Key Takeaways
- A Pennsylvania woman shot an intruder after he broke into her Fayette County home and cornered her in her bedroom.
- The suspect, Ronald Rosiek, 69, broke a window with a brick and forced his way inside around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.
- Rosiek was struck multiple times and flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital for emergency surgery.
- He now faces felony charges including burglary and aggravated assault.
- State police say Pennsylvania’s Castle Doctrine may apply to the case.
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BROWNSVILLE, PA – A Fayette County woman shot a man multiple times after he broke into her home and cornered her in her bedroom late Tuesday night. State police say the Castle Doctrine may apply to the case.
As reported by WTAE Action News 4, Ronald Rosiek, 69, of Hopwood, was flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital for emergency surgery after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. His current condition is unknown.
According to the criminal complaint, the victim was asleep in her bed when she woke to someone beating on her door and ringing the doorbell around 11:30 p.m. Rosiek then broke a window with a brick and entered through the front door.
Police say he went directly to the victim’s bedroom and began yelling at her. He blocked her doorway, leaving her with no clear path to escape. That is when she fired several shots, striking him in the leg and the side of the head.
Despite being hit, Rosiek chased the woman and the two struggled until she was able to break free and run outside to waiting police. State troopers arrived on scene and found Rosiek with multiple gunshot wounds.
Rosiek, 69, now faces felony charges including aggravated assault and burglary, along with harassment and other charges, according to court records.
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Pennsylvania State Police confirmed they are investigating the incident and noted that the Castle Doctrine could apply. Pennsylvania’s Castle Doctrine allows residents to use reasonable and deadly force against intruders inside their home when facing an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm.
The victim’s brother spoke with WTAE about the frightening moments before he knew his sister was safe. “All we heard on the news was somebody was shot. I thought the worst. I thought it was her,” he said.
The Castle Doctrine exists precisely for situations like this one. A woman, alone and asleep in her own home, was confronted by an intruder who broke in, cornered her, and blocked her only exit. Her firearm gave her an option to defend herself against a credible physical threat. The Second Amendment is not an abstract principle in moments like these. It is what stood between this woman and what could have been a far worse outcome.