PA Bill Number: HB2663
Title: Providing for older adults protective services; and making a repeal.
Description: Providing for older adults protective services; and making a repeal. ...
Last Action: Referred to AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES
Last Action Date: Nov 19, 2024
Ohio Self-Defense: "Some Guy Broke Into My House, And I Shot Him." :: 03/04/2015
For the third time this year, a criminal in Columbus, Ohio has been shot and killed by a “good guy with a gun.”
A police press conference in Columbus, Ohio after a midday home invasion hints subtly that they’re siding with the resident on this one, as the police spokesman speaks about home traumatizing the events were for the 71-year-old homeowner, without mentioning how traumatizing it was for the dead home invader laying on his porch.
The North Side homeowner dialed 911 just after noon yesterday and gave his address. When asked what his emergency was, he replied, “Some … some guy broke into my house, and I shot him.”
He answered the dispatcher’s questions. Yes, it just happened. Yes, the man was lying motionless at his door at 1915 Faymeadow Ave. No, he didn’t appear to be breathing. No, he didn’t know him. The homeowner’s revolver was still in his hand.
“He kicked the door in,” he said.
After a minute, the dispatcher told him help was on the way, and he hung up.
Officers arrived to find the homeowner inside and the intruder dead on the porch. The door showed signs of being kicked in. The intruder was pronounced dead at 12:12 p.m. Sgt. Rich Weiner, a Columbus police spokesman, said it appeared to be a case of self-defense.
“Everyone has the right to protect their house,” Weiner said. At the same time, “it’s very tragic. It’s something he’ll have to live with.”
Police identified the dead man last night as 31-year-old Michael Rinehart. They did not provide an address.
Rinehart served four years in prison after being convicted of burglary in 2010. He petitioned for judicial release in 2013, saying his drug addiction had led to his crimes, but it was denied.
One thing that I found interesting about this case was that home invader Rinehart didn’t get very far in his home invasion attempt. He managed to kick the door in, but was apparently dropped on the porch before he could get inside. Either he had enough trouble getting through the door that the homeowner had time to go retrieve a firearm, or the homeowner was carrying the firearm on him when Rinehart forced his way into the home.
This is the second time in less than a month that a Columbus homeowner has shot and killed a home invader. A recently-widowed woman shot and killed a burglar with a gun that her son gave her just the week before in mid-February.
In January, a serial robber attempted to rob a good guy with a gun and lost his life.
