A mother in Carroll County, Mississippi, is being hailed as a hero after protecting her three children by shooting a man who allegedly broke into their home wielding a knife. The incident occurred on Monday, and now the mother’s bravery is being praised by local law enforcement.
According to a press release from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the mother’s husband called deputies while he was working in Greenwood, Mississippi, to report a man attempting to enter their home in the Gravel Hill area. He explained that his wife and three children were hiding in a closet and provided a description of the suspect and his vehicle.
Deputies arrived at the family’s home to find the suspect, identified as 44-year-old Steve Lamar Goss Jr., had already left the scene. However, it was discovered that before leaving, Goss had driven his truck into the home’s dining room after he couldn’t kick down the front door.
While Goss was trying to enter the home, the mother and her children were hiding in the designated safe room, also known as the closet. The mother prayed while the children recited scripture, as they waited for help.
The news release states that Goss eventually found the family hiding in the closet and entered while still holding a knife. In an act of self-defense, the mother shot Goss as he entered. He then fled the scene, and deputies began searching for him.
Carroll County Sheriff Clint Walker commended the father’s quick thinking in having an emergency plan and preparing his family for such a situation. “We can all learn a lot from this family about the importance of having an emergency plan in place in our homes and most importantly, the power of prayer,” Walker said in the press release. “I thank the Lord for this father’s preparation, the bravery shown by the mother and children, and that what could have been a tragedy was transformed into a testimony of their faith in God.”
Responding deputies found a vehicle matching the description given by the husband and attempted to stop it at Acy’s Store. Goss then ran into the store, and a pursuit ensued between him and the deputies. He was eventually arrested inside the store and taken to the hospital to be treated for the gunshot wound.
Goss has since been booked into the Carroll Montgomery Regional Correctional Facility on four counts of attempted murder and one count of burglary. It was also discovered that he was out on bond for a previous charge of possession of a weapon by a felon.
During Goss’s initial appearance in court on Tuesday morning, his previous bond was revoked, and he was denied bond on the attempted murder and burglary charges.
The community has rallied behind this brave mother and her family, praising her for her quick thinking and selfless act. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of having an emergency plan in place, as well as the power of faith and prayer in times of danger. The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office is also urging other residents to take necessary precautions and prepare their families for potential threats. This harrowing incident could have ended tragically, but thanks to the mother’s courage and preparedness, it has become a testimony of the strength of faith and the importance of having an emergency plan.
