A homeowner in Phoenix shot a man over Labor Day weekend when the man attempted to break into his home.
The local 12News interviewed the homeowner, who chose not to disclose his name.
A Rude Awakening
According to the homeowner, he woke up when his dogs were barking. It was early in the morning, the Saturday before Labor Day. He said his dogs did not usually bark during the night.
The homeowner said he grabbed his gun and went to investigate.
The homeowner went to his backdoor and found a stranger attempting to open it. He emphasized that he had never seen the man before.
“He was random. I never met the guy in my life,” the homeowner said.
Shots Fired!
Police later identified the stranger as Juan Mendez.
The Phoenix homeowner said that he saw Mendez and asked him to leave. The suspect began attacking him and allegedly punched the homeowner multiple times.
This is when the homeowner acted. He fired his gun twice, hitting Mendez once in the leg. Mendez immediately ran away.
Labor Day Warmup
Shooting someone in self-defense is likely not what this homeowner had planned to do on Labor Day Weekend.
But he knew it was the right thing, telling 12News he had been protecting his wife, son, and parents.
Next Few Moments
“As soon as I saw him getting hurt, I called the cops.” The homeowner told Fox 10. He said police arrived quickly to the 911 report of shots fired.
Police arrived on the scene and found Mendez near the home with a gunshot wound in his leg. ABC15 reported that it was a non-life-threatening injury. After treating Mendez at a nearby hospital, police checked him into a jail cell.
Aftermath
Mendez faces charges of burglary and assault. The homeowner hopes that jail will keep this man away.
The homeowner, after speaking to police about the situation, has not received charges. According to police, the apparent intent of the intruder to enter the house is what justified the homeowner’s shooting.
State Self-Defense Laws
Arizona is a state with several laws that protect homeowners in this situation. “Castle Doctrine” and “Stand Your Ground” are both important to a homeowner’s 2nd Amendment rights.
READ MORE: Missouri Homeowner Fatally Shoots Burglar, Receives No Charges
“Now, Stand Your Ground” means the homeowner is not obligated to run away. Some states have a “Duty to Retreat” law which requires a person to leave the scene if possible, rather than fight back.
The Castle Doctrine gives homeowners the right to protect their home. However, this generally only applies if the intruder has already entered the home.
The rules on self-defense differ from state to state. I recommend doing your research so you know what is legal and what isn’t. USCCA is a great resource to find out if you have a “Duty to Retreat.”
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