Tulsa Self-Defense Experts Give Advice On Surviving Home Invasion

By Chris Wright, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Two men broke into a Tulsa apartment Thursday morning. Both of them were shot by a resident, one was killed.

Police say the woman who shot these men was well within her rights, but they have a warning for homeowners. If you face a similar situation, be absolutely certain before you pull the trigger.

Police say the two suspects, Daniel Holman and Darreon Carter, made a deadly mistake by following a woman to her South Darlington apartment early Thursday. Armed with screwdrivers, investigators say they forced their way inside and demanded money.

After receiving it, police say they told the woman to take her clothes off. That's when her boyfriend heard the commotion and began fighting both suspects.

7/15/2010 Related Story: Police Identify Alleged Intruder Shot And Killed In Tulsa Apartment

While they were distracted, police say the woman grabbed her gun and shot both. Carter later died, and Holman remains in critical condition.

"Stranger is in your house that kicked your door down and beat you up, and going to rape you, absolutely. Take whatever actions you need to keep safe," said Sergeant Dave Walker of the Tulsa Police Department.

Tulsa police are dealing with a recent string of violent home invasions. On July 5, 19-year-old Melvin Dan was shot but survived, after police say he broke into an apartment on Riverside.

Home invasions force homeowners to make split-second decisions, and the right response in these situations is never an easy call.

"It's like any other fight you're going to take on one of these deals. If you're going to get on, you better be in it to win it," Walker said.

At the Tulsa Shooting Academy, experts stress that shooting an intruder is a last resort, but it's one people need to prepare for.

"Just having a firearm in the house and thinking you are safe, that's not true. It's a sense of false security," said Brian Hill of the U.S. Shooting Academy.

7/15/2010 Related Story: Grandmother Tells Of Tulsa Home Invasion

The academy stresses training and caution, but Hill points out that if someone enters your home, you are on your own.

"At the time that it matters, the phone cannot help, the police cannot help," Hill said. "Only you can help yourself."

If you're not in a position to fight back, police say you should pay close attention to the intruders so you can relay as many details as possible to investigators.