Things took a shocking turn toward the 18th Century in the town of Georgia, Vermont, on the night of Tuesday, January 30th. Then, at about 11:30 in the evening, a homeowner managed to use a muzzleloading rifle to fight off three attackers trying to break into his home. One suspect was wounded during the altercation.
According to local media outlet WCAX, the incident began when the three armed individuals began trying to force their way into his residence shortly before midnight. As they attempted to break through the locked door and into his house, the homeowner reacted by retrieving his firearm. But what set the incident apart was that his firearm was not the typical semi-automatic handgun or modern shotgun or rifle used by armed citizens in like incidents, but instead a muzzleloading rifle.
Adding urgency for the 75-year-old homeowner, Mr. Gordon Richard, Sr., was that the door through which the alleged home invaders, all of whom were armed, were trying to break is an interior door in the residence, coming through a section of the house in which Mr. Richard’s son lives. His son is being sought by police in connection with the incident.
In any case, the muzzleloader proved sufficient for the 75-year-old homeowner. After retrieving it, he responded to the thieves by opening the door and firing his musket at one of the attempted home invaders. That round hit one of the suspects, who then retreated from the house and was later found in a neighboring yard by the police when they responded.
The other two suspects managed to flee before the Vermont State Police arrived at the scene. The injured suspect was, however, detained and transported to a medical center to treat the wound. He was in critical condition after the incident.
The police report, commenting on that aspect of the matter, notes, “Responding troopers located Brown in a neighbor’s yard. No other individuals were found at the scene. Brown was transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans and later transferred to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, where he was listed in critical condition Wednesday afternoon.”
Further, the police report notes that Mr. Richard is cooperative with the investigation, saying, “Throughout the day Wednesday, troopers have executed a court-ordered search warrant at the home, spoken with individuals and pursued various leads. Richard has been cooperative with investigators. No one has been taken into custody or faces any charges at this time.”
USACarry, commenting on the incident, noted, “This event underscores the critical importance of home security and the potential role of firearms in protecting yourself and loved ones. Muzzleloader rifles, often associated with historical reenactments or hunting, are not commonly cited in modern home defense scenarios, making this incident particularly noteworthy. It also highlights the unpredictable nature of home invasions and the split-second decisions homeowners may be forced to make in the face of danger.”
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