January 4, 2012 3:53 PM

Okla. teen mom asks 911 for permission, fatally shoots intruder on New Year's eve

By
Crimesider Staff
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Daily Blotter

Sarah McKinley

(Credit: KWTV)
(CBS/AP) BLANCHARD, Okla. - A recently widowed young mother shot and killed an intruder on  New Year's eve, while she was on the phone with a 911 operator.

Sarah McKinley, 18, reportedly was home alone with her infant son just a week after her husband died of lung cancer, when two men tried to break into her house.

McKinley managed to push the couch to the front door to create a barricade, but that didn't stop the intruders.

"He was from door to door trying to bust in," McKinley told CBS affiliate KWTV. "I don't know what he had in his hand besides the knife. I believe he actually had a hammer in his hand at some point because he was hitting that back door with it."

McKinley called 911 and was on the phone with the operator during the entire 21 minute ordeal. She even asked the operator if she could shoot the intruder.

"They said I couldn't shoot him until he was inside the house," McKinley said. "So I waited until he got in the door and then I shot him."

Police said that Justin Shane Martin, 24, died at the scene and his alleged accomplice, 29-year-old Dustin Louis Stewart, ran away, but was later brought to police by his parents. He is currently in jail.

McKinley's mother told KWTV that Martin had followed her daughter around at a rodeo about two years ago.

She also said McKinley recently bumped into Martin at a convenience store, and that on Thursday night he showed up at her door, introducing himself as a neighbor. McKinley told her mother she did not know who he was until she pieced it all together after the shooting.

Police told KWTV that so far, their investigation revealed that McKinley did everything right in defending herself.

"The Oklahoma laws are clear on the home, and the right to your home are absolute," said Detective Dan Huff of the Blanchard Police Department.



Add a Comment See all 114 Comments
by mecanik-2009 January 9, 2012 11:49 AM EST
It surprises me she actually asked permission. Most would have blasted the guy and dealt with the law later.
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by cockroachcrusher January 5, 2012 3:44 PM EST
She did everything perfectly. She was defending her home, her family. She should be proud. Many people would not have had the presence of mind and many things could have gone wrong.
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by bubeard January 5, 2012 1:53 PM EST
21 minutes? Wow people in Oklahoma have to wait over 21 minutes to get a cop on location from a 911 call? Wow might as well live out in the sticks OR move to Texas where you (A) get a response and cop on site typically in under 10 minutes max (B) can shoot intruders on your LAND not just in your HOUSE (C) are less likely to have intruders stupid enough to come on your land in the first place because most of the dumb ones have already been shot.
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by actornaught January 5, 2012 1:22 PM EST
Hope this woman can get the emotional help that she'll surely need.
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by oldabner January 5, 2012 2:48 PM EST
You got to be sh*tting me right?
by amazons14 January 5, 2012 12:44 PM EST
come in my house and try to hurt my loved ones and you will go out in a bodybag. case close. good for that girl protecting herself and her child.
Reply to this comment
by oldabner January 5, 2012 2:47 PM EST
f*cking eh!
by djseavy January 5, 2012 12:29 PM EST
If she didn't show any emotion I'd be very concerned. I can't imagine any normal human-being not being upset after having to shoot someone, regardless of the fact he was breaking into her home. And to the idiot that made the statement about her putting the knife in his hand, you need serious therapy. This young woman did exactly as she should have, and hopefully there will be an investigation of the PD and why Sara was on the phone for 21 minutes. Unless every cop in town was tied up on a life and death medical call, I can't think of one good reason why they didn't respond to Sara's situation immediately. It's unfortunate that a life was taken, but he put himself in that position.
Reply to this comment
by Fatesrider January 5, 2012 11:53 AM EST
A 21 MINUTE ordeal?

911 operator to cops: "No, she has a gun. She's going to blow is butt away if he gets inside. Ya'll take your time getting there."
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by unclebernies January 5, 2012 10:59 AM EST
I wonder if she would have still shot him after she relized she met him before. I guess it's better to be safe than sorry.
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by sctonic January 5, 2012 10:14 AM EST
I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6. Break into my house and I WILL shoot you.
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by idiotforreading January 5, 2012 9:03 AM EST
Home invasion?? Carte blanche to shoot to kill. End of story. Someone comes into my house they will be shot and hopefully killed. No anarchy here, ask questions later. Thats the way it is, want my address s c um ba gs?
Reply to this comment
by cockroachcrusher January 5, 2012 3:45 PM EST
Too many slimy rocks to look under.
See all 114 Comments
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