On Wednesday afternoon, an Indianapolis mother shot a home intruder as he was actively trying to break into her apartment.

The incident happened in the middle of the day, 1:10 p.m. in the 2800 block of White Knight Boulevard near East 30th Street and Mitthoeffer Road.

Police say the mother heard someone breaking into her apartment. That woman then came face to face with the armed suspect, identified as 19-year-old Michael Hawkins, before she opened fire.

Investigators say Hawkins died inside the doorway of the apartment after being shot. Neighbors say while it’s sad the suspect got killed, they don’t blame the mother for using deadly force.

“I hate to see that it happened, but that’s what happens when you go into people’s home trying to take their stuff,” said neighbor Julius Radcliff.

“You have to defend yourself. We have laws for that,” said neighbor Janice Taylor.

While most people are praising the mother for her swift action to defend herself and her children, some are not so understanding of the fear a burglar can put into homeowners.

“It is disheartening that we see burglaries resulting in death, but we live in Indiana and it’s legal for people to have guns to protect themselves,” said IMPD Officer Aaron Hamer.

Wonder what Officer Hamer would do if he was forced to confront a burglar coming into his home?