Intruder dies from shots by resident

[Spoonman]

<snip>
A man charged with more than 30 offenses in the last eight years picked the wrong target for what police said was his last crime.

Police say Tyrone McKnight, a convicted thief, broke into an east Charlotte apartment about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. Jerene Haron O'Neal, whom police say McKnight didn't know, was sleeping inside.

Once inside the apartment, the intruder was met by the awakened resident, who pointed a handgun at McKnight. O'Neal, 29, fired at least three shots, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said.

McKnight, 34, of Charlotte was taken to Carolinas Medical Center, where he later died.

<snip>
Including the Albemarle Road shooting, at least eight intruders have been killed by residents or business owners in Charlotte since 2000. While records weren't immediately available, police couldn't recall a case among them where the shooter was charged with a crime.

<snip>
Under N.C. law, a homeowner can use "any degree of force that the occupant reasonably believes is necessary, including deadly force" to prevent a break-in or "terminate the intruder's unlawful entry." The intruder need not be inside the home.

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/5599263.htm