12-Year-Old Boy Allegedly Shoots, Kills Armed Intruder Who Threatened His Mom

A 12-year-old boy allegedly shot and killed an armed burglar after he threatened the boy's mother during a home invasion in Louisiana last month, authorities said.

The East Feliciana Sheriff's Office said 32-year-old Brad LeBlanc, of Vidalia, was allegedly armed with a pistol when he encountered the unidentified mother outside her home near Clinton, Louisiana, on June 30, The Advocate reported. LeBlanc allegedly forced the woman inside her home, where a struggle broke out.

The woman's 12-year-old son, whose name has not been released by authorities, feared for his mother’s life and allegedly used a hunting rifle to shoot LeBlanc, East Feliciana Parish Sheriff Jeffery Travis said.

LeBlanc was given emergency aid by officers and first responders before being rushed to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Travis said in a statement that they had no evidence at this time that would "incriminate the 12-year-old," thus the sheriff's office will not bring charges against the boy. He added that it will be up to the local district attorney to decide whether or not the shooting was justified after the sheriff's office concludes its investigation.

Two others who allegedly took part in the invasion were arrested following the incident.

Johnathon Barker of Clinton was charged with second-degree murder, principal to aggravated burglary and principal to aggravated kidnapping. He isn't accused of killing anyone, but the sheriff said his alleged participation in the burglary led to LeBlanc’s death.

Jennifer Bond of Ethel, on the other hand, was charged with one count of accessory after the fact.

Both were booked into East Feliciana Parish Prison. There was no mention if both had legal representation as of this writing.

“I don’t know what you tell a kid like that. That is such a horrific incident that I tried to put myself in that position this week thinking when my kids were 12 years old, if they were to have to do that what would I have told them,” Travis was quoted by WAFB-TV as saying.

The mother began taking steps to get herself and her son help after the shooting, Travis said.

“The mother is understanding that he’s going to need some treatment and need to talk to people and helping him understand that he’s a very normal person that was put in an abnormal situation,” the sheriff stated.

This investigation is still ongoing. More details will be released by authorities at the time it is deemed appropriate.