Homeowner fatally shoots intruder approaching him with chainsaw; court docs say killing ruled 'justifiable homicide'

An Indiana homeowner fatally shot an intruder approaching him with a chainsaw last month — and WNDU-TV reported last week, citing court documents, that the killing has been ruled a "justifiable homicide."

What are the details?

Authorities around 9:20 p.m. Dec. 14 responded to a call about a shooting at a residence in the 1100 block of Beale Street in South Bend, the station said.

Arriving officers found a man, now identified as 68-year-old Richard Davis, suffering from a gunshot wound, WNDU said, adding that he later died at a hospital.

The subsequent investigation involving accounts from witnesses, including neighbors, determined that a homeowner and his wife were getting ready to enter their house when they received an alarm from their security system, the station said.

The homeowner asked his wife to remain in their car while he approached the rear gate of their property, WNDU reported, citing court documents.

The station said at that point, Davis was said to have approached the homeowner while holding a chainsaw above his shoulders.

The homeowner said when Davis advanced toward him, he feared he would die or be seriously injured, WNDU reported.

With that, the homeowner told police he fired his handgun once, striking Davis, and told his wife to call 911, the station said.

Davis reportedly took the chainsaw out of the homeowner's garage prior to the shooting, WNDU said, adding that it isn't clear if the chainsaw was operating at the time.

The St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office said since it can't prove the shooting wasn't a justifiable homicide, no criminal charges will be filed in connection with the shooting, the station said.

'F*** around and find out'

One commenter on WNDU's Facebook page adamantly defended the homeowner's actions.

"You do that on my property, it's called ... f*** around and find out," the commenter wrote, adding that "worthless people" should "quit breaking the f****** [law] and taking ... s***. More people need to start sticking up for their [property]. I bet the crime rate will go down."

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