Louisiana mom who killed home intruder awoke to find him in her bedroom: sheriff
The suspect was armed with 'a shovel and a lug wrench' when he broke into the home, authorities say
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A Louisiana mom who shot dead a home intruder early Sunday morning had woken up to find the ex-con with a shovel and wrench in her bedroom, authorities said.
Robert Rheams, 51, entered a Hammond home before 5 a.m. Sunday, walked past a child sleeping on the living room sofa and into a bedroom where the homeowner slept, a Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
A "physical altercation" broke out when the mother of two woke up, said Jimmy Travis, the sheriff's office chief of operations.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"In fear of her safety and her children, she was able to retrieve a handgun where she fired one shot, striking the home intruder," Travis said in a phone interview on Tuesday.
Rheams was struck in the thigh, with a bullet striking his femoral artery.
LOUISIANA WOMAN SHOOTS AND KILLS HOME INVASION SUSPECT TO PROTECT HER CHILDREN: POLICE
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Robert Rheams, who was shot and killed by a homeowner after allegedly breaking into Louisiana house. (The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office)
No charges had been filed as a result of the shooting Tuesday though the investigation is ongoing, authorities said.
"This case appears to be a homeowner exercising second amendment rights to protect herself and her children from a violent home invasion," the sheriff’s office said on Facebook.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Rheams had a substantial rap sheet before his death, including a cocaine distribution conviction in 1997. He served about 21 years in prison for an armed robbery he carried out in 2001, Travis said. Authorities also linked him to a carjacking just hours before the home invasion.
The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office in Louisiana. (Google Maps )
Travis told Fox News Digital that Rheams had gotten into a disagreement with a woman at a motel in the area and was offered a ride by another occupant of the motel.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}After driving to a residence where no one answered the door, Rheams returned to the car and began "attacking" the driver of the vehicle, Travis said. The car wound up in a ditch, according to Travis, and the driver fled from the area. Rheams allegedly tried to drive off with the vehicle, but couldn't get it out of the ditch.
The residence where Rheams was shot is about three blocks from where the carjacking took place, Travis said. He added that there is no indication that the homeowner and Rheams knew each other, speculating that Rheams likely randomly targeted the home to steal a car.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Once the investigation is complete, the case will be sent to the district attorney's office for further review, according to the sheriff’s office.