This week, a Tennessee man was arrested after returning fire at criminals trying to steal a vehicle outside his home. The Shelby County man stepped outside his home Saturday morning around 2 a.m. after being alerted by a surveillance system.
When he exited his home, the thieves fired shots at him as he was underneath his porch. The homeowner and the thieves exchanged shots several times. The thieves fled the scene, and the man returned inside to notify the authorities.
However, the man’s wife claims police began to interrogate him when they arrived at the home. “When they were talking to him, from what I saw, it was like they were trying to find ways to charge him,” the homeowner’s wife told Fox 13 Memphis. “That doesn’t sound right. Why would you put pressure on the victim when you should put pressure for the suspects to be found.” However, she continued, “Right now I’m just thankful that no bullets hit him or my daughters or myself.”
Fox 13 Memphis reported on the incident:
Before retreating behind a vehicle, one of the alleged thieves shoots a round of gunfire at the man as he stands beneath his porch light.
Another couple of rounds are fired at the man before he returns fire three times, based on the security video.
A barrage of bullets are then fired from the direction of the burglars as the man returns fire about four more times.
Finally, the thieves take off as another shot is fired from the window of their car and the man retreats back inside the house.
When Shelby County deputies showed up, the man told them that the suspects’ car was slightly behind his van and he couldn’t see what he was targeting, court records show.
Deputies said that he also admitted to closing his eyes while he shot because he was scared and shooting as the suspects ran back to their car.
The wife claims the authorities are not prioritizing investigating the suspects who are still at large. She said, “The suspects, they are out there. They were probably sleeping or partying and my husband was in jail, trying to get released for something where he was innocent.”
“For my girls and mom, it was like a movie. It was like we were in a movie. When I first told them we were going back to the house, they were like, ‘No mommy, don’t do that to us,’” she said. “They said, ‘Mommy, we do not want to stay there. What if they come back and get us?’”
The man was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment. Reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon is a class E felony that can be punishable by up to six years in prison. Users on social media have voiced criticism of the decision to charge and arrest the homeowner. Senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation Amy Swearer tweeted, “I’m floored that the home owner here is being charged with “reckless endangerment.” The arguments from police seem absurd on their face to me. The only people he endangered were…the ones shooting at him. And he’s 100% entitled to “endanger” them.”
I'm floored that the home owner here is being charged with "reckless endangerment." The arguments from police seem absurd on their face to me. The only people he endangered were…the ones shooting at him. And he's 100% entitled to "endanger" them.https://t.co/rrHcyKpjsm
— Amy Swearer (@AmySwearer) May 16, 2023
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