second, that I always support the NRA. He was then asked to prove either assertion, even so far as going back three years. Despite advertiser1’s great facility for cutting and pasting snippets, he has yet utterly failed to dredge up such proof. Until advertiser1 can offer proof or acknowledge he lied, his honesty, veracity and integrity simply can’t be trusted.
Delta, it’s okay that those kids were killed by family owned firearms, right?
advertiser1, no, of course not, and if I’ve written anything here that remotely could be construed as approval of the killing of innocents then I’d like you to prove it. That you ask such a ridiculous question of me suggests you believe you know of such. If so, then again, prove it.
Just like your assertions that I approve of police brutality (otherwise known as excessive force) and that I side with the NRA on all things, you’ll come up empty.
Again, advertiser1, why are you so pathologically afraid of being truthful? If we passed on the street, you probably wouldn’t merit even a glance from me, so why not admit your brain was switched off when you made your silly post? If you value lies more than you value the truth, then go ahead, persist in your shuck and jive routine. I’m sure most readers here can see right through it.
What happened to all the anti-gun and anti 2nd amendment whackos? Too bad the criminal didn’t break into a anti-gun household, outcome would have very likely been in favor of the criminal and ridding of a bunch of anti-American and anti-freedom commies.
Where’s Hillary and all the libs? Great story.
You are right, in this case, the right thing happened. I can’t speak for others, but the question has never been whether or not there are cases where having a gun in the home is beneficial. The question is, at what point is the risk too high. Below are links to articles of accidental shootings by or affecting children, which all less than a week old:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/two-year-old-finds-loaded-gun-in-back-seat-accidentally-shoots-mom-b99714556z1-377258061.html
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/gwinnett-county/police-child-accidentally-shoots-kills-self-in-gwinnett-county/157196347
http://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/9-year-old-rio-rancho-child-accidentally-shoots-younger-sibling/4121271/#.VyOl4keryUk
http://www.11alive.com/news/local/paulding-county-child-killed-after-accidentally-shooting-himself/154191586
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/31/kids-accidentally-shot-people-5-times-a-week-this-year-on-average/
Yes, especially advertiser1, the unrepentant liar and/or buffoon.
Agreed!
Oh, don’t worry, I commented…I’m getting the “awaiting moderation” from SA. Love, your favorite liar and/or buffoon.
Liar and/or buffoon are what you are. Deal with it.
Here is my post in pieces.
You are right, in this case, the right thing happened. I can’t speak for others, but the question has never been whether or not there are cases where having a gun in the home is beneficial. The question is, at what point is the risk too high. Below are links to articles of accidental shootings by or affecting children, which all less than a week old:
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/gwinnett-county/police-child-accidentally-shoots-kills-self-in-gwinnett-county/157196347
http://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/9-year-old-rio-rancho-child-accidentally-shoots-younger-sibling/4121271/#.VyOl4keryUk
http://www.11alive.com/news/local/paulding-county-child-killed-after-accidentally-shooting-himself/154191586
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/31/kids-accidentally-shot-people-5-times-a-week-this-year-on-average/
Delta, So, these child deaths are ok, right?
I know you won’t give me a straight answer, and will probably resort to calling me names, as you already have, but I’ll ask anyway…Love, the liar and buffoon
This is the sign I will place in my front yard pointing at your house—>
http://goo.gl/aaccoV
My next door neighbor, advertiser1, wants to BAN ALL GUNS! ADVERTISER1’s home is NOT ARMED! Out of respect for advertiser1’s opinios I promise NOT to use MY GUNS to protect advertisor1!
I’ll jump in on this adv1 and your point is a good one and well taken. The ultimate debate is that we should still have the choice of this dangerous and critical decision to own and keep a firearm in the home. Whether you are the devil himself but have no criminal or mental illness history you should still be allowed the freedom to own this tool which could save a life or take one. It is the responsibility of each individual in the safe keeping of a firearm and each should be held accountable.
Some estimates put the number of guns in the U.S. at over 360 million. If all the guns owners were responsible enough to keep their guns in a safe place and out of the hands of children, there wouldn’t be these accidental shootings. Unfortunately, not everyone does that.
We have gun control, and maybe it could be better (blame the government for that), but do not criticize people from owning guns legally.
As you have seen, some good can be gotten from having a gun around.
Don’t forget – criminals are not going to give up their guns.
