Robert Rheams, a 51-year-old armed robber, found his match when he broke into a Louisiana house early on a Sunday morning and encountered a mother who was prepared to go to any length to defend her two young kids. According to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, the anonymous homeowner not only fought back, but she also fatally shot the man who pushed his way into her home.
Officials said the break-in happened at the Hillside Mobile Home Park on Klein Road in Hammond, roughly an hour north of New Orleans. Robert Rheams made his way into the victim’s home and armed himself with a shovel and a lug wrench. He was also wearing a mask over his face. He would soon discover, however, that he had brought the wrong weapons to a combat.
Following a physical argument between the homeowner and Rheams, the unnamed lady shot the suspect, prompting officers from the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office to react to reports of shots fired soon after 5 a.m., according to the sheriff’s office. The Tangipahoa Parish Coroner’s Office declared Rheams dead on the spot, and an inquiry into the occurrence was initiated.
During the course of the investigation, detectives determined the suspect, later identified as [51-year-old] Robert Rheams of Hammond, was armed with a shovel and a lug wrench when he forced entry into the victim’s and her two young children’s home, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. During the encounter, Rheams and the homeowner got into a physical struggle, which resulted in Rheams being shot by the homeowner.
Officials quickly learned that Robert Rheams was on parole after serving about 20 years in jail for armed robbery at the time of the event. To make matters worse, Rheams was reportedly linked to a carjacking that occurred hours before the house invasion. Prior to his 20-year jail sentence, he had two earlier felony convictions, one for narcotics and one for theft.
According to Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Jimmy Travis, no arrests were made during the inquiry, however the case will be referred to the district attorney’s office for additional examination. Chief Travis, on the other hand, stated that the case looks to be one of a homeowner utilizing her Second Amendment rights in order to safeguard herself and her kids from a violent house invasion.
Many people on social media seemed to side with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office and their evaluation of the issue, showing support for the mother’s actions and happiness with the conclusion of the inquiry.
Generally, the responses appeared to favor the mom. Social media users expressed no compassion for the criminal who died after failing to learn his lesson after spending two decades in prison. Perhaps the finest remark was a caution to those like Robert Rheams: “What a tragic way to go,” it stated, adding, “You don’t know what’s on the other side of that door. People are scared and tired of being victimised.” Law-abiding citizens can and will fight back when threat approaches, thanks to the Second Amendment.
