A Hubert, North Carolina, woman will not face charges in the fatal shooting of her estranged boyfriend after authorities determined she acted in self-defense during a home invasion earlier this month. According to the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, Sadie Floyd shot and killed 28-year-old Colton Bush in her home on Bear Creek Road just after midnight on October 7. The shooting followed what officials described as a series of escalating incidents that had previously led to multiple domestic violence protective orders against Bush.

District Attorney Ernie Lee reported that Bush had unlawfully entered Floyd’s home through a window. Video evidence and witness statements showed that Floyd ordered Bush to leave before firing five shots from a .380 caliber handgun as he approached her, hitting him each time. According to investigators, Floyd’s friend, present during the break-in, confirmed that “Colton came inside the residence through the window and went after Sadie, so Sadie shot him.”

Authorities revealed Bush had called Floyd 26 times and sent dozens of text messages the night of the incident, stopping at 10:11 p.m., just before arriving at her residence. He also made a call to dispatch about his ankle monitor dying and told his mother he expected to “go back to jail,” according to police reports. Attempting to enter Floyd’s home, Bush first used a long screwdriver at the door before climbing through a window.

North Carolina’s “Castle Doctrine” protects residents from prosecution if they use deadly force to defend their homes against intruders. Under this law, Floyd was deemed justified in using deadly force, as she had a reasonable fear of imminent harm given Bush’s forced entry and history of violence. Authorities noted that Bush was under an active protective order prohibiting contact with Floyd at the time of the shooting, following a history of domestic violence charges and violations of prior protection orders. Some people never learn, until it is just too late.