Mother Fatally Shoots Armed Intruder To Protect Her Children

A woman shot a 51-year-old man to death after he broke into her Louisiana home when she was with her two young children.

The incident took place Sunday morning when the intruder, identified as Robert Rheams, broke into the woman's home on Klein Road in Tangipahoa Parish. He was allegedly armed with a shovel and a lug wrench at the time, according to WKRG.

As soon as the homeowner found Rheams in her house, the two got into a physical altercation. At some point during the scuffle, the woman fatally shot Rheams. Deputies from the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office arrived at the scene just after 5:00 a.m. and found Rheams unconscious with a gunshot wound. The Coroner's Office pronounced Rheams dead at the scene, WGNO reported.

"During the course of the investigation, detectives were able to determine the suspect, later identified as 51-year-old Robert Rheams of Hammond, was armed with a shovel and a lug wrench when he forced entry into the home of the victim and her two young children," the sheriff's office said in a statement.

Rheams had previous run-ins with the law and was a convicted felon, as per officials. The sheriff's office revealed he was out on parole after being in prison for about 20 years on charges of armed robbery.

He "was out on parole after serving approximately 20 years in prison for armed robbery," read the sheriff's office statement.

While investigating the matter, officers also found that Rheams was involved in a carjacking incident hours before he forced his way into the unidentified woman's house.

Meanwhile, no arrests were immediately made following the home intrusion as the incident continues to be investigated. The case pertains to the woman exercising her second amendment rights to protect herself and her children, Chief Jimmy Travis said.

"Chief Travis adds that as of this time, no arrests were made in this investigation. Once the investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for further review," the sheriff's office statement confirmed. "Chief Travis concludes by adding this case appears to be a homeowner exercising second amendment rights to protect herself and her children from a violent home invasion."