Key Takeaways
- A homeowner in Somerset Township shot and killed an alleged intruder early Sunday morning during an attempted break-in.
- The incident occurred around 2:05 a.m. when loud banging and a demand for entry woke the homeowner.
- After warning the intruder that he was armed, the homeowner shot the man when he continued to force entry into the home.
- Police found the man with a gunshot wound to the head; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
- Preliminary findings suggest the homeowner acted in self-defense, and the investigation is ongoing.
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SOMERSET TWP, PA – A homeowner in Somerset Township shot and killed a man early Sunday morning after the individual allegedly broke a kitchen window and attempted to enter the residence, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
Troopers with Pennsylvania State Police in Somerset were dispatched to a home on Locust Street at approximately 2:05 a.m. on March 9 after receiving a call from the homeowner reporting an attempted break-in.
According to police, the homeowner told dispatchers he had been awakened by loud banging on his kitchen window and a man demanding entry.
Authorities say the individual, later identified by investigators, allegedly broke the kitchen window and began attempting to enter the residence.
The homeowner reported that he warned the individual that he was armed. When the intruder continued attempting to enter the home, the homeowner discharged a firearm toward him.
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Responding troopers located the man near the rear of the residence with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Investigators also observed the broken kitchen window during their response.
The homeowner was detained and transported to the Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Somerset following the incident.
State police said that preliminary information suggests the homeowner was acting in self-defense. The investigation remains ongoing.
Incidents like this highlight the reality that violent encounters can occur suddenly and often in the middle of the night. When someone forces entry into an occupied home, the people inside are immediately facing a potentially violent threat.
The right to keep and bear arms exists in part so that lawful citizens have the ability to protect themselves when faced with a violent threat. While investigations must always run their course, cases like this underscore why many Americans choose to exercise that right and be prepared to defend their personal safety when confronted with a home invasion.