Save and Sail, The arguments you make, I think are very reasonable; and that’s what this debate is about. I have close relatives who depend on hunting as a part of their annual “income” so I get the need for guns in both that and the protection area. The question is what do we do? There is clearly an epidemic, as gun related deaths total around 30,000 annually. How do we strike the balance?
advertiser, hunting and home defense are incidental benefits of having the 2nd amendment, but neither speak to the reason our founders created it.
Advertiser1 – of the 30,000+ gun deaths in 2010, 606 of the deaths were attributed to “unintentional deaths” while most of the rest were classified as homicides (35%) and suicides (62%). Of the 606, 8% (or 48) were by children.
Some people will say that the 48 child related deaths is too much and I agree since there are ways to prevent it. Yet, looking at it from a global perspective, with over 360 million guns in the U.S., it happens because humans are not perfect.
Elimination of guns in the U.S. is not a practical solution. Better coordination by law enforcement agencies has already been found to be a problem and we hope they are correcting that. Guns already come with trigger guards – better education is likely needed to get owners to use them.
Before readers seriously consider what advertiser1 has to say, consider that he previously made two assertions: first, that I always support excessive use of force by police and second, that I always support the NRA. He was then asked to prove either assertion, even so far as going back three years. Despite advertiser1’s great facility for cutting and pasting snippets, he has yet utterly failed to dredge up such proof. Until advertiser1 can offer proof or acknowledge he lied, his honesty, veracity and integrity simply can’t be trusted.
Hey Delta, how about addressing the issues?
Kone, I would say that you are probably correct. But, let me ask you, don’t you think that times have changed over the past 250 years? And don’t you think that the founding fathers meant the constitution to be an organic document? That is, it needs to be able to change with the times as needed?
Have “times changed”? In some respects, of course, yet for far longer than 250 years men have ruled over other men. Often deplorable rulers require replacement, and just as often these same rulers through force resist replacement. Were you able to see into the future perhaps you’d be able to assure us of our own government’s righteous leadership,
yet absent that assurance our founders recognized the importance of keeping the ultimate control of the government in the hands of the governed. Our Constitution? “Organic”? Share some specific examples of changes you feel are warranted.
Just because someone is in favor of gun control does not mean they are “anti-gun” or “anti-Second Amendment.” Your logic is as ridiculous as saying that people who are in favor of birth control are “anti-birth.”
The astounding amount of putrid, vile, and utterly insane things that are posted on SA comments is enough to drop one’s jaw to the center of the Earth.
I never once said I’m anti gun CONTROL. You sir should read my wording carefully as I specifically said anti-gun, not anti gun control. I’m all for gun control but also would love it all states allowed concealed carry with passing stringent annual criminal background and mental checks.
Since you want me to put up a sign saying I don’t have a gun, let me ask, do you have a sign outside your house that proclaims you do have a gun? If no, why not, you are saying that it is a deterrent, so why not put one out there? Why wouldn’t all gun owners do that?
The issue has never been about the item. It has been about who is allowed to have the item.
A gun is an inanimate object (until the Robotic Uprising, ALL PRAISE OUR SHINY METAL OVERLORDS!), it is the person using it that creates the issue. This is a proper use of a firearm by a proper person, therefore no issues.
It is when we have gaps in our laws and enforcement that allows dubious nature users to acquire firearms.
Before readers seriously consider what advertiser1 has to say, consider that he previously made two assertions: first, that I always support excessive use of force by police and second, that I always support the NRA. He was then asked to prove either assertion, even so far as going back three years. Despite advertiser1’s great facility for cutting and pasting snippets, he has yet utterly failed to dredge up such proof. Until advertiser1 can offer proof or acknowledge he lied, his honesty, veracity and integrity simply can’t be trusted.
I’m surprised the police didn’t tell her she should have tried to get a TRO.
She showed incredible gun control
1st of all, this burglar is a victim of the Darwin theory. He LETS Granny run away, THEN HE does NOT run away when he sees she has a gun !! Obviously, this lady HAS some experience AND training in firearms because she used it successfully. To the satirists below, this Granny was lucky the burglar wasn’t a pro who didn’t disarm her AND kill everyone in the house. Not every gun owner would be as successful as Granny.
Although I don’t like to celebrate someone getting killed, that intruder deserved what he got. Impressive, fast thinking and acting Old Lady!!! She took action before her 45 year old son. You Go Old Lady!!!
