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Seventy-year-old woman holds home intruder at gunpoint, talks about ordeal

Puddin99

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http://www.wndu.com/localnews/headlines/37073429.html

It's not uncommon to hear stories of people defending their homes and themselves from intruders-- but when it's a 70-year-old woman, that story is a bit more uncommon.

It's exactly what happened in St. Joseph County on Sunday night, after an intruder broke into an elderly woman's home on Portage Road.

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The woman held the man at gunpoint until police arrived. That man is 28-year-old Cyrus Brown. Brown is being held in jail on a number of charges, including burglary and intimidation.

The woman who defended herself is Sandra. She asked us not to use her last name. Newscenter 16 spoke to her by phone Monday night, while she recovered in her hospital room. She’s being treated for heart problems, problems she didn't have until Sunday night's scare.

As you'll hear, this 70-year-old is a gutsy lady who wasn't about to let anybody mess with her.

It was all started about nine o'clock Sunday night. Sandra says she was in the midst of splitting wood for her fire and making vegetable soup, when she heard a ruckus outside.

“All of a sudden, I’m hearing fast footsteps around my yard, around my deck,” says Sandra.

That's when she says she grabbed her gun and called 911. Moments later-- the intruder-- 28-year-old Cyrus Brown, broke through her back patio door, pushing his way through the glass.

“Immediately, I felt there was danger because he was so desperate,” explains the 70-year-old. “He's in the kitchen by the stove, I told him to get down on the floor. I said if you come any closer to me, I will shoot you to kill. I told him to sit down, don't move, and I want to see your hands at all times,” adds Sandra.

Newscenter 16 obtained the 911 call that Sandra made. In the background, you can hear her demanding the suspect get down.

911 call:Dispatch: “Ma’am, where is he at in the house?”Sandra: “Get, get, get! You have more to fear from me!”

911 call:Dispatch: “Ma'am, are you holding him at gunpoint?”Sandra: “Yes, I am. And if he moves towards me, I'm afraid I'm going to have to kill. I don't want to have to kill him.”

In that moment, Sandra says she was glad she had a gun and knew how to use it-- just in case.

“I thought that this could turn out badly because I heard of other people being murdered in their house, but I decided, I wasn't going to go down without a fight. I owe that to my children,” she explains. “Guns aren't all bad, only in the hands of the criminal and guns can be a good defense.”

In the end, you can hear the relief in Sandra's voice, as the police arrive at her back door.

911 call:Sandra: “Cops!”Police: “Get down, get down!”Dispatch: “Ma'am, can you put the gun down for me please?”Sandra: “It's down.”Dispatch: “Great, great, ok!”

If you'd like to listen to Sandra's 911 call in its entirety, we have a link at the top of this story.

Sandra is a mother of three and has several grandchildren.

She's set to have a procedure on her heart this week. As you can imagine, this whole situation has caused the 70-year-old a lot of stress.

She says she hopes others can learn from her story and think about protecting themselves. She’s hoping to have a neighborhood meeting in her area to discuss safety in homes.
 

deepdiver

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Great for her!!! I used to live not far from where this occurred and still have family in the area. It used to be pretty rural, and although it has grown up a lot in the last 20+ years, long time residents tend to be the type who preferred rural county living so I am not really all that surprised that this woman refused to be a victim.
 

Grapeshot

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She done good!

Sure glad that she didn't live some place that forbid her to have a loaded gun available to her.

Best line in the story is "Guns aren't all bad, only in the hands of the criminal and guns can be a good defense.”

Yata hey
 

Shorts

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, Texas, USA
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I love grandmas.



Wow, she really did great (listening to the 911 recording). Sounds like there was way more to the incident prior to the guy getting in her house. Just goes to show that anytime, anywhere, things can happen where you have to be prepared and keep a level head.


Loved the part replying to teh 911 operator about not accidentally shooting..."don't worry, I've had training down at the county..." :D
 

Grapeshot

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Citizen wrote:
Note to self: Don't mess with 70 year old women who split their own firewood.:)
Or pithy old men.

Yes, I following you. :D

Yata hey
 

Decoligny

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To qoute the Jan and Dean "Go Granny, Go Granny, Go Granny, Go"

003423_22.jpg
 

KansasMustang

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Just as the old saying goes "God didn't create all men (in this case women too) equal, Colonel Colt did" God bless her and I hope she recovers well from her heart problems. Glad she had a weapon and knew how to use it. My first reaction of course would have been, BLAM! got the wrong house didja?
 

SouthernBoy

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And a really big :lol: for the lady. Does my heart good. Now for reality.

There are people out there who would rather this lady have suffered at the hands of her intruder then to have a weapon in hand ready to use. They would offer her life up on the alter of their anti-gun/anti self defense agenda rather than her having the means to secure her safety, her home, and her well being. These people have little reason to breathe the air my engines need to operate. Sorry for the venting, but when I see or hear of examples such as hers then read or listen to the ranting of those who have absolutely no qualms about removing from us the means to resist and overcome evil, I experience a gut reaction to such ignorance.

God bless this lady and may she live a long and happy life in her later years.
 

MetalChris

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How dare she take the law into her own hands! What if the invader had taken her gun away and used it on her! Someone could've gotten hurt! She should've just hid in a closet or something and WAITED FOR THE POLICE!! :cuss:

;)
 

Citizen

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Task Force 16 wrote:
Given that granny's are prone to crankiness, add a firearm, you damned well better do as they say. That guy's lucky she didn't have a bad case of the tremmors.

Alternate 911 Tape Transcript:

"BANG!"

911: "Did you shoot him, ma'am!?!"

Granny: "No. He got up and ran away. I don't need the policeman, now."

911: "What was that loud 'bang'? It sounded like you shot him."

Granny: "He...um...slammed the door on his way out."

911: "Are you sure!?! It sounded like a gunshot."

Granny: "Yes, I'm sure. Would you transfer me to 'Miss Utility'? I need to dig a hole inthe back yard."

:)
 

AlphaMale47

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If this were in Chicago, she'd be in lockup. Wait a sec, isn't that where our President Elect hails from ??? He doesn't like guns I hear. I guess gun grabbers like the business of consoling victims' families as opposed to punishing the criminals.
 

forever_frost

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This is why I'm trying to get my 63 year old mother to get a firearm. I've given my dad 4, but she refuses to carry because one of us is "always around". She works nights at Walmart and is just an easy target if someone tried something. It's always better to be prepared than sorry
 

MitchN60

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My 68 y.o. mom has a Taurus Model 85 and a CCW. She even offered to shoot a shoplifterrunning from alocal Kroger, but they told her no, let him go.
 

SlackwareRobert

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Since she isn't a cop, can she suggest that the perp confess to the police
before she lets them take him away? Seems that this would make sure he
doesn't beat the rap down the road. A nice loud admission of guilt goes a long
way with the jury.

But way to go grandma!!:celebrate
 
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