POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A double date turned deadly early Saturday morning when a man broke into a woman’s home to retrieve his girlfriend after a heated argument, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Judd said two couples went out for the evening Friday and eventually all returned to one of their homes on Ellie Road in Auburndale at 4 a.m. the next morning.
After some time at the home, an argument occurred between one of the couples — a boyfriend and girlfriend. Judd said the argument became so heated, the boyfriend left the house with the other man in the group and drove away.
The girlfriend involved in the argument decided to stay behind with the homeowner, the second woman in the group.
Judd said as the two men were driving away, the boyfriend changed his mind and drove them back to the house saying, “She’s coming with me.”
The man began banging on the front door demanding his girlfriend come with him. Judd said there was no response from inside the home.
Ignoring his friend’s plea to “just leave,” the suspect allegedly grabbed a tire iron from his vehicle and walked around the house to a window. Judd said the man then yelled: “If you don’t let me in, I’m knocking the windows out and coming in.”
After no response, Judd said the suspect tore through the screen and broke the glass window. He was shot by the homeowner on the other side.
While investigation into the incident is in the early stages, Judd said it appears the homeowner had every right to defend herself with lethal force.
“This is another incidence where you just should’ve left,” Judd said. “It’s the last bad choice he’ll make.”
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