Sheriff backs Airbnb renter who shot man kicking in her door
A North Carolina woman staying at an Airbnb rental shot an intruder who kicked down the door in the middle of the night, and her local sheriff is publicly backing her right to defend herself.
Snapshot
The October 13 shooting happened in West Jefferson, North Carolina, when a man forced his way into an occupied Airbnb at around 3 a.m. The woman inside called 911 and told deputies she shot him as he entered. He survived, was hospitalized, and now faces felony charges.
Key points
- The incident: Deputies responded to a 911 call from a woman staying at an Airbnb on Sunset Ridge Road after a man allegedly kicked down the door and she shot him upon entry, according to an October 26 Ashe County Sheriff's Office press release.
- The suspect: Authorities identified the wounded man as a 33-year-old man from Long Branch, New Jersey, who was treated at Ashe Memorial Hospital before being flown to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem.
- The charges: He survived his injuries, was released from the hospital, and is now facing felony burglary and assault charges.
- Prior history: Bearing Arms notes the man was reportedly already being sought over a domestic disturbance call from the night before.
- Official response: Ashe County Sheriff B. Sheriff Phil Howell is publicly standing behind the woman's right to armed self-defense, according to the sheriff's office release.
Quick take
Tom Knighton of Bearing Arms argues the case is a clear example of why he encourages women to learn to shoot, writing that some attackers are too dangerous to risk confronting unarmed, no matter someone's skill level. Whatever the man's intentions, a kicked-in door at 3 a.m. left him facing a long recovery and serious charges, while the renter walked away safe.
Read the full story: bearingarms.com