Crime & Safety

72-Year-Old Grandma Opens Fire on Home Intruder

Police say the woman's gun was registered and she had the legal right to use it to defend herself.

A 72-year-old Southern California woman shot at a man as he tried to break into her home late Saturday night, KTLA-TV reported.

After the suspect was unable to break in through the front door, he allegedly hopped the fence and tried to enter through an unlocked sliding glass door.

Jan Cooper of Anaheim knew then she would have to take measures to protect herself and her wheelchair-bound husband, an 85-year-old World War II veteran, The Huffington Post reported.

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Armed with a .357 Magnum Smith & Wesson revolver, she cursed at the man and warned him to “back up.” When he didn’t listen, she fired a shot, barely missing him.

“I was off my mark,” Cooper said.

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Cooper said the suspect, Brandon Alexander Perez, quickly backed off, saying, “I’m sorry, ma’am. I’m leaving, don’t shoot.” Perez, who was already on parole for burglary, was arrested shortly after.

Police say Cooper’s gun was registered and she had the legal right to use it to defend herself.

Now Cooper has one thing to say to Perez: "You have no idea how lucky you were to be able to walk away from my house.”


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