Washington Self-Defense: Maple Valley man defends property :: 04/28/2020

MAPLE VALLEY, Wash. — A Maple Valley man said people in of two vehicles opened fire on his house with his kids inside.

The family told KIRO 7 this turned into a gunbattle "like something out of a movie."

The homeowner, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, gave detectives a photo he took when those cars first pulled up. He said the passenger in one car pulled out a shotgun, and then moments later opened fire.

Surveillance video showed the moment when two vehicles pulled into the driveway of the homeowner around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday.

The homeowner noticed them after checking on the animals he owns.

“I walk up to them and say, 'Hello. May I help you?’” he told KIRO 7. “And they said, 'Well, I think we have the wrong house.’ I said, 'OK. I could help you. But I'm sorry – [it’s] nothing personal – [but] I'm gonna have to take some pictures of you guys.’ I took out my cellphone, because the whole thing looked fishy."

The homeowner said one of the guys took his hat off for the picture. He couldn't believe what happened next.

"I see a guy holding a shotgun in his hand and cocking it [while] getting ready for a shootout."

But this homeowner also had his pistol, which he does have a license to carry.

"I said, 'Don't do it. Don't be stupid. Don't be stupid –- don't do it' –- and I start backing up. He jumped out of the car."

The homeowner described what he did when the men opened fire.

"That's when I ran with my face towards him, because I didn't want him to go to my house to hurt my kids. I had to defend myself and I exchanged fire with them somewhere around here."

He can't believe he wasn't hit.

"All these trees probably saved my life."

His wife called 911 as both cars sped off. He wants to send this message to the men who threatened his family:

"You're a bunch of losers. You're a bunch of punks. You came to a house loaded with kids."

We reached out to the King County Sherrff's Office and they said King County Major Crimes is actively working on this case.

If anyone has any information on the shooters, you're asked to contact police.

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/maple-valley-man-defends-property/740071393/