Florida Homeowner Defends Family Against Intruder, Takes Decisive Action

In a recent incident in Lake Wales, Florida, a homeowner exercised his right to defend his family when confronted by an intruder. The event unfolded late Tuesday night on the 700 block of South Scenic Highway, approximately 90 minutes east of Tampa.

The homeowner, John Coles, was alerted to the presence of an intruder by his dog’s barking just after 11:30 p.m. Upon investigation, he discovered Cameron McGuire, a 34-year-old suspect, inside his residence, holding some of his child’s belongings.

“He actually had my daughter’s book bag on,” Coles recounted.

Coles, a law-abiding citizen, armed himself and confronted McGuire. Despite Coles’ command to “freeze,” McGuire continued to advance toward him. This prompted Coles to take decisive action.

“I didn’t really want to shoot the man, but he kind of came forward as I was standing down here with him at gunpoint,” Coles explained. “So I shot him, and I told him don’t move again, or it’s going to be again.”

After firing, Coles held McGuire at gunpoint and contacted 911. He managed to maintain control of the situation until law enforcement arrived.

“He … sat down until the police came and actually took him out the house,” Coles noted.

Lake Wales Police Chief Chris Velasquez emphasized the legality of Coles’ actions, stating, “This homeowner is a law-abiding citizen and had every right to protect his family.” He added, “Cameron McGuire should be thankful today that he is alive and in jail. Hopefully, this was his wake-up call.”

Investigations revealed that McGuire entered the home through a kitchen window. Following the incident, he was taken to a local hospital before being booked into the Polk County Jail.

McGuire faces charges of burglary of an occupied dwelling and theft. His criminal history includes previous convictions for drug possession and domestic battery by strangulation, and he had been released from state prison earlier this year.

The Lake Wales police advised residents to ensure their homes are secure by locking all windows and doors to prevent similar incidents.

Watch a local news report about the incident below:

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