Armed intruder breaks into home in middle of night. But resident — inside with his 10-year-old son — also has a gun and shoots intruder dead.

An armed, masked intruder broke into a home in eastern Iowa early Wednesday morning, but the resident — who was inside with his 10-year-old son — grabbed a gun and shot the intruder dead.

What are the details?

Police in Monticello said a man later identified as Patrick O’Brine — armed and wearing a mask — broke out a window and entered the basement of a home, the Associated Press reported.

A resident, who was home with his 10-year-old son, saw O’Brine and fired three shots at him, hitting him twice, the AP noted, adding that responding police found O'Brine dead in the home.

KCRG-TV reported that the break-in occurred just before 2 a.m. in the 300 block of South Sycamore Street and that O’Brine was 30 years old. The station added that the resident who shot O'Brine as well as the resident's son were unharmed.

Jones County Attorney Kristofer Lyons said in a statement that an investigation of the shooting is continuing but that evidence supports that the resident was justified in using deadly force, the AP added.

Intruder used to live in the home

Court filings indicate that O'Brine used to live in the home in question with a longtime girlfriend who recently accused him of domestic abuse, KCRG reported.

The documents state O’Brine reported living at the address as recently as May 2022, the station added. A separate court filing in September 2022 indicates O’Brine claimed he had a relationship with the woman listed as the owner of the home and that he was seeking joint custody of their two children, KCRG reported.

In addition, the station said the woman in question filed a protective order against O’Brine in October 2022 alleging domestic abuse; a judge sealed the specifics of the claims. KCRG said court records show no criminal charges against O’Brine for domestic abuse, and that the woman — while property records list her as the home's deed holder — has since moved to a new address.

Anything else?

There is a discrepancy regarding the spelling of O'Brine's first name among several news reports on the break-in and shooting. KCRG reported that O'Brine's first name is spelled "Pattrick." TheBlaze on Friday was unable to reach Monticello police to verify that spelling.

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