Psycho with a machete at my front door (Long Post)

[UsGuys]

Aloha all,
I just want to share what happened to my family and I today that has us now living in fear. A little background, born and raised a puna boy, I've lived here my entire child hood, joined the Air Force, came back and started my family on a property I purchased next door to my childhood home that my widowed mother still lives in.
Today at 2:30pm I was working on a new Ham radio antenna in my workshop when I hear a loud comotion going on down the street. I walk out my driveway to find two children who were going for a walk standing in front of my home. I ask them if that know what's going on down the road, and am informed that some guy is screaming his head off and they are scared to continue there walk. I tell them I'll stay on the road until they are safely past the abandoned house where this crazy guy is. So they continue, half way there this guy comes out onto the road and starts walking towards the kids, they turn and run, he follows. They turn the corner and are out of view. He then turns his attention to me. Starts yelling and screaming, headed my way. I retreat to my garage as he is now in front of my home. Still screaming and waving his two foot long machete. By now my wife in on the balcony above me and I tell her to call the police. This enrages the guy and he advances towards my home and I. I retreat into my front door, lock the deadbolt, and retrieve my weapon from the gun safe. As I'm standing there loading my weapon I can hear him making obscene threats to my wife, things I can't say in public. I hear him say he will be back one night at 2am and steal our vehicles burn down our house and f**k everyone in the a**. By this time I'm a barricaded in my home, my wife, daughters, and grandson are safe upstairs. I tell myself I do not want to take another human beings life but, the safety of my family trumps his life every time. I tell myself my front door is where I draw the line. I inform him I don't want to shoot him, but I will if he dosnt leave. He throws a tantrum in my garage, throwing his machete around, the starts to leave, I watch as he leaves my driveway and starts bashing my mailbox then finally chops my mailbox with his machete. Then he heads back to the abandoned house. Five minuets later the police arrive and I greet them on the road. I look down the road and there is Mr. Psycho man yelling something obscene again. I point him out to the police, and the dude starts to run. By now more police are showing up and they take pursuit. They finally arrest the guy and haul him off. My wife and I give a statement and the police leave. I have no idea when this guy is getting out of jail. Don't know if he will be back like he said he would. I'm applying for a TRO on Monday.
So here I am in MY neighborhood. Frightened for the safety of my family and home. Next time I will pull the trigger if my family or I am threatened of death or bodily harm. I'm torn with emotion, did I the right thing? It dosnt feel so right. I didn't eliminate the threat. And he made it clear he will be back.

Be safe people!

What would you have done?

Born and Raised. Puna grown!

[Guest]

Wow, so sorry you and your ohana were subjected to this guys crazy and probably drug induced behavior. Jmo here but I feel you did very well under such circumstances. Really a great ending in the fact that the man was in police custody and being driven away. You really don't want to take another mans life, especially in front of the kids around these holidays. Yes he was walking on the edge, many would have shot his ass and dragged him inside like he broke in. You on the other hand showed a very level head through this awful event. If the man ever comes over again it should be on his knees thanking you for sparing his sorry okole. Sure hope you never see him again, you guys may need a day at the beach at the very least. Go easy bro, you are my hero.

[MarkP]

I think you did the best you could. Everybody always talks half joking and half serious about shooting and dragging the perp inside but in practical terms you are not skilled at dissembling and lying to the police about details like that would be just as likely to hurt you as help you. You, the law abiding family man have things to lose so you must wait for him to force your hand in an unambiguous way. Also while I have fortunately never experienced it myself I imagine the real life details of a shooting (screams, sucking chest wound, a degree of blood and gore that Hollywood has misled us about) are something that you absolutely would want to spare your kids exposure to even if it is the bad guy doing the screaming and bleeding.

Yeah, I never said what I would have done. I don't know.

FWIW I doubt that after the drugs wear off he will remember who you are. OTOH if he frequents your neighborhood he is likely to go off the deep end again.

[JohnDW]

Yea, well unfortunately this kind of thing happens all too often around here. We just can't go around shoot every maniac. I'm so sorry your kids had to witness it, but you definitely did the right thing. Find out who this deranged guy is and make a point of getting him into a position where he is no threat to you, others or himself. Use your wits; this poor person's lost his.

Un Mojado Sin Licencia

[rogerluli]

Definitely have to get that Sig before we get to Hawai'i...

