Clovis police detectives began investigating and learned the homeowner was awakened by the intruder banging on his front door, police said. The homeowner didn’t recognize the individual on his porch and told him through the closed front door to go away and that police had been called, police said.

The homeowner also warned the person he was armed with a gun and would shoot the intruder if he entered the residence, police said.

Moments later, the intruder kicked open the homeowner’s front door and entered the home, police said, adding that the homeowner again warned the person he was armed.

Concerned for his safety as well as the safety of others in the home, the homeowner fired one round at intruder, after which he fell to the ground, police said.

[NOTE: I originally thought this was in Texas, but Clovis is in New Mexico. This is what happens when you carpetbag into a new state. My apologies for the error. I’m still pretty sure that police will chalk this up as a justified use of lethal force, if these details hold up in the investigation. New Mexico’s statute allows for lethal force to protect property, as well as reasonable grounds for believing that someone wants to commit a felony or do great injury to you. I’m not so sure that it would in some other states, where you might have to demonstrate a specific threat of great bodily harm. But that’s a good reason to live in New Mexico and especially Texas, and a good reminder to be very cognizant of the laws regarding lethal self-defense no matter where you live. — Ed]