911 Operator advised her to shoot

[Paraguy]

My heart goes out to this woman on so many levels.  So glad she will be around for her child thanks to her courage and being prepared.

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."

[tombogan03884]

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

What an absolutely terrible way to start the year for this poor girl.
At least she and her son are uninjured.

[Ichiban]

McKinley was on the phone with 911 for a total of 21 minutes.

That's just insane.  The article said she was from the Oklahoma City area but not necessarily in the city.  I can kind of understand it taking a deputy a while to transverse a large rural county but anywhere near a major metropolitan area this is inexcusable.

I'm glad she had the sand to do what she needed to do.

[PegLeg45]

I'm glad she had the sand to do what she needed to do.

Amen and God bless her.

[dipisc]

Hi;

     I did read this story first on the AOL Huffington Post section. All of the replies to the story were positive in the wording. That suprised me from the Huffington people.

     21 minutes on the phone.  I live near a large city in PA. In my township we rely upon the Keystone Kops. Their "barracks" is @ 20 miles from me. IF they respond immediately - it takes them @ 1/2 hour to get here  IF  they know the location. The last time I called them the guy could not find my house IN THE DAYLIGHT   and  Left the area.  I had to call them back and darn near beg the guy to come back.

     And by the way;  according to the Keystone Kop,   Defiant Tresspassing is    NOT   against the law !

[Sponsor]

[Magoo541]

20 minutes and still no LEO?  Reminds me of the joke about the old man and burglars in his shed, called 911 and told them it'd be 30 minutes to an hour.  Called back and said don't worry about it I shot them both, LEOs were there in 5 minutes to find the burglars alive and well.  "I though you said you shot them?"  Old man replied, "I thought it'd take you 30 minutes to a hour to get here?"

A sherrif's deputy got a call this week from a remote section of the county when a guy teaching his girlfriend how to drive in the snow found himself in the ditch.  Took the deputy 2 hours to get to them with lights going...

[ellis4538]

It's sad that it took that long to get help there but it is good that she was still on the line with the operator because her call was being recorded!  Helps the Prosecutor make an informed (CORRECT) decision.

Richard

[tombogan03884]

Hi;

     I did read this story first on the AOL Huffington Post section. All of the replies to the story were positive in the wording. That suprised me from the Huffington people.

     21 minutes on the phone.  I live near a large city in PA. In my township we rely upon the Keystone Kops. Their "barracks" is @ 20 miles from me. IF they respond immediately - it takes them @ 1/2 hour to get here  IF  they know the location. The last time I called them the guy could not find my house IN THE DAYLIGHT   and  Left the area.  I had to call them back and darn near beg the guy to come back.

    And by the way;  according to the Keystone Kop,   Defiant Tresspassing is    NOT   against the law !

different states, different rules. But when the defiant one is brandishing a weapon it is a lot more than trespassing.

[Ichiban]

Here's a good video (considering the source) on it.
http://news.yahoo.com/mom-calls-9-1-1-permission-shoot-intruders-201305024.html

My question:  What the hell was the dog doing during this time?

[MikeBjerum]

20+ minutes = When seconds count the police are only minutes hours away.

I don't care how far away a deputy was, in a situation like this there are many agencies than can jump in and assist.  You can't tell me that there were no law enforcement officers in that area that could not have made it to her quicker.

If this had happened at our house we would have had city cops on our yard in less than ten minutes - We live 7.5 from one PD office and 12.5 from another.  Our Sheriff makes sure that all departments work together, and in a situation like this we would have had both PD's on the place even if the deputy had been at the end of the driveway when it happened.  I think the Sheriff of this Oklahoma county needs to examine his response plans.