WEST CHESTER, Ohio — The man who shot and killed someone who entered his West Chester home early Saturday morning told 911 he was standing his ground.
West Chester police said 20-year-old Andrew Tyson entered a home on Timberrail Court around 3:30 a.m. Saturday without the homeowner's permission. According to the man and woman who called 911 from inside the house, the woman was Tyson's ex-girlfriend. They said they didn't know how Tyson got into the house, telling dispatchers the ex-girlfriend was dragged out of the home by her hair and arms.
A neighbor heard the commotion and called dispatchers.
“There’s some sort of domestic dispute going on across my house. I can hear screaming, slapping — woman crying, man yelling," the neighbor said.
The neighbor called a few minutes later, explaining the situation had escalated and gunshots were fired. Moments later, the alleged shooter called 911.
“Hi. I just had to shoot a guy in self-defense in my house," the caller said. “He’s just laying there. I don’t know how bad of shape he’s in.”
“He’s still breathing — you need to get here quick," the man said.
Tyson died a short time later. According to a GoFundMe set up by family members, Tyson's family is collecting donations for hospital bills, funeral expenses and to hire a lawyer.
Senate Bill 175, more commonly known as the "Stand Your Ground Law," was signed into law by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in January and went into effect in April. The measure expands the so-called “stand your ground” right from an individual’s house and car to any place “if that person is in a place in which the person lawfully has a right to be.”
Stew Mathews, an attorney with 40 years of experience, explained how that law might be applied to an investigation.
“If you have a reasonable fear of death or bodily harm, that has to be immediate. You’re allowed to use lethal force. It’s up to the prosecutor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you weren’t entitled to use that lethal force," Matthews said. "The big thing is that if you’re ever in a situation like that. You need to be able to articulate why you had that fear of death or great bodily harm.”
The homeowner who was assaulted was taken to the hospital for lacerations, West Chester police said.
West Chester spokesperson Barbara Wilson said Tuesday there was no further information available about the incident.
