PENSACOLA, FL — A woman working at the Holiday Inn in downtown Pensacola defended herself with a firearm on Monday after a man who had been stalking her attacked her in the hotel’s laundry room.

The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. when 35-year-old Marquise James confronted the female employee in a location where she was working alone. According to Pensacola Police, James immediately began punching the woman. Fearing for her safety, she drew a legally owned firearm and shot him once in the leg.

Authorities later revealed that James had been stalking the woman through social media and had previously come to her workplace uninvited. Despite past encounters where she told him to leave, this time, he escalated to physical violence.

James suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and was taken into custody after receiving medical treatment. He has since been charged with multiple offenses, including battery, stalking, simple assault, resisting arrest, and possession of cocaine and marijuana. Police say he also attempted to smuggle contraband into the jail and assaulted an officer while being treated at the hospital.

Pensacola Police Officer Mike Wood stated that the woman was fully justified in defending herself, emphasizing that she had done nothing wrong.

“She was protecting herself like she should’ve done,” Wood said.

Legal Self-Defense and Disparity of Force

This incident highlights Florida’s constitutional carry law, which allows law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms without a permit. The woman’s ability to carry legally may have saved her life in a situation where she was at a significant disadvantage.

A key concept in self-defense law is disparity of force—when an attacker has a physical advantage that makes them a greater threat. James, a much larger man, initiated a violent assault on a smaller woman who had every reason to fear serious bodily harm. In such cases, the use of a firearm can be legally justified as a means to stop the attack.

This case is a strong reminder that carrying a firearm for self-defense is a fundamental right, especially for those who may be vulnerable to larger or stronger attackers. Situations like this demonstrate the importance of being prepared and legally armed.