JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A woman shot and killed a man who broke into her Ortega Farms home on the Westside, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said.
News4Jax has learned the woman had a temporary restraining order against him.
According to a petition for an injunction for protection against domestic violence, the 25-year-old woman and the 24-year-old man had two children together, but broke up in March. Since then, she said, he had threatened to kill her. There was a hearing on the injunction scheduled for Wednesday morning.
Just after midnight Wednesday, police said they received multiple 911 calls about gunfire on Catoma Street near Timuquana Road, including one from the woman who said she shot an intruder. She told arriving officers that the man was still inside her apartment.
Homicide detectives said officers found an unidentified man lying on the floor by the master bedroom with multiple gunshot wounds. Fire Rescue personnel said the man was dead.
Neighbors who live right across from the apartment where this happened also told News4Jax that the woman who lives in the apartment knew the intruder and said he was the father of her two children.
News4Jax crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson said if someone is forcefully entering your house, you have a right to protect yourself.
“A person after midnight or the wee hours of the morning is unlawfully entering this house. The persons inside don’t know who it is, don’t know what’s going on other than the fact that there’s an intruder coming through and they have the right to protect themselves, even if it means using deadly force,” Jefferson said.
A resident of the area told News4Jax what was going on is shocking since it’s a quiet neighborhood.
“It’s very concerning because it’s a lot of seniors, children and elderly people out here,” Phyllis Mack said.
Another neighbor said he’s grateful this didn’t go the other way.
“You’ve got to be prepared for something like that any moment,” Jay Rodriguez said. “She did right, that’s all I can say.”
Another woman is glad the victim was safe.
“About two years ago, my cousin was killed. Somebody broke in and killed him over in the apartments right down from her,” Laurice Barcous said.
There have been several other cases where intruders have been killed.
- In April, a 36-year-old man was shot to death after police said he kicked in a door in Riverside.
- In December, a 21-year-old was killed when authorities said he tried to break into a neighbor’s home in Julington Creek.
The Sheriff’s Office said it is still an active and ongoing investigation but they don’t think there are any outstanding individuals or any ongoing risk to the community. The next step will be for the State Attorney’s Office to review the shooting to determine whether it will be justifiable or whether any charges will be filed.
Anyone with any additional information regarding Wednesday’s shooting is asked to call the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at 630-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS (8477).
Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax – All rights reserved.
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