CARMICHAEL, CA – In a overnight incident at the Sutter Crossing Apartments on Sutter Avenue, Carmichael, a man was shot and killed in what deputies are calling a clear case of self-defense. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene after receiving a distressing call from a resident around 2 a.m., reporting that he had shot an intruder inside his apartment.

According to Sergeant Amar Gandhi, the intruder, later identified as the ex-boyfriend of the resident’s girlfriend, had assaulted the resident while he was asleep in his bedroom. The resident, legally owning a registered firearm, retaliated by shooting the intruder, who succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

“The new boyfriend had a gun, legally obtained, registered to him, and actually shot the ex-boyfriend,” Gandhi explained. Both the shooter and his girlfriend are cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation, and no arrests have been made due to the circumstances being ruled as self-defense.

Local attorney Michael Wise commented on the legal protections afforded in such scenarios, especially within one’s home. “In California, you are able to stand your ground, and inside your home, you have even more protections when it comes to self-defense,” Wise stated. He further clarified that even if the gun had been illegal, the act of using deadly force under threat would still stand justified, though other charges could apply for illegal possession.

This incident has sparked a mixture of reactions within the community, with some residents expressing shock and dissatisfaction over the lack of arrests. Why someone would be upset that someone defending themselves legally wasn’t arrested boggles my mind.