An inmate who had escaped from a South Carolina jail was killed by a gun owner after he kicked in the back door of her home. Bruce McLaughlin Jr., 30, and fellow inmate Timothy Dill had just beat up two prison guards at the nearby county jail when the incident occurred.
After beating up the guards, Dill and McLaughlin stole the guards’ keys. The two criminals then locked the prison guards in a room while they made their escape. The two inmates went in separate directions. Dill was recaptured without incident soon after escaping. However, at approximately 3 A.M., and just minutes after escaping, McLaughlin went to a home nearby and kicked down the back door.
McLaughlin was still in his orange jumpsuit when he busted down the woman’s back door. He immediately grabbed a knife from the kitchen and headed towards her bedroom. The woman, who has a concealed weapons permit and was home alone, shot the inmate once in the head just as he was coming to her bedroom.
Pickens County Sheriff Rick Clark said that the woman was shaken by the incident and did not want to have her name released. The sheriff said that he is respecting the woman’s wishes and not releasing her name. He did say that he gave her a big hug and told her how proud of her he was for acting quickly. The case will be sent to a prosecutor to determine if any charges should be filed against the homeowner. However, sheriff Clark believes that the shooting was completely justified, and that the woman will not face any charges.
“This was a big guy,” he told reporters. “If she hadn’t had a weapon, there’s no telling what would have happened.”
The sheriff pointed out that “this is the shining example” of why owning and knowing how to use a gun is important.” The law-abiding homeowner, who was just in her bed sleeping when a hardened criminal came busting in her door, came out good on her end and the bad guy didn’t — which is how it is exactly supposed to be. Had the criminal chosen another house to burglarize, things might have turned out much differently.
The criminal, Bruce McLaughlin, died from a gunshot to the head, according to the local Pickens County Coroner. His accomplice, who was captured, was charged with escape along with battery, first-degree assault and two counts of kidnapping. He is also charged with a host of other crimes, including criminal sexual conduct with a minor. Dill is currently awaiting trial on the sex with a minor charge, and could face even more time for that crime.
The slain home invader had been in and out of jail more than a dozen times. His charges ranged from the first-degree burglary to assaulting a police officer. McLaughlin had also been awaiting trial on grand larceny and first-degree burglary charges.
~ Firearm Daily