Rodarupian

[Aaron]

Yuuuuuuuup

Living on the side of creation.

[Jeffhale]

Yup, U done good. Sound's like drug induced delusional, icehead on a no sleep trip days at a time.. by the time he gets out, that trip will be long over. More often than not, he'll be remorseful.

And if or when he does it again, he knows you got gun, he aint coming back. I used to own a 5 story apartment building and on occasion get speed/crankhead slip past my screening process. also in a previous home had crackhead welfare family a few houses down across the street. I'd known his parents and other family members who live there before he. Month after month from insanity to human, crazed cycles like clock work after getting welfare check to end of month's return. A time or two I'd need to stand up. Once, late at night shotgun blasts over there, and one of his nut buddy's was chasing people down the street. apparently a drug deal gone sour, or pack trying to rob them. I called the cops and the next day the guy tried to warn me, to not do that again. Also says, his nut, buddy warns me too. and like I said,, after the seed was planted. I told him:, Dude, you bring this problem to my home, gun shots, drugs, criminals and hostility? . I will protect my family, and If I ever see a gun flash in my direction?? I'll be boom, boom back to you pal!.

Once the seed was planted, never had a problem over there again, and I moved a year later but small town, see from time to time,, never the problem arise.

You done good, the right thing, and even in complete delusion, he aint gonna forget, You're ready to fire.

BTW, I did not own a gun then but, I've always played a mean game of poker!

[VancouverIslander]

I'm going to join the chorus here - you did things exactly the way they should have been done. You need to be ready to defend your ohana, but always be careful to wait until it's necessary. It could be the guy's temporarily unhinged or off his meds or this is the episode that gets him diagnosed. It could be crack or meth and it could be this is the reality check he needs. Even if he's a dedicated life long criminal and trouble maker, it's not worth pulling the trigger unless you or your ohana are in immediate danger. After it's done you have to deal with all of the fallout and it wouldn't be long before you realize it's worth being certain it was the right thing. Also, as a decent human being, you would have to live with what happened and it would haunt you. Unless you were sure your family was in immediate danger, then you can live with a very clear conscience. As Jeff said, what you did will almost certainly prevent him from coming back.

[UsGuys]

Mahalo everyone! I truly appreciate your input. It makes me feel a whole lot better about second guessing my actions. I still have to deal whith the if and when he comes back, and the fear associated with that. After a restless night of light sleep and more thought, I am glad I didn't pull that trigger. Taking a human beings life is NOT something I ever want to do. I drew my line at my front door, a physical and mental threshold.
For the record when all of this started, my youngest daughter (13) was ordered to her room and lock her door, my eldest daughter was sound asleep with my grandson in her room. I would never want them to witness what could have went down. After the dust settled I sat with my youngest daughter and explained what happend, and confirmed to her that the bad guy was in jail and we are all safe. It seemed to put her at ease.
Mahalo again!

Ohh yeah, the other two kids, the ones going for a walk. My wife and I talked with their parents, they are ok, a little shook up, but ok.

Born and Raised. Puna grown!

[opihikao]

UsGuys, so sorry you and your ohana had this experience. Like the others have stated, you did the right thing. Those poor kids who were walking were also fortunate you were there. Drugs and mental issues plague our island, and that we have to deal with in many ways.

This jerk has broken the peace within your home, and in your mind. We had a similar experience last Thanksgiving; ice head invading our space. Our peace of mind has still not returned.

I trust he will never come back due to my following up on the police report, and subsequently, attending the court hearings as a "victim/witness", to be sure he was convicted. Looking this punk dead in the eye while on the witness stand was empowering, and my answers to his counsel were basically talking to him directly. Also told him he was lucky to be alive.

Please consider doing the same, as these jerks need to know you will NOT tolerate this invasion of your life. Make sure the police keep you abreast of the progress on your case. The Prosecutor's office should be calling you once the case goes to their office. Unless this maniac is in "South One" (hospital psyche ward) for awhile, the case will progress quickly with a little diligence on your part.

We must always be maka'ala, and aware of these pilau people who roam our neighborhoods. Hopefully, you and your neighbors are also watching out for each other. I heard this call on the scanner, and was thankful the police showed up quickly and apprehended the maniac.

Wishing you a Mele Kalikimaka, and pray for peace of mind to return to you, and your ohana in the near future. Bless you.

JMO.