WINTER HAVEN – FLA
Twice in three years, William Cornwell has had to draw his gun to ward off strangers who broke into his home.
Early Sunday morning, the U.S. Navy veteran and security guard at Winter Haven Hospital shot and killed 40-year-old Christopher Brian Deese, of 119 Moss Road in Auburndale. Deese broke into Cornwell’s home and challenged him to a fight after a night of heavy drinking, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
“You wanna fight?” Deese yelled, yanking off his shirt before charging Cornwell, who shot him once in the chest.
The men were strangers, and it’s unclear exactly what brought Deese to the Cornwell home, authorities said.
Shortly before 4 a.m., Deese began banging on Cornwell’s front door at 412 Lake Daisy Drive. Deese was screaming, cursing, and demanding to be let in, according to the sheriff’s office.
Cornwell’s wife, Traci, was asleep on the couch and woke up her husband, who got his handgun and yelled through the door, telling Deese to go away and that he had the wrong house. But Deese wouldn’t leave.
The Cornwells’ 3-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter were sleeping in their beds at the time, deputies said.
Deese was shot and killed after he broke into the front door of the home.
Deese’s fatal encounter with Cornwell followed a night of drinking with friends in Winter Haven, according to the sheriff’s office. The group started at Somewhere Sports Cafe and later went to The Grove Lounge. Friends told investigators Deese was “quite intoxicated.”
Cornwell had a right to shoot Deese, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said at a news conference Sunday.
“If there ever was a justified shooting, this is it,” he said.
“William Cornwell had every right to protect himself, his wife and his children from this irrational, out-of-control man who broke into their home. The mistake the suspect made by breaking into that home was a fatal one.”
Judd referenced the 2005 Florida Castle Doctrine, which says if a person fears death or great bodily harm to themselves or another, they are allowed to use deadly force while protecting their home or car against someone who has entered illegally.
Deputies are continuing to investigate the shooting, even though Cornwell was not arrested. The Polk County State Attorney’s Office also will review the investigation and decide whether to file charges.
Article from Private Officer International