By: Teresa Mull

Thanks to defensive gun use, an Oregon mother was able to preserve her life and that of her son from the hands of the mother’s ex-boyfriend, who forced himself into the woman’s home and made threats.

“The Grants Pass Department of Public Safety says a man is in the Josephine County Jail under Assault 4 and Menacing charges after officers say he forced his way into his ex-girlfriend’s house and threatened her,” KDVR reports.

According to officers, a woman called 911 and “said her ex-boyfriend had entered her home and threatened her…” While still on the phone with the woman, dispatchers heard the sound of a gunshot.

Responding officers found Michael Lee Fouch in the driveway of the woman’s home with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the groin.

According to KDVR:

An investigation revealed that Fouch had made threats before he arrived at the house. They say he forced his way into a bedroom where the woman was hiding with her young son, causing her to fear for her safety. Officers say that’s when the gunshot was fired by the woman, hitting Fouch and causing him to flee.

"The young lady involved in this one was in fear for her safety," Deputy Chief Jim Hamilton told KTVL News 10. "She had a child with her. The individual sounds like he came through a door that she had locked in force his way into the room.

“She did what she felt she had to do to protect herself and her child,” Hamilton said.

KDVR reports this case is under investigation.

Teresa Mull is editor of Gunpowder Magazine. Contact her at [email protected].