Blanchard Mother Who Shot, Killed Intruder Recalls Home Invasion Terror

Chris McKinnon, News 9

BLANCHARD, Oklahoma -- A young mother shot and killed an intruder at her home Saturday. Eighteen-year old Sarah McKinley said the suspects terrorized her for more than 20 minutes as they tried to break into the house.

1/1/2012 Related Story: Authorities Release Names In Fatal Blanchard Home Invasion

McKinley said she was on the phone with a 911 dispatcher who told her she could fire her shotgun if the man entered the house.

When 24-year old Justin Shane Martin broke through the front door with a hunting knife in his hand, McKinley pulled the trigger, striking him in the upper torso. Martin was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities found him slumped over a couch McKinley had used to barricade her front door.

12/31/2011 Related Story: Blanchard Mother Shoots, Kills Suspect In Home Invasion

"You have a choice, you or him," explained McKinley. "I chose my son over him."

McKinley recalled the 21 minutes, which she said seemed like hours as Martin went around the house trying to find a way in.

"He was from door to door trying to bust in," said McKinley. "I don't know what he had in his hand besides the knife. I believe he actually had a hammer in his hand at some point because he was hitting that back door with it."

"It's one of those things you never think is going to happen to you. That's something you hear about. It can't really happen, but I guess it can," McKinley said.

A second suspect, 29-year old Dustin Louis Stewart, ran away from the scene. Police said he then called his parents who took him in to the Blanchard Police station. Authorities said Sunday that Stewart was in the Grady County jail awaiting an arraignment on Monday.

Police said this incident did not look like a random crime.

"Obviously a home invasion is not something you would just do on a spur of the moment," explained Detective Dan Huff with the Blanchard Police Department. "I would assume that there was some type of forethought into it."

McKinley has gone through a lot recently. Her husband passed away on Christmas Day. A week later she hoped for a fresh start.

"Maybe a new start. Maybe something a little better than last year," McKinley said.

Still in shock on Sunday, McKinley said she used everything she had to pay for her husband's funeral, which was on Thursday. She made money breeding German Shepherds, but recently lost her adult dogs. Blanchard police are looking at those deaths as well, as they could be related to this incident.

Police also said their investigation up to this point showed McKinley did everything right.