Burglars gain confidence with each successful break-in, but they often fail to consider that one day they might choose the wrong target. This valuable lesson was taught by Gwendolyn Agard, a courageous grandmother from Jackson County.
When a 20-year-old intruder armed with a rubber mallet broke into Gwendolyn’s home, she had to think quickly. Being elderly and without anyone nearby to assist her, fear was audible in her voice as she called 911. However, Grandma Gwendolyn was not one to simply cower in fear.
Having firearms in her possession, Gwendolyn owned both a .38 and a .45 caliber pistol. While most people hope to never use such weapons, Gwendolyn had acquired them precisely for situations like this.
Prior to the intruder’s entry, Gwendolyn made her intentions abundantly clear, expressing her plan with a great deal of profanity. In her exact words, she exclaimed to 11Alive, “Motherf*, if you come in here you’re a dead son of a b.” Her strong language and unwavering confidence certainly had an impact.
To add to the unusual nature of the incident, the intruder was completely naked, a detail confirmed by Gwendolyn herself. This boldness on his part only served to strengthen Gwendolyn’s resolve.
Gwendolyn fired a warning shot from her .38 revolver in the hopes of scaring the intruder away. However, it had little effect, and the man proceeded upstairs to ransack the house.
Realizing that she had to take more decisive action, Gwendolyn prepared her .45 revolver and called 911, urgently pleading for assistance.
Despite her fear, Gwendolyn was far from defenseless. In fact, one could argue that both humans and animals are at their most dangerous when driven by fear. As the intruder attempted to descend the stairs once more, Gwendolyn fired a shot from her .45. It was then that the man finally grasped the fact that Grandma Gwendolyn meant business.
Upon hearing the gunshot, he exclaimed, “Are you trying to kill me?” To which Gwendolyn confidently responded, “Oh, you finally got the message!”
Though Gwendolyn had the advantage of firearms, she was not without danger. After all, she was an elderly woman facing a dangerous stranger. This intense standoff continued for another ten minutes, during which Gwendolyn made it clear that she had a clear view of the intruder.
Recognizing that he might be in greater danger than Gwendolyn, the man eventually sought refuge in an upstairs closet. Evidently, the message delivered by the .45 had hit home.
Thankfully, authorities arrived at the scene after those tense ten minutes, leading to the apprehension of the naked home intruder. Reflecting on the incident, Gwendolyn told 11Alive, “I don’t know what his intention was, but I know what mine was.”
How could a 79-year-old woman be so bold and ready to fight back? Well, Gwendolyn had something worth fighting for—her children. She shared with 11Alive, “I thought, ‘I couldn’t die without my children.’ And, I just got this burst of energy.”
We can all breathe a sigh of relief that Gwendolyn emerged from this ordeal unharmed, and it’s safe to say her grandchildren are undoubtedly overjoyed by her resilience.