"An east Harris County woman said she was protecting her family when she fatally shot an intruder holding them at gunpoint inside their apartment.
"I refuse to be a victim," said Angela Patterson, shaken but still defiant after the ordeal. "He put a gun in my face. If you're bold enough to do that, you're bold enough to shoot us."
Patterson and her husband were watching television about 11:45 p.m. Wednesday when a man stormed into the apartment in the 800 block of Audrey. Authorities identified the man as Charles Freeman, 21.
He was holding a semi-automatic pistol and wore all-black clothing with a bandana (sic) covering his face, authorities said.
"He came in and demanded money and the TV," said Harris County Sheriff's Lt. John Legg.
Patterson's husband told the intruder that he needed tools to remove the wall-mounted television.
"He said 'Give me the cash.' I said, 'We don't have any cash here,'" Jeffery Patterson said.
Freeman ordered the couple to take off their clothes and closely watched as Angela Patterson disrobed in the living room.
"He didn't pay attention to me so I charged at him," Jeffery Patterson said.
As the two men struggled, Angela Patterson ducked into their bedroom to retrieve a pistol.
"I got the gun and stepped back in and fired," she said.
Freeman was hit at least once and fell to the floor but an errant round struck her husband in the right arm, authorities said.
The intruder stumbled outside. He collapsed at the bottom of a flight of stairs leading to the family's apartment, authorities said.
Jeffery Patterson roused their two daughters, 8 and 13, who remained asleep during the incident. After locking the front door, the family moved back inside the apartment and called for help.
Jeffery Patterson was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital as Harris County Sheriff's investigators interviewed his wife.
He was back home on Thursday with his right arm wrapped in a thick bandage and still wearing the hospital's pullover smock.
"I thank her," Patterson said, motioning toward his wife, "and I thank the Lord that we're still here."
Sheriff's officials said Freeman targeted Patterson's family after noticing the television set in the apartment while he was buying narcotics in the area.
Detectives are still questioning a woman seen with Freeman earlier that night and later found waiting in a car nearby.
The fatal shooting will be referred to a Harris County grand jury, authorities said."
First of all, its a shame something as open and shut as this has to go to a grand jury.
Total waste of time and money.
And B.), nice shooting ma'am. Two men tussling in front of her and she did a good job all things considered. This should be required reading for spouses who might be reluctant to take a shot when a shot needs to be taken. If the 3rd Marine Division breaks down my door and is kicking my ass from pillar to post I want Lisa to start slinging lead. Better to take a round then to let someone break free and harm the family.
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