She's Elderly, She's Armed and She's Not Afraid to Shoot: Life or Death for Violent Intruder Was a Matter of Inches – This Mugshot Proves It

A home intruder armed with a baseball bat escaped death by a matter of inches Monday when an armed elderly woman opened fire after he broke into her Pendleton, S.C., home and attacked her and another woman, police said.

It was around 3 p.m. when the intruder busted into the house and attacked both women, according to police. The homeowner, identified as Frances Ward, 72, was able to draw her revolver and shoot the man, grazing his head. If the shot was an inch lower, he likely would be dead. This photo confirms that:

Richard Keese is facing attempted murder and burglary charges. (Image source: Anderson Co. Sheriff's Office)

The suspect, identified as 54-year-old Richard Keese, and the homeowner's friend who was attacked were taken to the hospital and later released, though the suspect was immediately taken to jail.

Ward told KITV-TV that she had hired Keese to fix her car last month. She was shocked when she says he forced his way into her home in the middle of the day. Ward's friend then reportedly grabbed a baseball bat to defend herself, but the suspect ripped it from her grip and began beating her with it.

It was at that point that Ward drew her firearm and shot the man. She was aiming to kill, but the intruder got lucky.

"If he hadn't of been standing up, I would have hit him right here with the gun because I was aiming for his forehead to kill him, because he was beating the daylights out of her with that ball bat and I wasn't going to let that happen," Ward told KITV-TV.

The home on Mays Street where deputies say the home invasion and shooting happened. (Oct. 7, 2013/FOX Carolina)

Ward acted in self-defense, deputies confirmed.

Keese is currently in jail and faces charges of attempted murder and burglary, according to the Anderson County Detention Center's website.

Featured image via shutterstock.com

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