Florida Teen Fatally Shoots Masked Intruder Who Turned Out To Be His Father

A Florida teen was stunned after learning that the masked man, whom he shot and killed after entering his home, was his own father, according to People Magazine. Malachi Heisler, 18, of St. Petersburg had awaken early Tuesday morning to someone calling his name and screaming for help. When he quickly made his way out of bed, Heisler found a masked intruder — dressed in all black, wearing a holster belt, and boots — pointing a gun at his mother, Jolene Andrews.

According to NBC News, quick-thinking Heisler grabbed a rifle and pointed it at the intruder. When the masked burglar turned his attention to him and aimed his gun at the teen, Heisler shot the man in the upper body area. “It was a standoff between me and him,” said Heisler. “He had his pistol and I had my rifle. A bullet is a bullet, one shot, you’re dead.”

Before the intruder could open fire, the teen shot him in the upper body area, killing him instantly. When the masked man fell to the floor, Heisler told police officials that he recognized a tattoo on the man’s forearm. It was at that point that he realized that the intruder he shot and killed was his own father.

The masked man was later identified as 46-year-old John Heisler, who happened to be the teen’s father and a convicted felon who had a “complicated relationship with the family.” This wasn’t his first attempt to break into the family home. In fact, some months ago, Jolene was forced to file a restraining order against the father for a similar incident. The restraining order “was later extended until May 2016.”

The father was not allowed anywhere near the home nor was he allowed to carry any firearms.

When police officials arrived at the Florida home, they uncovered two BB guns, which belonged to the intruder. “He was definitely there to torment them,” said Sheriff Bob Gualtieri in a press conference. “He was there to torture them and put them through a lot of grief.”

After police officials investigated the deadly shooting, they determined that Malachi Heisler would not be facing criminal charges for the fatal shooting. “When you open the door and you see somebody dressed in all black, in fatigues, with a ski mask on and a gun in your mother’s face – he did the right thing,” said Pinellas County sheriff Bob Gualtieri.

[Image via YouTube screen capture]