Shooting Death of Man During Lexington Home Invasion Ruled Self-Defense

Husband Killed Brother-in-Law Who Had Made Previous Threats Against the Household

Posted 8/23/22

The shooting death of a home invader in Lexington has been ruled a justifiable homicide.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Subscribe to continue reading. Already a subscriber? Sign in

Get 50% of all subscriptions for a limited time. Subscribe today.

You can cancel anytime.
 

Please log in to continue

Log in

Shooting Death of Man During Lexington Home Invasion Ruled Self-Defense

Husband Killed Brother-in-Law Who Had Made Previous Threats Against the Household

Posted

The shooting death of a home invader in Lexington has been ruled a justifiable homicide.

Lexington Police relayed the decision from the 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office about an Aug. 16 incident, during which a man and his brother-in-law, 33-year-old Matthew Stanfield of Colorado, exchanged gunfire.

The release notes that “it was found that the male victim acted in self-defense ... during a home invasion and violent assault.”

Stanfield had made previous threats against his sister, wife to the male victim, and their children, the release states.

“This incident began minutes after the male victim had left for work when he was notified with an alert on his mobile phone that someone was on his property,” the release recounts. “Viewing the security camera on his mobile phone, he saw that Matthew Stanfield was outside of his home and immediately called dispatch to report an unwanted guest.

“When the male victim arrived home, he heard glass breaking from the door on the side of the house and advised the dispatcher of the home invasion in progress. The male victim entered his home and confronted Matthew Stanfield as he was trying to break into the bathroom where the female victim was hiding by striking the door repeatedly with a metal bat. Matthew Stanfield and the male victim fought for several minutes and then Matthew Stanfield went outside reaching into a large backpack that he had brought with him. 

“The male victim, believing that Matthew Stanfield was arming himself with a firearm, went to get his handgun. Matthew Stanfield took a rifle from the backpack and began shooting at the male victim as he ran into the bedroom where he was able to get his handgun. The two exchanged gunfire resulting in Matthew Stanfield’s death and the male victim being shot in the arm and shoulder with non-life-threatening injuries.”

Lexington Police say they were met upon arrival at the home in the Mallard Lakes neighborhood by the male and female victims. Entering the home, they found Stanfield dead in the living room, shot several times in the upper body. Three children were found in the bedrooms, and officers brought them out safely to their parents.

Officers found the rifle Stanfield had while searching the house, along with “extra magazines with ammo, a ballistic vest, flex cuffs, and a metal chain to aid him in what is believed to have been a planned attack,” the release states.

Lexington Police are closing the investigation after the review by the solicitor’s office.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here