Disabled, not disarmed.

At around 12:30 p.m. on June 2nd, a 64-year-old retired paramedic was at home in Tacoma, Washington, when he heard someone kick in the back door. The homeowner, who was bedridden due to a disability, armed himself with a handgun and called 911. Moments later, a masked man entered his room and threatened him.

The intruder momentarily backed off when he saw that his intended victim was armed. After yelling to an accomplice elsewhere in the house, he again threatened the homeowner. The latter then fired a single round at the thug, who turned and fled.

Police followed a trail of blood and scoured the area, but could not find the suspect. It was later learned that the criminal, Donald Shane Womack, had gone to an acquaintance's home after being shot. At around 1 a.m. the next morning, one of the home's residents decided to call police. It was too late for Womack, however, who died from his wound.

Womack had a lengthy criminal record including theft and robbery, and was wanted for possession of stolen property. The homeowner, whose name was not released, was not harmed during the ordeal. He told the June 4th Tacoma News Tribune that he had not intended to kill the robber: "I didn't shoot him in a critical place. It was over 12 hours that he had to get help."

Tacoma Police Department spokesman Jim Mattheis told reporters that an initial investigation indicated that the homeowner had indeed acted in self-defense, though county prosecutors would make the final determination.