“A woman in Charleston, W.Va., may have saved her own life and the lives of many other women, as well, when she shot and killed an alleged attacker in her home last week.” That’s nothing really new. People successfully defend themselves from home invasions every day. And those doing the invading are rarely first-timers. They’re typically career criminals with a wrap sheets longer than a live rendition of ‘Free Bird‘. But as the msn.com reports, when Neal Falls showed up at the un-named woman’s home, he had “a ‘kill list,’ multiple pairs of handcuffs and a Subaru full of weapons and tools, including a shovel, knives, a bulletproof vest, a machete, bleach, trash bags, sledgehammers and axes” . . .
Falls is suspected of a series of murders of prostitutes in Nevada and Ohio. This time, however, his intended victim was able to disarm him…after initially defending herself with a garden implement.
The woman told the station that Falls, who was from Springfield, Ore., pulled a gun on her and began strangling her. She said she had a split second in which to take control of the situation.
“When he strangled me he just wouldn’t let me get any air,” she said. ” I grabbed my rake and when he laid the gun down to get the rake out of my hands, I shot him. I just grabbed the gun and shot behind me.”
Prostitution and the “escort” trade would seem to be inherently risky activities…for a variety of reasons. It’s fortunate that the woman was able to successfully defend herself from what would seem to be a very dangerous individual. And that she was able to use the proper tool for the job, rather than something she bought at Home Depot.