Homeowner shoots intruder with .410 shotgun.....

[justinbaker]

Homeowner shoots intruder with .410 shotgun. Intruder fires back with .30-.30. Homeowner then remembered his .30-06

CRAIG, Colo. -- A 60-year-old Moffat County man was identified Monday as the victim of a home invasion shootout in Craig.

Police said they were dispatched to a home in the 800 block of Washington Street at about 5:40 p.m. on Sunday on a report of a home invasion.

Officers found Mario Vigil lying on a floor outside a bedroom and medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.

The officers then found the homeowner and his 9-year-old son hiding in a bedroom.


An investigation revealed the homeowner saw Vigil trying to break into the front door with the butt end of a rifle. The homeowner grabbed a .410 shotgun and shot the intruder in the chest as he entered the home, but the shot did not stop him, police said.

The homeowner and his son ran into a back bedroom where the homeowner grabbed a 30-06 rifle and started loading it. Police said the intruder fired two rounds from a 30.30 rifle through the closed bedroom door. He then began to break down the door and was shot in the hip by the homeowner.

Police determined that Vigil was involved in a domestic violence case with the mother of the homeowner. Neither the homeowner or the mother were identified.

An initial investigation revealed the shooting was justifiable and was in self defense, police said.

[jednp]

Good thing it all turned out well for the homeowner in the end. Someone comes to your house with a .30-.30, you wouldn't want to get hit with that! Not that a .410 can't be an effective home protection gun... but if you can handle bigger.. then .410 should be out of the question. It doesn't prove to be effective often enough. Just one more reason why when I have the money and especially once I get a house, I'll have a 12 ga with buckshot along with my pistol.

To me it also reinforces my belief in why it's good to have a gun for protection. It seems more often than not, the person who comes to do your harm in your house is someone who you know somehow. Generally they get inside your house because they know you trust them.

[sjp2452]

Wow. Thank God it came out right. Must have been birdshot in the .410...if it was a slug it would have put him down. Good thing the guy's a fast load on the -06! That kid, once he gets past the trauma of the whole thing, will have a serious "My dad is my hero" story to tell.

Also, being that this happened in CO, he'll be protected in law from criminal AND civil court actions (hats off to CO for protecting their citizens this way) because it took place in his home. Except for the emotional issues, he'll be in the clear.

[nightraider]

I wonder what kind of 30-06 he shot with. Anyway 30-06 is a stout round, I'd hesitate on using it because of severe penetration, but then again I don't live in a house.

[jednp]

I think in a situation where you realized your .410 didn't do the job... Any gun is worth trying after that! even if you have an RPG as your only other weapon lol

[tgom222]

I don't like how the article refers to the BG as "victim." The SOB busts into someones house with a high powered rifle and he's the "victim."

[east_stingray]

Originally Posted by tgom222

I don't like how the article refers to the BG as "victim." The SOB busts into someones house with a high powered rifle and he's the "victim."

He's definetly a victim of poor judgement, if nothing else. When you're hiding in a room and someone shoots through the door, they've got a pretty lousy chance of hitting you. When someone's breaking a door down and you shoot through it, you've got a pretty decent chance of doing some damage. Apparently this guy never took a good stats class.

[FDC]

Originally Posted by jednp

I think in a situation where you realized your .410 didn't do the job... Any gun is worth trying after that! even if you have an RPG as your only other weapon lol

Roger that, be sure to check the backblast area . Glad everything worked out OK, and I'll bet Mr. Homeowner is checking what type of load he has in his .410.