These posts are based on our Good Guy with a Gun calendar. Today’s post is essentially the same as the calendar version.
Somebody forced his way into a Medford apartment just after six on a Saturday evening, and he had a knife. The resident had a gun.
Someone called Medford police about an unknown individual attempting to force entry into an apartment. Within minutes a second one came from the same place, this one about gunshots. The officers found a man dead of gunshot wounds.
Nobody was taken into custody. Senior Deputy DA Michael Cohen went on the local news a few days later to explain, in general terms, related Oregon law: “If someone’s trying to break into your home, or has broken into your home... deadly physical force is allowed to be used in self defense.” The news anchor at KOBI NBC 5 rightly mentioned the need for one’s response to be proportionate and reasonable.
Sources
News
KOBI NBC 5:
Intruder fatally shot by resident during apparent break in says MPD (The day after)
Oregon’s Self-Defense Laws in the Spotlight After Break-in Shooting (Focus on deadly force. This link is text; the video with Senior Deputy DA Cohen is below.)
Medford Police Investigating Shooting on Berrydale Avenue (KDRV NewsWatch 12)
NW Medford Armed Intruder Allegedly Killed In Self-Defence (Daily Tidings)
Rogue Valley Magazine put its coverage inside daily roundups of Rogue Valley news.
Intruder Shot By Medford Resident During Apparent Break In (The release, Monday)
Jackson County DA Speaks on Intruder Shot By Medford Resident During Apparent Break In (The KOBI follow-up, Wednesday)
2A / specialist media
Resident Fatally Shoots Knife-Wielding Intruder During Attempted Break-In in Medford, OR (USA Carry)