x
Breaking News
More () »

'My Son Wouldn't Have Had His Mother Anymore': Pregnant Mom Gets Into Shootout with Attempted Burglar

A Burlington mom, who's pregnant, said she got into a shootout in her kitchen while her young son and 2 dogs were in the house. The bullet holes in the walls tell the story.

BURLINGTON, N.C. — A Burlington woman gave a suspected burglar more than he was looking for, after she caught him breaking into her house around 4 a.m. Wednesday, police say.

The mom and her 11-year-old son were inside the house when a man broke in and fired shots at her when she saw him coming in through her kitchen window.

WFMY News 2 spoke with Marie, the mom who had to fight back. At three months pregnant, she got into a shootout in her kitchen with man.  

"I was walking like this and I looked right here, he had that window open where his head was right there and his shoulders, like he wasn’t even in all the way," Marie said. "There’s an AC unit outside which is what he was standing on trying to come in."

Marie said she already had her gun with her because her dogs were making a fuss in the middle of the night, something she says they never do. 

"So he had opened that window and I guess when I was here I screamed and he saw me, and we saw each other and we both started shooting," Marie said. "He shot 4 rounds."

At this point her son had woken up from her screams, he was sleeping on the couch just feet away. One of the bullets was just inches – if not millimeters - from hitting Marie and her unborn child. She said tripping, and falling backwards during the shootout saved her life. 

"I was backing up and I was about right here when I fell so If I wouldn't have fell this bullet would have went into me," Marie said. "I think it's God because if not this bullet would have went through me and that really scares me."

Burlington Police say the suspect went back out through the window and ran. Neither she or the suspect were hit by bullets during the gunfire exchange. She does have some bruises and went to the hospital to check on her baby, who is thankfully OK. 

"I spent all day at the hospital."

Police say evidence suggests he fired at the woman with a semi-automatic pistol. 

The mom is not facing any charges for firing her weapon, police confirm.

"That bullet literally could’ve went through me and my son pretty much wouldn’t have had his mother anymore."

Marie is left wondering why she was the target of what she calls a random crime.

"Seeing someone come through your kitchen window when you’re not expecting someone to come over an 8 foot fence – yeah you’re scared," she said. "I just really hope they find this guy, I don’t understand what made him target this house."

If you know anything about the crime or where the suspect could be, call Burlington Police at (336) 229-3500.

Follow WFMY News 2 on Facebook and Twitter

► Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the WFMY News 2 App: Apple UsersAndroid Users

Before You Leave, Check This Out