Headline: Suspect Shot in Alleged Home Invasion to be Taken Off Life Support

by Chad D. Baus

WSAZ (NBC Huntsville, WV) is reporting that a man who was critically injured after investigators say he was shot while he was breaking into a home in Portsmouth (OH) last Sunday evening has been taken off of life support.

From the article:

The shooting happened at a home in the 1000 block of 23rd Street around 9:30 p.m.

Portsmouth Police say Keith Richards, 31, of Portsmouth, received life threatening injuries after being shot by a family member of the deceased homeowner.

Family members say they have been taking care of the house since the homeowner died. They tell WSAZ.com that a family member was in the home when they saw Richards crawling through a back window. They say that is when Richards was shot.

Portsmouth Police say they are treating the case as self defense under Ohio's Castle Law.

Richards is in critical condition at a Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington.

According to WSAZ, police believe Richards is a suspect in several burglaries in the north end of Portsmouth over the past two weeks.

Under Ohio's Castle Doctrine law, which took effect in 2008, if someone unlawfully enters or attempts to enter the owner's occupied home or temporary habitation, or occupied car, citizens have an initial presumption that they may act in self defense.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Vice Chairman.