There is cause to celebrate: an innocent family lives to see another day.
Drinks on me! Nice shootin Grandma!
There is cause to celebrate, three kids were killed by family owned firearms last week alone, right?
advertiser1, this is your third iteration of a remark that insinuates that the right to bear arms is reprehensible and somehow (in your mind) responsible for innocent deaths. Never mind that this Star Advertiser story (remember that?) has everything to do with an 80-year-old woman defending herself and her family.
So I’d like you to state for the record what you think an acceptable level of accidental gun deaths is in a so-called free society with a population such as ours. Is it 10,000 per year? Or 1,000? How about 100 or 10? Or, are ANY accidental deaths worth the preservation of the 2nd Amendment? No cutting and pasting as an answer, please – we all recognize your facility doing that. What do YOU really think? If, as I suspect, you’re really an inveterate anti-gunner rather than the reasonable person you attempt to pass yourself off to be, then the answer is likely to be zero, nada or zilch.
So what is it? A round number is certainly okay here.
That 45 year old son was probably the person that the intruder was looking for … the one with the drugs. With all the commotion going on, that son did not wake up.
Granny may also have been using a shotgun and didn’t have to be Annie Oakley. Ahhh … I think everyone in here is old enough to know Annie Oakley? I personally don’t have or want a gun, even though I am well versed in the use of one. If what has been said is true, that there are 360 million firearms around, if there is a shooting at the mall … I’ll just wait till someone gets shot and use their gun.
Readitnow, criminals addicted to drugs often break into homes looking for legally bought prescription medications. You’re imagining an angle to this story that just isn’t there, and inadvertently or not, you besmirched the innocent victims of this story. Consider: “Detectives believe the man was attempting to burglarize the home and that he didn’t know the residents.”
And who really cares what sort of gun the woman used and long as she used it with great dispatch?
Much as I appreciate the brave men and women of HPD they need to take shooting lessons from Granny. As for the anti gun folks well this just proves the gun is simply a tool for an 80 year old woman to defend her herself.
Since SA is taking so long, you are correct, it was a tool for this lady. It was also a tool which have now affected the lives of children.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/two-year-old-finds-loaded-gun-in-back-seat-accidentally-shoots-mom-b99714556z1-377258061.html
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/gwinnett-county/police-child-accidentally-shoots-kills-self-in-gwinnett-county/157196347
http://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/9-year-old-rio-rancho-child-accidentally-shoots-younger-sibling/4121271/#.VyOl4keryUk
http://www.11alive.com/news/local/paulding-county-child-killed-after-accidentally-shooting-himself/154191586
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/31/kids-accidentally-shot-people-5-times-a-week-this-year-on-average/
Who are the people that are saying a law-abiding 80-year-old woman should not be allowed to own a gun in her home? Show us. Otherwise, stop propping up your strawmen arguments as if they are legitimate.
What is gun control about then? Google it and YOU tell me who wants to ban all firearms if YOU want to be specific. Until then I will categorize them as “anti gun folks” plain and simple. The argument that every person that qualifies for ownership should be allowed to own a firearm is absolutely legitimate.
Richard, consider the many people who would ban guns “for the greater good.” Surely you’ve read or heard of people who back measures to ban guns “if it could save only one life” haven’t you? Or, take the example of advertiser1 on this site who feels compelled to append to even a righteous self-defense use of a firearm a disclaimer along the lines of, “But of course we all must acknowledge that privately owned guns are more lethal to their owners than to a criminal, don’t we?”
I’m certain you’ve seen the like Richard. Many times.
You go girl!
Right on granny….as Dirty Harry would say Go Ahead Make My Day……
Go get’ em Annie Oakley!
The guy deserved it!! As they say, you choose the behavior, you have to deal with the consequences that comes with it.
GOOD AIM!! Don’t underestimate what SENIORS are capable of these days. It’s called “Defending your rights”!!
Annie Oakley lives!! Good going, grandma!
Where was the 45 years old son while all this was going on?
In a very deep ‘REM’ sleep.
MAIN THING IS THAT THE WOMAN IS BEING COUNSELED PROPERLY FOR HER EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH IN THE AFTERMATH.
Less than lethal force first before taking a life?
How would an 80 yr. old lady have accomplished that?