Student uses sword to kill intruder

[THUNDERDUCK]

BALTIMORE - A Johns Hopkins University student armed with a samurai sword killed an intruder in his garage, Baltimore police said Tuesday.

Two laptops and a Sony PlayStation had been stolen by burglars Monday from the home, on University Parkway just blocks from the school, said police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. Early Tuesday, one of the four Hopkins students who live in the home noticed the garage door was open and took a sword with him to investigate, Guglielmi said.

In the garage, the student told police he discovered a man and when the student told the man to get out, the man accosted him, Guglielmi said. The student defended himself with the sword, cutting off the man's hand and causing a severe laceration to his upper body, he said.

Campus security and an off-duty city officer responding to a call for a suspicious person in the area around 1:20 a.m. Tuesday heard screams to call police, Guglielmi said. The man died at the scene, but police are not yet releasing his name, he said.

Michael Hughes, 43, who lives two doors down from the house where the slaying occurred, said he was getting ready for bed at around 1:30 a.m. when he heard screams from the rear of the home.

'I could tell someone was scared'
"There was fear in the voice. I could tell someone was scared," Hughes said.

Three young men were sitting on the front porch of the home around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. A police officer was standing in the doorway, and a single police car was parked nearby.

The men refused to comment when approached by an Associated Press reporter.

Behind the three-story brick rowhouse, a wooden fence was broken. There was a pool of blood in the brick courtyard between the back porch and the garage.

Guglielmi said the man had been arrested on charges such as burglary several times before, and had been released Saturday from a Baltimore County jail.

Police are interviewing the student and his roommates, and are talking to prosecutors about whether to file charges.

[SomethingWild]

I hate how usually the guy who hurts the intruder gets trouble. If a guy breaks into your house and steals your stuff you should have the right to defend yourself.

[Asmodai]

There were 4 college age guys and the intruder was apparently alone and unarmed. Such a situation does not call for decapitation.

[Amarghetta]

Wow, how could a student have a samurai sword anyway?

[BX_LeMans]

I wonder too. Haven't every american a gun or more? Such things always happen in the US it seems.
From pure self defence that burglar would still be alive.

I have to guns in my house, very old frontloader. It was hard work to get the authorities to not take them away or to close the barrel.
Wouldn't be bad for the USA to have harder laws. Weapons do not belong in the hands of citizens.

[rndmnwierd]

I disagree on the last point; weapons do not belong in the hands of stupid citizens.

So says the girl who's state got, like, a C- for gun safety. But that's besides the point.

I do agree, however, that maybe cutting off an unarmed man's hand is a little bit harsh. He's really unarmed now at least. Just a slashing should have sent the guy running.

Not that I'm saying charges should be pressed or anything, just that in retrospect, killing him was probably a bad idea.

[Rickker708]

I disagree, if someone broke into my house and I was able to...that person would not be leaving without a bodybag.  It sayed the thief had rushed the student, self defence.
As for gun control in the US. I do think it should be harder to get guns. Too many stupid people in this country.
For a house warming gift, my best friend gave me an old breach load shotgun and 2 shells. He mentioned that I would probably do less damage to my house with it than I would with a 9mm w/15 rounds. He then mentioned I should get buck-shot or rock salt rounds. I said nope.
Some one comes in that I'm gonna use a gun on, they're not gonna get away to sue me later.

[Kaizer]

I think killing the guy was a little bit too much. Threatening him with the weapon would have been enough. If the intruder lunged and attacked it would be different but yeah. Oh man.

I have katanas too but they're only for display. xP

[Kimuuu]

In the heat of the moment, who knows what can happen?  Of course it sounds extreme to cut someone's hand off.  However, if you're confronted with an attacker, you don't know if he's armed or not.  It's kill or be killed.  The student probably was slashing at the intruder wildly and just happened to slice the hand off.

I know if I ever was attacked, the motherfucker's going down by any means necessary. 

[rndmnwierd]

Well, I don't know if I would be able to kill someone, but I'm walking away with a nutsack at least. Maybe and eye or two, meow!