A pair of Washington state armed robbers had their plans thwarted by the precise application of hot lead:

A spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office said a man who lived in the home and his friend “were in the garage when two men allegedly entered the garage, their faces covered, and attempted to rob the two of them at gunpoint.”

She said the resident’s friend grabbed a gun from his car and shot one of the suspects. The other suspect ran away.

The 41-year-old suspect that was shot was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

The resident, a man in his 30s, was taken to Providence Hospital for evaluation. Investigators say he was shaken up after the experience.

He was treated at the hospital and has since been released.

“It’s just very surprising, because we’re out here, we’re a peaceful rural area usually,” said a neighbor. “You only hear about that in the city, but I’m sure everyone says that.”

The simple reality of life is that there isn’t anywhere that is immune to violent crime. You can choose to be a soft target and let the criminal determine the outcome, or you can choose to arm yourself, become proficient with your firearms, and have your own say in the matter.