On Father's Day, 23-year-old stranger allegedly threatens homeowner's 11-year-old daughter, tries to enter residence. Dad grabs his gun and eliminates threat.

On Father's Day, a 23-year-old male stranger allegedly threatened a North Carolina homeowner's 11-year-old daughter and tried to enter her Wilson's Mills residence. But the girl's father grabbed his gun and fatally shot the man.

What are the details?

Wilson's Mills police and Johnston County sheriff's deputies responded to the 100 block of Parker Street just after 9 p.m. Sunday for a report of a breaking and entering in progress with a shooting, WTVD-TV reported.

The station, citing the Johnston County Report, noted that Police Chief A.Z. Williams said it appeared the suspect entered the home's back yard, where three children were playing, and apparently tried to accost one of the children, an 11-year-old girl.

Williams told WTVD the other two children ran inside and alerted the parents.

Police added to the station that the 23-year-old suspect tried to follow the children inside and violently shook the door handle.

With that the homeowner — the father of the 11-year-old girl — shot the intruder, WTVD said. The suspect died, the Johnston County Report said, adding that his name was being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Williams added to the station that the family doesn't know the attacker; the sheriff's office said the homeowner fully cooperated with detectives and was not arrested, WTVD reported.

Williams also told the Johnston County Report that the shooting appears to be a case of a father protecting his family.

At the request of Wilson's Mills Police, the sheriff's office has assumed the investigation, WTVD reported.

Sheriff’s Captain Jeff Caldwell on Monday told the Johnston County Report that the investigation remains ongoing with the assistance of the Johnston County District Attorney’s Office.

How are folks reacting?

Many of the individuals who commented on the Johnston County Report story seem decidedly in father's corner:

• "And THAT is Joco justice!!" one commenter wrote. "Way long overdue for us to TAKE BACK our homes our safety and PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AND OURSELVES!!!"
• "A hollow point and a good aim can fix any dangerous situation!" another commenter declared.
• "Great job protecting your family, sir, and thank God for our 2nd Amendment!" another commenter said.
• "Somebody buy that Dad a beer," another commenter suggested.

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