Elderly Couple Lives, 1 Home Invader in Critical Condition

The facts of an incident in Cathedral City, California, sound more like what you would find in a Hollywood movie. The incident is a perfect illustration of the castle doctrine. A legal principle existing in every state, in some form. Yes, even in a state like California with many restrictive gun laws, castle doctrine reigns.

castle doctrine

California Home Invasion:

Police responded to a home invasion call in the 38200 block of Chuperosa Lane on the east side of Cathedral City. Police report that around just after 6 PM, a man broke into the home belonging to an elderly couple. The suspect told the homeowners to leave his home. The occupants attempted to reason with the home invader.

The conversation was unsuccessful in convincing the suspect to leave, and he told the couple he would kill them. The suspect would eventually leave the residence, but not on his own. The 85-year-old homeowner retrieved a firearm and shot the unwelcomed guest.

The suspect is in critical condition at the hospital, and the couple is alive.

california castle doctrine dgu

California and Castle Doctrine:

As mentioned above, every state in the country has some form of castle doctrine, either codified or implied. In essence, castle doctrine presumes that a homeowner who shoots someone breaking into their home is presumed to have acted in justifiable self-defense. Now, castle doctrine is not absolute, and many factors go into determining if any force is justifiable or not.

A local news agency covered the story with this headline: Cathedral City home invasion shooting prompts question of rights California homeowners have to protect their home.

It’s hard to tell if the news agency went with a catchy title for the post or honestly believe there is any question on the right of people to use deadly force to defend themselves against an unwelcomed intruder threatening to kill the occupants.

Unfortunately, media and even police often butcher self-defense law and principles like castle doctrine and stand your ground law. As gun owners, it is essential that we understand our states’ self-defense and gun law and not consider the wrong information spread by misinformed reporters.

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10 Comments

  1. Dreamhawk on May 23, 2021 at 6:30 pm

    Very good article and very good, informative, and necessary book! I have one myself! Along with that, after suffering a home invasion years ago, that thankfully ended with all 5 of the offenders decided prudence over dope money and retreated from the shotgun in the hands of a very nervous, scared, but extremely mad homeowner, me!

  2. Leon R. on May 23, 2021 at 6:43 pm

    Good for this couple to be alive.

  3. Phil Martin on May 23, 2021 at 7:27 pm

    Thanks for this reporting

  4. David W. Boyle on May 23, 2021 at 8:13 pm

    Thanks for making all this information known.

  5. Gordon L on May 23, 2021 at 9:34 pm

    This forum is much appreciated for all information shared regarding laws of self defense in protecting our own, our families and friends lives should that come to be by knowing the laws in any way or form that will stick with me. Guns are a tool of protection. Knowing the Law of Self Defense is just as an important tool of Protection.
    Thank you.

  6. Jack on May 23, 2021 at 10:30 pm

    This is what makes America great! I right to protect your family and yourself! Not a victim waiting for LE to show up.

  7. Wm. R. on May 24, 2021 at 2:29 am

    The media reporting, headlining of a home invasion as protecting the home and not protecting lives of homeowners is always the way it’s reported. Media follows, I believe, guidelines set by regulators of the FCC liecense and who are on the side of those who want to disarm citizens.

  8. CHUCK REYNOLDS on May 24, 2021 at 7:25 am

    I am so thankful that this Couple is alright and knew how to respond!

  9. Dan on May 24, 2021 at 11:44 am

    When I was a young man, we were victims of an attempted home invasion robbery. They were professionals and we were set up.

    We were calling police for 45 minutes trying to get dispatch to send help. They would not until I got on the phone…the dispatcher thought I was one of the ladies and informed me “Maam if you dont stop calling we will arrest you”. I responded that we had a really serious situation and needed deputies…dispatch refused.. So I informed her I was going to end this standoff and step outside and have a shootout, and she could explain WHY it took her 45 minutes to send deputies…

    She argued with me to keep me on the phone until deputies arrived arresting two of Orange County’s most wanted who’s guitar case had a sawed off shotgun, a .357 magnum a map of the house and a roll of duct tape… they had more guns in the car…

    Had I not had a gun, and not threatened to use it…these bad hombres would have taken us hostage and been pissed because the person lied about the money and jewels that they would find….because there was none.

  10. Evan Sigmund on May 24, 2021 at 6:28 pm

    Im from Georgia.. The law is very clear here.. You present an danger or threat of loss of life and 99 out of 100 you will lose yours..They have extended it to premises of yard..

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