(ProsperNews.net) – An Indiana father discovered that his son had shot a relative while defending their home from intruders. Darrell Gibbs from Indianapolis told reporters that he woke at around 4 am to the sound of gunshots outside his home. His son arrived at his bedroom door, telling him that intruders were kicking at the back door and trying to gain access. The two men ran to investigate. Gibbs’ son had already fired at the door, trading shots with those outside, and when the firing ceased and Mr. Gibbs opened his door, he found one of his relatives lying there injured. “It was little Matt, my nephew’s son,” the homeowner said.
Matthew Kinnard II was lying in the garden and told his relative that he needed urgent help because he could not feel his legs. Gibbs scarcely recognized his relative, saying he had not spent much time around him, and while he felt sorry for him, he insisted that his behavior was entirely unacceptable. Gibbs added that he did not have anything in his home worth stealing, and if the thieves thought he was wealthy, they had been misinformed.
The remaining two intruders fled the scene and police are seeking help to identify and apprehend them. Witness reports indicate that they jumped into a neighbor’s garden before escaping in a vehicle situated nearby. Mr. Gibbs’ unnamed son underwent extensive police questioning but was later released without charge. The nephew intruder, who has previously been shot and survived, is undergoing hospital treatment and is expected to pull through.
Indiana’s self-defense laws allow homeowners to use deadly force against intruders. The law does not include a duty to retreat, as in some states, meaning a person is not obligated to remove themselves from a dangerous situation before using force in their own defense. Force must be proportionate and reasonable and cannot be used if an intruder begins to leave the scene and no longer presents a significant threat.
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