Homeowner: No time to think, only time to shoot

Knoxville News Sentinel ^ | 11/12/7 | Don Jacobs

[SmithL]

2 interlopers arrested after one wounded in neck in South Knoxville --

Horace Garland didn't have time to think when two men claiming to be police officers tried to force their way into his South Knoxville home.

He didn't have time to consider why cops would be screaming and yelling on his front porch about midnight Sunday. He didn't have time to be scared. The 63-year-old man only had time to react with the .38-caliber Police Special he kept at his bedside.

Garland, a Vietnam veteran, said he started shooting at "anything I could hit."

"I'm glad he did," said Garland's live-in girlfriend, Kay Cupp. "I believe those guys would have killed us in bed if they could have gotten in."

One of the men, Jeremy Johnson, did get in the house. Garland, who stands 5 feet-9 inches tall and weighs 122 pounds, shot the 21-year-old Johnson through the neck.

Garland and Cupp said they moved to the Chestnut Street house less than two months ago. Garland has relatives in the community, so the couple had no trouble settling into their new neighborhood.

The couple had been in bed about an hour Sunday night, but weren't yet asleep when they heard a commotion on their porch.

"A boy just came up on the porch, hollering and yelling he was KPD," Garland said. "I told 'em I had a pistol."

[HamiltonJay]

Knox County Sheriff's officers said Sellers and Johnson admitted their involvement and each faces charges of aggravated burglary and attempted aggravated burglary. Each man was being held in jail in lieu of $55,000 bond. Authorities said both men have criminal histories

Why are they not facing charges of impersonating a police officer? They claimed they were the police, in an attempt to gain the upper hand and protect themselves.... so why too is that charge not offered? Kudos to this guy, and hopefully this time these two won't be put back out on the street.

[magslinger]

Death is not necessary, but the Darwin Award candidate must remove himself from the gene pool in a particularly stupid and creative way. Dying is the most common but not the only way to do this.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Trivia question: What's worse than two young people shacked up together? (Answer: two OLD people shacked up! Oy!)

You will be old too one day....

I am sure they will get married if she gets pregnant. :)

[Shooter 2.5]

The Box of Truth says the Judge isn’t worth using as a defensive firearm unless you’re using it against snakes.

You’re better off just buying something else in .45 Colt.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Now I imagine we could have a lively argument about that if they both are not married to other people. If they are of course, then there is no argument.

But I was caught by the "worse then young people shacking up" part of your statement.

You just sounded so very young.