Midnight Ambush in Escambia County: Homeowner Discharges AK-47 Rifle to Repel Armed Home Invaders
When three armed men forced their way into an Escambia County, Florida home shortly before midnight on July 7, 2022, they anticipated a quick target. Instead, they walked directly into an immediate, devastating lesson in Florida’s self-defense laws.
The resident, who found himself face-to-face with multiple intruders in the middle of the night, responded with legally protected force—ultimately resorting to an AK-47-style semi-automatic rifle to drive the suspects out of his home.
Following a thorough investigation, local law enforcement confirmed that the resident was fully within his legal rights and will face zero criminal charges for defending his life and property.
Seconds of Chaos: From Dropped Handgun to AK-47
The violent encounter unfolded in a matter of heart-pounding seconds, according to a detailed video debriefing released by Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons.
As the three intruders breached the residence, the homeowner immediately reacted, drawing a handgun from his waistband to confront the threat. However, in the chaotic physical struggle that ensued, the handgun slipped from his grip and clattered onto the floor.
Capitalizing on a fleeting moment of distraction as one of the intruders scrambled to pick up the fallen handgun, the resident made a tactical retreat deeper into the home. He retrieved a secondary weapon—an AK-47-style rifle—and returned to confront the armed breach.
Facing an elevated threat inside his living space, the homeowner opened fire.
The unexpected display of heavy firepower instantly shattered the intruders’ plan, sending all three suspects fleeing into the darkness before responding deputies could arrive on the scene.
A Gunshot Wound and a Changing Story
Shortly after deputies secured the home invasion scene, local law enforcement received a report of a man arriving at a nearby medical facility suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.
While the injury unexpectedly proved non-life-threatening, the individual’s explanation of how he sustained a bullet wound to the head immediately raised red flags for hospital staff and responding detectives.
According to Sheriff Simmons, the injured man’s story shifted repeatedly during initial questioning, leading investigators to strongly suspect he was the third participant in the late-night home invasion who was struck during the homeowner’s hail of gunfire.
Suspects Identified and Warrants Revealed
Detectives quickly identified two of the young men allegedly involved in the break-in as 18-year-old Antonio DeWayne Dean Jr. and 20-year-old Da’Torrance Leanders Hackworth.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office subsequently confirmed that Hackworth was tracked down and taken into custody.
Sheriff Simmons also revealed a troubling criminal history surrounding the second suspect, noting that Antonio DeWayne Dean Jr. was already a wanted man at the time of the break-in, with multiple active, outstanding warrants including:
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Armed robbery
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Carjacking
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Aggravated assault with a firearm
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Domestic violence battery
“He Was Protecting Himself”: Florida’s Stand Your Ground Standard
While the active investigation continues regarding the exact legal status and pending charges for all suspects involved, Sheriff Simmons left no room for interpretation regarding the homeowner’s legal standing.
Under Florida law—which heavily protects a citizen’s right to use lethal force against violent trespassers inside their domicile—investigators concluded that the resident acted strictly in self-defense.
Sheriff Simmons delivered a clear, unyielding message to the community regarding the resident’s actions:
“The homeowner was protecting himself. We have a Castle Doctrine in the state of Florida, and you have a right to protect yourself, your family, and your home.”
When asked directly by reporters if the resident would face any legal scrutiny or penalties for discharging a high-powered rifle inside a residential neighborhood, Simmons was unequivocal, stating the homeowner would “absolutely not” face charges.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office continues to process forensic evidence and follow up on leads to finalize charges against all individuals involved in the attempted invasion.