BARTLESVILLE HOME INTRUDER SHOT AND KILLED

Some neighbors in Bartlesville say they were shocked to hear about a shooting that happened too close to them.

Bartlesville Police say a woman shot and killed a man who broke into her apartment.

Police say the man was 23 years old and that the woman told police she didn’t know him.

Neighbors say the thing that surprised them the most is they didn’t expect something like this to happen in broad daylight when families are getting ready for work and kids ready for school.

Bartlesville Police say a woman called 911 this morning and said someone was breaking into her apartment, then said she’d shot the intruder.

Laci Robertson lives nearby and was getting her kids ready for school. She says one of her kids had walked by just before the shooting.

“With that happening just right here, you never know when a stray bullet or something could go on,” said Robertson. “You know there’s things that happen, but you just don’t really think it’s going to happen so close to home.”

She says it’s scary to think about this kind of crime happening at such a busy time of day. “Because I think, what if in that moment, I’m getting my child out the door for school and somebody just comes right through,” said Robertson. “And in that moment, what do I do?”

Bartlesville Police say the law gives people the right to use deadly force to protect themselves inside their homes.

“It’s very unfortunate, and we’re glad no one else was hurt in the process,” said Captain Daniel Elkins with Bartlesville Police. “The homeowner felt like they had to do what was necessary, and that’s ultimately their choice.”

Robertson says she’s glad the homeowner was able to defend herself, and she hopes that other burglars will think twice about what they’re doing.

“You live in a place, and you think ‘oh, we’re safe here,”‘ said Robertson. “‘It’s fine.’ But the world is just getting more and more crazy every day.”

Bartlesville Police say they interviewed the woman and then released her.

It will be up to the District Attorney to decide whether charges will be filed.