Billy Dean Riley was shot dead by a female householder as he tried to break into her house. The woman was woken by her dog barking and called 911 to report an intruder. The transcript of her call has been released (see below)
Now a few things strike me as odd about this incident – which is why I am asking the question ‘What would you have done?’ if you had been in this lady’s situation.
For a start, intruders generally try not to make much noise when attempting to break in to a house. Yet Billy Dean Riley was making a helluva racket – almost like he was trying to wake someone inside to let him in?
The lady householder believed him to be drunk
In part of her conversation with the 911 operator she says Riley broke into her garage. She also says -
“He doesn’t know where his pickup’s at”
Now I don’t claim to be Sherlock Holmes but this all suggest that Riley was drunk as a skunk, got confused, ended up at wrong house, couldn’t open door with his key, kicked, battered door trying to attract attention of someone (wife/girlfriend?) inside to let him in. Went into the garage, didn’t see his pickup. Still thinking he was at his own house, thought his car had been stolen or he had left it somewhere?
Just my interpretation – not saying it’s right – and have to remember Lady was frightened. But still . . . .
So if you were in her shoes would you have shot Billy Dean Riley?
TRANSCRIPT OF 911 CALL
RESIDENT – “Oh crap he’s coming around the front…”
911 – “Is your front door locked?”
RESIDENT – “Yes ma’am but it’s only got a lock on the handle.”
911 – “Okay, do you have a place inside your house and lock yourself in a room?”
RESIDENT – “Uh, not really.”
911 – “He’s trying to come through the front door.”
RESIDENT – “i’ve got a big shotgun. I’m not going into a tiny bathroom…”
RESIDENT – “He’s walking around the house trying to find a way in…”
RESIDENT – “Oh crap, he’s at the back…”
911 – “Okay , (unintelligible) is advising that you can defend your property if you need to.”
RESIDENT – “Alright he’s at the garage.”
911 – “He’s at the garage? Is it attached to your house?”
RESIDENT – “Nope, he’s at the patio door again.”
911 – “I can hear him banging again.”
RESIDENT – “I don’t want to have to kill this man, but i’ll kill him graveyard dead ma’am.”
911 – “I understand.”
RESIDENT – “Alright.”
RESIDENT – Oh crap he’s breaking in. he’s breaking in now, he’s breaking in now. He’s breaking the window, i’m going to kill him. He’s walking back and forth on the porch. He looks to be an older man, I don’t want to kill him. He’s kicking the door please hurry. He’s going to make it in please hurry ma’am. I think he’s drunk . He doesn’t know where his pickup’s at. God I don’t want to kill this man.”
RESIDENT – “I cant keep this gun and keep on the phone darling, it’s a big shotgun, it will break my arm. As soon as you tell me they’re here im taking the safety, uh.. Im putting the safety back on this sucker.”
