A homeowner in Hanley Hills, Missouri, shot a burglary suspect who refused to leave and allegedly lunged at him. The suspect, Cedric Marshall, is now charged with burglary and assault.

HANLEY HILLS, MO (2-minute read) — A suspect involved in a home invasion in Hanley Hills, Missouri, was shot by a homeowner after refusing to leave and is now facing criminal charges. St. Louis County prosecutors charged Cedric Marshall, 47, from Wellston, with first-degree burglary and misdemeanor assault. The court set his bond at $250,000.

The incident occurred on Tuesday when police were dispatched to the 7900 block of Bloom Drive to respond to reports of a home invasion and a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found Marshall in the backyard suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest.

According to the charging documents, the residents of the home were startled awake to find Marshall standing over their bed, partially unclothed. One of the residents quickly retrieved a firearm and ordered Marshall to leave. In response, Marshall allegedly lunged toward the homeowner, defiantly stating, “you’ll have to shoot me [expletive].” At this point, the homeowner shot Marshall in the chest.

Marshall collapsed to the floor, reportedly begging, “alright man, don’t shoot me no more,” before complying with further commands to leave the house. He was later found outside in the backyard. Police confirmed that two children were present during the incident, though they were unharmed.

Forensic evidence collected at the scene aligned with the homeowner’s account, supporting the defensive use of the firearm in response to the threat.

Missouri law permits homeowners to use force when they reasonably believe it is necessary to protect themselves from an imminent threat, particularly in the case of a home invasion.

Safety Tip: Always have a clear plan in place for defending your home, especially when children are present. Be sure to know local laws on the use of force in self-defense.