Two home intruders were shot and killed by a Memphis man on Friday when he arrived home and his house was being ransacked.
The homeowner, who requested to remain anonymous, said: “I see my house being ransacked and the dog was still going hysterical in the cage. When he saw me, he notified the other individual that was with him, ‘Hey, they are here,'” WMC Action News 5 reported.
Once the burglars saw the man, they drew their guns. But the homeowner was able to get to a hall closet and grab his AK-47.
Homeowner shoots, kills 2 burglars with AK-47 #wmc5 >>https://t.co/Dvxn9NnX4N pic.twitter.com/QOmfHN3M3B
— WMC Action News 5 (@WMCActionNews5) June 4, 2018
Both of the men were pronounced dead at the scene in the Colonial Acres neighborhood.
Memphis Police identified the deceased as 28-year-old Azell Witherspoon and 17-year-old Demond Robinson.
“These boys need their father and need some type of discipline. They’re out here without any fear,” the homeowner said.
He said he did regret the loss of life, but “it was either me or them.”
The homeowner said that his house was shot up less than a year ago.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but I know I’m going to defend my life to the best of my ability,” he said.
The unidentified homeowner was detained briefly and later released.
No charges will be filed, according to the District Attorney General’s office.
The homeowner provided police with his home surveillance system to validate his story of shooting the men in self defense.
Where it concerns possible retaliation, the homeowner said: “That’s a possibility. You never know how someone else’s family may perceive the situation, but I mean, I just have to take it one day at a time.”
