Connie Wells, an accountant, was working alone in her North Carolina office at 6:00 PM on September 18th when she heard a loud banging at the door. Wells had previously engaged the deadbolt on the door. Nevertheless, intruder Deondre Branch came barging through the door.
Branch was on the run from the police after having stolen ten bras from a Wal-Mart store across the street. Branch has a criminal history that includes a previous conviction for assaulting a woman, and was reportedly trying to escape from police by ducking into Well’s office building for cover.
As the intruder came charging through the door, Wells yelled at him to stop. He ignored her and kept moving. Wells, who has a conceal-carry permit, fired a single shot at Branch when he got within about 10 feet from her. He was hit right above the neck.
Branch was taken to the hospital for treatment. He is expected to live, but the bullet shattered his vertebrae, according to his family. He is unable to move his legs or arms.
Branch’s family members have criticized Wells for shooting Branch, saying that they don’t believe that she was out of options when he came charging at her. Her attorney, Damon Chetson disagrees, saying that Branch was within several feet of Wells when he was shot. He said that she was exercising her rights to self-defense under North Carolina’s Castle Doctrine. Chetson noted that his client stepped back as far as she could and had no other option than to fire on Branch as he was dangerously close to her.
Surveillance video caught Branch bursting through the locked office door just seconds before he was shot. Investigators are still sorting through the evidence, reviewing the videotape. Any potential charges will come from the Wake County District Attorney’s Office.
~ Firearm Daily
