Lessons Learned From a REAL (not Imaginary) Home Invasion

[luzyfuerza]

In September of this year, a Utah family was held hostage for seven hours following a home invasion. Because police used deadly force to end the attack and the invader did not survive, we have results of a reliable investigation into the incident. The news story linked below summarizes the police report covering this investigation.

https://www.ksl.com/article/50311807/report-details-harrowing-7-hour-hostage-ordeal-in-farmington

There are many lessons that defenders can learn from this event. This thread is about discussing those lessons.

Also, this REAL home invasion differs significantly from the IMAGINED home invasion scenarios so often discussed here on THR. Discussing the differences between this real event and those so often imagined is also fair game.


A couple of "lay of the land" observations that can't be gleaned directly from the article:

1) Clearfield is a normal, suburban community. Farmington, on the other hand, is a really nice, quiet, expensive suburban community. They are roughly 15 miles apart.
2) I-15 runs between the two towns.
3) Shepard Lane and Tuscany Grove Circle are both in Farmington.

 

[luzyfuerza]

A few of the lessons that can be learned:

1) Nice, expensive, quiet neighborhoods are not immune from violent crimes like home invasions. The perp seems to have spent September 8, 9, and the early morning of the 10th in Clearfield. He apparently chose to invade a home in Farmington primarily because that is where his car was disabled by the spike strips. Nice neighborhoods do not provide protection!

2) Lock your doors and windows! The perp shot through a front window of a house in Farmington, but the window didn't shatter and he couldn't get inside. He kept trying to enter other houses. He found that a basement window on the house on Tuscany Grove Circle was open, however, and gained access through that window. No fancy cameras or security devices are mentioned, just an unlocked window.

3) Nobody is coming to save you! You are on your own! At least for a long time. The perp initially invaded the home on Tuscany Grove Circle some time between 0130 and 0300 hrs on the morning of September 10. Police were already in Farmington actively looking for him, but didn't figure out where he was until the father contacted them at about 0535.

4) Knowing how to use firearms can come in handy, even if you don't own or carry one. The perp put down his gun as his drugs took effect and he got drowsy, and the mother tried to grab his gun and shoot him. But she missed. Presumably from what was likely pretty close range. This event may have ended right there if she had been reasonably competent with the perp's Glock.

5) Do not "shoot to wound". Mom told police that she tried to shoot the perp in the leg. She had apparently never been taught to shoot at the center chest until the threat is ended. This did not work out too well for her. After her missed shot, the perp wrestled the gun away from her, aimed the gun at her, and pressed the trigger. For some reason, the gun did not fire. Her attempt to shoot to wound could very easily have cost her her life.

There are lots more. What do you see?

 

[luzyfuerza]

Imaginary scenarios versus a real event:

1) So many imagine that they'll hear and respond to a "bump in the night". In this REAL event, Dad upstairs and daughter in the basement both apparently slept through a GUNSHOT inside their house. Dad didn't wake up until his daughter's boyfriend arrived a half-hour later (amazing what dads can tune into!), and the daughter in the basement didn't wake up until a couple of hours later, about 0550.

2) Defenders in imaginary events have all the time and mental awareness necessary to respond appropriately. They can take the time to grab their firearm of choice, with reloads, flashlights, hearing protection, body armor, cycle their pump shotgun, announce "I've got a gun", etc., and then to discriminate between targets and shoot until the perp (and only the perp) is dead and they emerge victorious. Nobody in this REAL event had the necessary awareness or time to respond. Perp accosted Mom at the top of the stairs in her house at about 0300. Daughter came home and was immediately taken hostage. Boyfriend likewise. Dad woke up, came downstairs, and was immediately taken hostage. Only the daughter in the basement was alert enough to avoid being captured by the perp.

3) Some defenders imagine that an aggressive defense is always best. In this REAL event, Mom tried an aggressive defense and it could have cost her her life. Instead, wouldn't it have been better if Mom and first daughter had quietly crept out of the house while drug-addled perp was snoozing in front of the TV? They could have alerted police two hours earlier than they actually were, and the boyfriend would never have been involved. Also, if they had had the foresight to take the gun with them, then Dad and daughter in the basement would also have likely been safe.

What other differences do you see between imaginary home invasions and this real event?

 

[Kleanbore]

Excellent puts, here!