Identify thy target

[Oldfalguy]

WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. — A man who thought there was an intruder in his house shot and killed his fiancee the day before they were to be married, police said Friday.

He was 62, she was 61- He "thought" she was next to him in the bed-oops

This is so so sad-

 

[txinvestigator]

Me thinks there may be more to this.......

 

[boycan]

That puts a new twist on cold feet! :-O

 

[Oldfalguy]

But Guys he could have just said I do...NOT

anything but what happened-

 

[randomoutburst]

I had a similar (but not deadly experience) with my husband but luckily I waited to identify the target. You can read the story in my blog - I won't post the long thing here.

 

[bikerbill]

Saw it and was immediately suspicious ... but I'm guessing it was just one of those awful accidents people make when they don't take enough time to be sure of their target ... can't be easy being this guy today ...

 

[Oldfalguy]

Good job Random
I do not think anyone needs to go through the whole routine of stop leave get out etc.
Call the spouse/kids name (if present) and if the intruder doesn't back up fast as soon as you open your mouth things are about to go downhill fast-
Same situation I would duck/move and THEN call out "its me honey"-
If you don't hear that then take your shot or not- stay defensive, in cover and see what happens in the next 2 seconds- it will be resolved one way or the other-

 

[Shorts]

I had a similar (but not deadly experience) with my husband but luckily I waited to identify the target. You can read the story in my blog - I won't post the long thing here.

lol When DH comes home he always hollers "Hey Sweetie, it's me!" for just in case. I always holler back if I don't hear it, "That you?!"

If either of us fails to holler answer, there's cautious curiosity afoot.



I read an initial article about this story but didn't form any other opinion other than "Huh, that's no good"

 

[TexasRedneck]

Years ago, walked in unexpectedly 'bout midnight. Was greeted by 4 kids and a wife - an' 4 guns at the ready. Last time ah made THAT mistake...

 

[randomoutburst]

Shorts, he usually calls out "Honey I'm home" but I failed to hear him until he was already going about his business assuming I'd heard him. Happened again this morning, but I paused long enough to hear him start changing the laundry this time.

 

[Shorts]

Shorts, he usually calls out "Honey I'm home" but I failed to hear him until he was already going about his business assuming I'd heard him. Happened again this morning, but I paused long enough to hear him start changing the laundry this time.

I read your blog and had a good laugh. You mentioned being in the buff with the gun; that's one of the reasons that I don't sleep in the nude, often lol Gotta be ready! But then devil's advocate says, confronting a male intruder in the nude may very well act as a tactic of distraction so he doesn't even see the .45 I have in my hand

 

[randomoutburst]

Glad you enjoyed reading it. I like writing and at least try to make it interesting.
Indeed, in retrospect it did seem to put me in an odd position for defending myself, but at the time it didn't really seem to matter - I was too sleepy to register anything but "grab your gun and get behind something." After the fact, of course, I thought about it and made a mental note that perhaps I should keep a couple speedloaders in my robe that was hanging on the bathroom door next to my dresser. That way I'd have "cover" and more ammo! :-D
I also had two of hubby's revolvers less than an arm's length away in case I needed to make a "New York reload" which is also good considering the situation after the fact.

Unfortunately I think Sunday mornings are just going to continue to be bad mornings for me. They come after a full week of class then two consecutive days of 14-15 hour workdays. I pass out cold and when I finally wake up it's because either my alarm has been going off for a half hour or my brain has FINALLY woken up to some loud noise or bad feeling long after the actual noise or "feeling" would have normally woken me up.
As I mentioned in my last post I woke up to hear footsteps again...but common sense kicked in much faster this time. :-P

 

[RetArmySgt]

Only time anything like this ever happened with me i was home on leave and staying at my parents. My father sleeps with a 45 on his head board and i slept with mine next to the bed while i was here, its normally in a matress holster when im at home. well i heard something that sounded like someone rumbling around in the kitchen so i get up with 45 in hand to check it out. I guess at the same time my father heard it and had the same idea. we ended up in the hallway both leveled on each other and it turned out it was all over a cat that somehow managed to get in earlier in the day.

 

[Navarone]

First thing I do when I get home is the lights come on. I work nights so my wife is
prepared for things that go bump in the night. No more shuffling around in the dark for me.