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(Hillsborough County, Florida) – When 33-year old Shane DeShane broke into a home on Deeson Road late last week, he likely knew that the couple who resides in the home were elderly.
What he likely did not know, was that the man of the house was armed and more than capable of defending himself and his wife. Upon hearing DeShane break into their home, the man (whose name has not been released) grabbed his handgun and entered the hallway where he confronted the suspect.
Fearing for his safety, the homeowner shot DeShane, who died on the scene.
According to WTSP:
It happened at a home in the 5400 block of Deeson Road in Lakeland. Deputies say the male homeowner shot the intruder, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
The intruder has been identified as 33-year-old Shane DeShane. Police say DeShane lived at an address also on Deeson Road, just a few houses away from the couples’ home.
Investigators gave no indication the couple and DeShane knew each other. Neighbors say DeShane moved in just a few weeks ago. They also say the couple kept to themselves and rarely left their home.
While this case is ongoing, no charges are expected against the homeowner, as Florida is a Castle Doctrine state which protects homeowners who use force against an intruder in their own home.
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The Daily Caller put together a good piece entitled “Five Times Elderly People Used Guns To Save Themselves”.
Here is a snippet from that:
1. “It was self-defense”
A 71-year-old Texas man defended his wife from a robber outside a grocery story in October, 2014. A man in his thirties walked up to the elderly couple and ripped a necklace off the woman’s neck, pushing her to the ground. But her husband pulled out his handgun and fired at the criminal several times. The robbery suspect got in his car and drove away, but crashed his car and died not far from the scene.
“She was really shaken up,” a witness to the incident told WFAA. “She was shaking and scared. … It was self-defense.”
2. “Jumped up and started shooting”
Phyliss Law, a 63-year-old Alabama grandmother, had been a victim of multiple robberies to her home and had even boarded up her windows to keep thieves out. But in July of 2014, when a male robber broke into her home, Law hid with her 9mm pistol, while her granddaughter hid in the closet.
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“We heard this crackling,” Law told Fox10 TV. “… Like wood popping and stuff. I said oh my god. He trying to come in. So I backed up to my room and got my gun and got my extra clip.”
“I jumped up and just started shooting,” she added. “And he hollered, and turned around and ran. A lot of them come in people’s house, kill them, take what they want and leave. Like I said, not here.”
3. “Anything but frail”
An 89-year-old World War II veteran in Florida defended his jewelry store from an armed robber in August, 2014. Arthur M. Lewis was working at a jewelry store when an armed robber busted into the store. Without hesitating, Lewis whipped out his .38-caliber handgun and started shooting. The two exchanged gunfire, but Lewis put 6 shots into the suspect and only had one arm grazed by a bullet.
“People think because he’s 89, he’s frail,” Vivien Bresnahan, Lewis’ girlfriend, told the Palm Beach Post. “That irritates me because he’s anything but (frail).”
4. This one didn’t go as planned
A 67-year-old North Carolina grandfather opened fire on three criminals wearing ski masks, who broke into his home and attempted to rape his teenage granddaughter in October, 2014. The grandfather was shot, but he was able to shoot all three home invaders, killing one and protecting his wife and granddaughter. Police told WBTW they believe the home invasion was one of many for the three men, but this one didn’t go as planned.
5. “Already attacked one homeowner”
A 61-year-old Indiana man defended his brother and 86-year-old mother from a knife-wielding home invader in November of 2014. When the two brothers heard something suspicious, they hid their mother in a bedroom and went to investigate. That’s when the criminal attacked Barry Frost, 59. But his older brother Terah Frost, 61, was looking out for him and pulled out a gun, fatally shooting the intruder three times.
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