That’s exactly the situation a couple in Salem, Indiana, faced Monday afternoon when a stranger drove into their front yard and began making threats. The scene quickly escalated to where the armed man was holding a gun on the husband.
According to the Indiana State Police, the man has his wife to thank for saving his life.
When the man appeared on their property, the unsuspecting wife was inside the residence. What she heard and saw would chill the blood of anyone.
A car drove through the front yard, and the armed driver then allegedly grabbed the homeowner and forced him to the ground. Then she saw a gun pointed at her husband’s head.
There was no time to call 911 and anything but an instant reaction would likely mean life or death. She did not hesitate. The wife managed to retrieve a handgun and quickly shot the suspect, identified by police as 45-year-old Michael Chastain.
When officers arrived, they found Chastain in the front yard with a gunshot wound. He was transported to Saint Vincent Hospital in Salem and pronounced dead there.
According to the Tuesday press release, the investigation is ongoing. Authorities said it will eventually be handed over to the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office, though charges are highly unlikely.
Quick action almost certainly saved the husband’s life, and the wife is to be credited for having the courage to act when seconds counted. The investigation will run its course, but barring a major surprise there will almost certainly be no charges filed.
After all, what could be a clearer case of self-defense than defending a loved one from an imminent threat?
