A young Oklahoma mother shot and killed an intruder to protect her 3-month-old baby on New Year's Eve, less than a week after the baby's father died of cancer.
Sarah McKinley says that a week earlier a man named Justin Martin dropped by on the day of her husband's funeral, claiming that he was a neighbor who wanted to say hello. The 18-year-old Oklahoma City area woman did not let him into her home that day.

On New Year's Eve Martin returned with another man, Dustin Stewart, and this time was armed with a 12-inch hunting knife. The two soon began trying to break into McKinley's home.

As one of the men was going from door to door outside her home trying to gain entry, McKinley called 911 and grabbed her 12-gauge shotgun.

McKinley told ABC News Oklahoma City affiliate KOCO that she quickly got her 12 gauge, went into her bedroom and got a pistol, put the bottle in the baby's mouth and called 911.

"I've got two guns in my hand -- is it okay to shoot him if he comes in this door?" the young mother asked the 911 dispatcher. "I'm here by myself with my infant baby, can I please get a dispatcher out here immediately?"

The 911 dispatcher confirmed with McKinley that the doors to her home were locked as she asked again if it was okay to shoot the intruder if he were to come through her door.

"I can't tell you that you can do that but you do what you have to do to protect your baby," the dispatcher told her. McKinley was on the phone with 911 for a total of 21 minutes.

When Martin kicked in the door and came after her with the knife, the teen mom shot and killed the 24-year-old. Police are calling the shooting justified.

"You're allowed to shoot an unauthorized person that is in your home. The law provides you the remedy, and sanctions the use of deadly force," Det. Dan Huff of the Blanchard police said.

Stewart soon turned himself in to police.

McKinley said that she was at home alone with her newborn that night because her husband just died of cancer on Christmas Day.

"I wouldn't have done it, but it was my son," McKinley told ABC News Oklahoma City affiliate KOCO. "It's not an easy decision to make, but it was either going to be him or my son. And it wasn't going to be my son. There's nothing more dangerous than a woman with a child."

Tally one up for the good guys. Brave woman.

I'd like to tally up two for the good guys. Too bad she didn't shoot both of them.

Another example of justice being an individual thing and not an institutional thing. The young mother asked the dispatcher if she could shoot the intruder.

"I can't tell you that you can do that but you do what you have to do to protect your baby," the dispatcher told her.

Why the hell didn't the dispatcher say what the Detective said?

"You're allowed to shoot an unauthorized person that is in your home. The law provides you the remedy, and sanctions the use of deadly force," Det. Dan Huff of the Blanchard police said.

Too bad she wasn't able to shoot the second guy who is obviously a waste of oxygen.

Sg

If there coming in shoot.If there leaving shoot then drag back in.Good luck,
SZ

Bet that little SOB thought O's--t when he saw that twelve guage. Likely made the knife seem not so significant.

Must be more to the story.......

Yeah, I bet there is. I would like to know if she used lead or steel shot and what size.

Good for her .. .. also curious what shot she used, probably a varmint load. .. . since that is what she used it on. .

From the news it appears to be a double barrel, not sure if he got both barrels.

For a bunch of good reasons, I suspect

* Dispatcher is a 911 dispatcher, not a trained law/law enforcement person. She may not know the law, or even if she does, feel comfortable dispensing legal advice.
* Dispatcher was in the moment, the detective was answering a reporters question in the aftermath
* Dispatcher is in a position where incorrect advice could land the caller and possibly a mistaken dispatcher in a pile of trouble. Detective can say just about anything to a reporter with little risk professionally or legally.

While I understand I represent the minority on this topic -- the best data I've seen shows the net effect of having guns in the house is to be LESS safe, not more. While it's a complex issue, I think cheering individual success stories (like this one) and dismissing the failures (accidents, etc) can lead to evaluate the costs vs. benefits incorrectly.

to bad she'll go to prison for man slaughter.

just sayen.

No she won't.

I have 20 bones that says so.

A "what" slaughter?.......Not a man, for sure.
This whole thing is too surreal.

Good summary on the dispatcher issue IR.

ask the old timer who found a guy thiefen his motor several months back. he shot the guy dead, for thiefen right? isn't he being prosecuted?

all i'm saying is this, in this pussywhipped liberal country we all live in. thieves, pedophiles, rapists and goat molestors can't be killed while thier doing thier favorite activities. you kill anyone of these jackholes, your going to prison. the irony is that prison is stuffed to the sh!thouse sanitary vent, with the exact people she just killed.

Brewer, big difference between getting shot stealin a motor in the backyard VS coming into a bedroom with a large knife, after breaking in the exterior door and the victim being on the phone with the police. . .. . .She walks away clean, unless there is a lot more to the story. . .
And she doesn't live in WA. . . .

Two entirely different situations, which is obvious unless you're a complete goat.

Pretty sure the Detective explained it as self-defense/justified. Interesting what you see when you look at the entire article.

Most states have what is typically called a Castle Doctrine that says the application of deadly force is reasonable (thus no civil liability) when protecting your place of dwelling (and occupants) from violent intrusion.

This case would seem to be a perfect example of the doctrines intent.