Homeowner Shoots Man With Stolen Chainsaw, Death Ruled Self-Defense

Authors Defensive Use of Firearms Home Defense Kimber Pearce This Week
Police reported to a 911 call to find a man nearly dead after attacking a homeowner with a chainsaw. (Photo: WNDU)

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

A man stole a chainsaw last month before being shot and killed by the Indiana homeowner he stole it from. 

Last December, a homeowner and his wife had just arrived home around 9:20. They noticed a security alert and the homeowners decided the husband would check it out while his wife waited in the car. 

The homeowner approached his home and found his back gate open, according to WVPE. A man came at him with a “chainsaw over his shoulders.”

The homeowner warned the suspect not to come near him. Richard Davis, the 68-year-old man with the chainsaw, apparently did not heed the warning.

The homeowner shot Davis in the chest and then told his wife to call 911.

Police arrived to find Davis in critical condition. They took him to a hospital, where he died.

A Stolen Chainsaw

According to WNDU, Davis stole the chainsaw from the homeowner. It had been taken from the garage shortly before the shooting. 

According to WVPE, the homeowner stayed on the scene and cooperated fully with officials.

The prosecutors of St Joseph County analyzed the reports from the investigation. They “reviewed video footage, security system logs,” and even the chainsaw before coming to a conclusion. 

The case was taken to court, and prosecutors recently announced that they find the shooting “justifiable.”

The homeowner will not receive any charges for shooting Davis. No evidence has come up to disprove that he was reasonably scared for his life. 

The shooting is considered a case of self-defense. 

An Unlikely Circumstance

The statistics on home invaders coming at you with chainsaws are unsurprisingly low. But according to the FBI, about 15% of home robberies involve a deadly weapon other than a firearm. 

READ MORE: WATCH: Greek Mob Boss Executed in Bold Street Ambush

We know little about this homeowner. All we know is he used a gun to defend himself from someone who was allegedly dangerous. He is lucky he had that gun and could act in self-defense. 

Otherwise, we’d be reading an obituary, not a self-defense story.

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  • Killyourlocalpedos January 22, 2024, 7:37 am

    Yes, a chainsaw, or anything else for that matter, is worth more than any thiefs life.

    • Jim February 2, 2024, 3:14 pm

      If you cannot comprehend what you read, PLEASE have some one explain it to you.
      The man ran towards the guy with the gun trying to attack him with the chainsaw.
      He told the guy with the saw to stop but he kept going trying to kill the man with the gun.
      Man with saw LOST.

    • Killyourlocalpedos February 2, 2024, 3:38 pm

      Who tf are you talking to? Of course it was self defense.. even if the guy didn’t try to attack him with the chainsaw, it’s justified because like I said, if you can read, is anything is worth more than a thief’s life. Maybe you should get someone to explain that to you…

  • LJ January 22, 2024, 7:34 am

    Thieves beware! People are sick and tired of being victimized and having property taken from them that they work hard for. You get caught stealing by the right homeowner and you may end up taking a dirt nap.

  • paul I'll call you what I want/1st Amendment January 20, 2024, 10:27 am

    drugs and chainsaws bad…….mkay

  • Keith January 19, 2024, 10:07 am

    One more thing NOT to bring to a gunfight.

    Thanks for sharing this.

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