In a harrowing incident, a Rancho Cordova, California, business owner, identified only as Robert, shot an intruder who broke into his store in the early morning hours of November 24th. Robert, 70, was sleeping in the back of the store with his two grandsons, ages 4 and 14, when the break-in occurred.

According to Robert, the intruder shattered the front window and made his way past merchandise, including valuable leather jackets, toward the back room where Robert and his grandsons were sleeping. Robert's 14-year-old grandson, awakened by a noise, alerted his grandfather to the intruder's presence. Robert grabbed a registered handgun, a family heirloom from his father, just as the intruder attempted to force entry into the back room.

Robert recounted the terrifying moments, describing how the door slammed open, and the intruder shone a flashlight inside. Initially mistaking the intruder's butane torch for a weapon, Robert fired a shot. He believed the intruder, who was wielding the torch, intended to harm him and his grandsons. The intruder, after being shot, stumbled out of the store and collapsed in a nearby parking lot.

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office confirmed the incident, stating they received a 911 call from Robert around 1:15 a.m. Upon arrival, officers provided aid to the intruder before transporting him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Sheriff's Office confirmed that the intruder had forced entry and attempted to access the back room occupied by Robert and his grandsons. They are currently investigating the incident, pending autopsy and forensic analysis.

A shaken Robert, struggling with sleep and fear in the aftermath, expressed remorse for the intruder's death while emphasizing his primary concern was the safety of his grandchildren. Having been robbed at gunpoint three times previously, he believes this incident was a targeted attack. He recounted his fear, saying his only thought was that his grandsons would die if he didn't act. He remains thankful that his grandchildren survived the ordeal.