Self Defense Home Invasion Shooting

If you shoot an intruder in your home, can you be sued for personal injury or wrongful death?

It is a worst-case scenario that you hope you never have to deal with. A thousand questions come to mind when you even conceive the thought. So, what happens when you live in Minnesota and someone breaks into your home either while you are there are you come upon them returning home? While you would hope there would be a peaceful ending to the situation, what if you end up having to shoot the intruder? Could you be facing charges? Would you ever be able to own a firearm again? Would you end up serving time behind bars or sued for personal injury or even wrongful death? What if it was an accident?

Those are but a few of the questions likely to go through your mind. As such, getting with the right legal counsel is of the utmost importance.

In dealing with a home intruder shooting, focus in on the following:

• Knowing what the law is – While Minnesota does not have a castle doctrine law in essence, it does take into account the principles of that doctrine. As a result, Minnesota permits a resident to utilize deadly force in protecting one’s home and the occupants or approved guests in the residence at the time. If you feared physical bodily harm and even the prospect of dying, you do have a right to defend yourself or anyone else permitted to be in the home at the time when an intruder is present.
• Holding the intruder at bay until help arrives – Your best bet if you were able to was to hold the intruder at bay until law enforcement arrived. The goal is to try not to kill an intruder. If you can stop the threat by either forcing the intruder to surrender or wounding them. Know that you are shooting them if need be to bring a halt to the threat, not kill them.
• Being honest with authorities and your legal team – Finally, make sure you are upfront with authorities and your legal team as it pertains to a home intruder shooting. If there is any video evidence of the incident, be sure to provide this to authorities. Any witness statements can also be helpful in bringing clarity to what took place. Even if you have no criminal record, one mistake involving shooting someone in your home or lying about the events to authorities could change your life and not for the better.

By having the right criminal defense attorney by your side, you are in a better position to defend your rights.