How to protect yourself from intruders during potential home invasions

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - Two intruders were stopped from breaking into a home when a resident fired three gunshots Thursday, Sept. 30.

The encounter has community members wanting to know the best way to protect themselves during a home invasion.

KSLA’s legal expert, J. Antonio Florence, says there are laws in place to allow people to protect their homes with force. “A person has to decide, ‘If I pull this trigger, am I going to be able to explain if it was reasonable and necessary to pull that trigger’?”

Louisiana law says use of force or violence in defense is justifiable if “the person who used force or violence knew or had reason to believe that an unlawful entry was occurring or had occurred.”

Florence said each situation is different.

“The law does not give a list of 1-2-3, these are things that are reasonable and these are things that are not. It’s literally a case-by-case basis and it’s determined by the person who’s listening to the facts of that case.”

Florence encourages residents to know their rights and laws. “Learn the laws. ... It’s not a black-and-white issue, it’s not so clear-cut. There are a lot of grays.”

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