CHICAGO, IL — A woman shot an intruder Saturday night to protect her children as a man tried to break into her home in Chicago.

She had come home from celebrating her birthday with her family. Not long after they got home, her daughter was showering when a man tried to get in through the bathroom window.

The woman told WGN, “I’m just super shaken up. I’m a single mom. I live here with my children, so that’s the last thing I expect, for someone to try and come in on my daughter. It’s just like a nightmare that came true.”

Investigators discovered that a woman with a concealed carry license (CCL) shot a man who allegedly attempted to break in.

When the authorities arrived, they found a man shot in the leg and a nearly two-block-long trail of blood marking the suspect’s path. They took the man to the hospital, and he was in fair condition.

The woman said she did not know the suspect, and it really shook her up. Some neighbors in the area also expressed concern after learning what happened.

Carl Miller, a neighbor who also has a CCL, said, “I, as a cardholder myself, have to be very careful as to what’s taking place in this neighborhood. I can assure you that if I was in the same predicament, I would have done the exact same thing.”

Although police found the man, she said, the incident left her uneasy, and she is looking for a new place to live.

This is a perfect example of why you need to keep your firearm accessible and ready to use, even when you are home. Remember that if kids are in the household, you should store the firearm safely and out of their reach.