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By KEVIN DOLAK and RYAN OWENS
Jan. 4, 2011

"A young Oklahoma mother shot and killed an intruder to protect her 3-month-old baby on New Year's Eve, less than a week after the baby's father died of cancer.

Sarah McKinley says that a week earlier a man named Justin Martin dropped by on the day of her husband's funeral, claiming that he was a neighbor who wanted to say hello. The 18-year-old Oklahoma City area woman did not let him into her home that day.

On New Year's Eve Martin returned with another man, Dustin Stewart, and this time was armed with a 12-inch hunting knife. The two soon began trying to break into McKinley's home.

As one of the men was going from door to door outside her home trying to gain entry, McKinley called 911 and grabbed her 12-gauge shotgun.

McKinley told ABC News Oklahoma City affiliate KOCO that she quickly got her 12 gauge, went into her bedroom and got a pistol, put the bottle in the baby's mouth and called 911.

"I've got two guns in my hand -- is it okay to shoot him if he comes in this door?" the young mother asked the 911 dispatcher. "I'm here by myself with my infant baby, can I please get a dispatcher out here immediately?"

The 911 dispatcher confirmed with McKinley that the doors to her home were locked as she asked again if it was okay to shoot the intruder if he were to come through her door.

"I can't tell you that you can do that but you do what you have to do to protect your baby," the dispatcher told her. McKinley was on the phone with 911 for a total of 21 minutes."

When Martin kicked in the door and came after her with the knife, the teen mom shot and killed the 24-year-old. Police are calling the shooting justified."

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21 minutes where the hell were the cops????? How long does it take to get to her house from the where ever the closest cop was hanging out?

21 min is a very long time. It takes me 20-22 min to get to work 16 miles away. I pass through two towns and 12 miles of country road. I don't travel over 60mph to do it. At 80+ with lights and sirens I would assume you could clear 25 miles easy.
 
21 minutes where the hell were the cops????? How long does it take to get to her house from the where ever the closest cop was hanging out?

21 min is a very long time. It takes me 20-22 min to get to work 16 miles away. I pass through two towns and 12 miles of country road. I don't travel over 60mph to do it. At 80+ with lights and sirens I would assume you could clear 25 miles easy.

When minutes count, the police are only hours away, LOL. I'd say she did OK for herself, and I never believe the police can get here soon enough in an emergency. I count on myself.

But I don't know her location regarding police locations. I can't remember how many miles of road our sheriff's deputies have to cover, or how many patrol cars are out there, but I could see it taking that long if they are at other ends of the county.

Lesson: Don't count on anyone but yourself.
 
Nice of the dispatcher to skirt the standard idea of not giving legal advice by clarifying that she should do what she has to do to protect her baby. It is unfortunate that in today's society people have become litigious to the point you have to have a disclaimer on everything. I hope the perpetrator's family doesn't try to sue her for defending her child and her self - then again we are talking Oklahoma here, not San Francisco so I'm guessing her odds of winning against what should be a classified as a frivolous law suit are much better.

On another note - from the video news clip it appears that the cops didn't take her double barrel as evidence in case the deceased's friends and family get an itch for retaliation.

Seems odd to me that in the last few days I've seen several news stories of people justifiably shooting to defend themselves in similar situations. IIRC there was an 80 year old man who shot an intruder in the foot, a 14 year old who blasted one of two intruders with 00 buckshot and this 18 y/o mother all in 2 days time. I don't recall seeing this many self defense shootings getting neutral or positive coverage in the normal news sources in any given month over the last several years.

Glad she and her son survived the incident without any physical harm and proof that you shouldn't bring a knife to a gun fight.
 
I'm very happy she shot those animals. Good riddance.

My lady knows how to shoot my nightstand gun just in case she's ever home alone and some XYY mongrel tries to break in.

I'm not gonna lie though, the thought that people like that are running around preying on the weak & the wounded makes me stock up on ammo.
 
Brave Lady - thank God she knew how to use the shot gun - better than a pistol.

"I can't tell you that you can do that but you do what you have to do to protect your baby," the dispatcher told her. McKinley was on the phone with 911 for a total of 21 minutes."

This surprised me. Is everyone afraid to say - "shoot him" . IS it because of liability?

I wonder what would have happened if she held back because the police would not say it is OK?
 

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