Tennessee times two. (Exercising the Right).

One week after the incident described above, another attempted robbery of a Tennessee home also ended with one of two intruders dead and the armed homeowner unscathed.

On August 25th in Frayser, also located in Shelby County, Donnie M. Weathers, 64, was home alone trying to take a nap at about 1:20 p.m. when he heard noises indicating that someone was attempting to break into the house. Upon investigating, he saw two men trying to enter the home through a sliding glass door. He later told officers that one of the interlopers appeared to have a gun.

Weathers called 911 to report a burglary in progress. But before police arrived, the two thugs succeeded in gaining entry to the home. Weathers, now armed, fired several shots at them, one of which struck 19-year-old Otis L. Yarbrough in the head. When police arrived, they found Yarbrough's body blocking the patio door. It was not known if his accomplice, who escaped, was injured.

Yarbrough and Weathers were virtual neighbors. The youth, who lived about a block away, had a lengthy criminal history beginning with an arrest for shoplifting at age 10. Last year, he pleaded guilty to charges of assault, possession of crack cocaine, and criminal trespass.

On August 27th, prosecutors announced that the shooting was justified, and that no charges would be filed against Weathers. As explained by Shelby County Deputy District Attorney General James Challen III, Tennessee law "states that if you are in your home and someone that you have not invited is inside, it is presumed that the person is in there to do you harm and you can defend yourself against imminent danger or peril."