Never underestimate the fury of a mama bear defending her cubs. Or worse, a mama bearing arms to protect her children.

When two robbers broke into a woman’s home, she said her maternal instinct kicked in, and, grabbing a 12-gauge shotgun, stood to protect her young daughter from harm.

The Savannah, GA woman says her husband, a firefighter, was on his shift Monday night, when she heard someone coming into her home.

“Got up thinking it was morning time, and it was my husband, got up to go greet him…and got punched in the face and pushed back into my bedroom,” said Shannon Linton, fended off intruders.

Linton says she quickly realized that not one, but two men were in her home. Linton says she immediately feared for her teenage daughter, who was sleeping just feet away.

“I think when he punched me, he thought he’d knocked me out. Because he kept coming toward, down the hallway. And that’s when I went right back into the bedroom and grabbed the gun,” said Linton.

Now armed with the 12 gauge, she intended to use it to keep her daughter safe.

“The only thing I can remember is the guy at the door hollering ‘oh…’ and running. And I just fired, like I said, all I could think was it was him or me. And I had to protect my daughter,” Linton said.

The two robbers were only able to get away with a couple laptops, that were found a block or so away.

Police say the first suspect is described as a black male, standing 5 feet 11 inches with a slender build and medium brown complexion. He was wearing a black zip-up hoodie, blue jeans and black tennis shoes.

The second suspect was about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and wearing a red baseball hat.

Linton said this should send a message to any would-be robbers or burglars on her street that the people who live there, won’t put up with it quietly.

“This is our neighborhood, and we’ll do whatever it takes, we’re going to take this street back. If it means us sitting outside every night, we’ll do it,” said Linton.

Linton says she also wants to send a special thank you to the responding officers.

“I did learn that at least now I know that I can protect us. I don’t have to rely on my husband, if, when he is at work, I know I can do it. I don’t have to be afraid of that anymore,” Linton said.