Husband Defends Wife and 4-day-old Daughter

Yev Gerasimenko was taking his turn caring for his 4-day-old daughter while his wife rested. He was interrupted by loud knocks at the door and answered it to find two large men. One asked for someone Gerasimenko didn't know. "I said, 'There's nobody here by that name,' and I shut the door as soon as I could," he explained. That's when police say the biggest man took a running start and slammed into the door. Gerasimenko called for his wife to take their baby, and lock herself in the bathroom and phone police. He loaded his 9mm handgun and yelled for the man to leave, but he continued trying to breach the door. "I'm shouting, 'I have a gun! Why are you trying to break into my house? I'll shoot you if you don't go away,'" Gerasimenko recalled. But the suspect didn't heed the warning. Gerasimenko fired two shots, wounding the suspect and holding him for police. "... A gun in a good responsible citizen's hand is a blessing," Gerasimenko said. Statesman Journal - Salem, OR