An 85-year-old Idaho woman is being celebrated as a hero after fatally shooting a home intruder while handcuffed to a chair.
Christine Jenneiahn was in bed at 2 a.m. on March 13 when she heard the intruder, Derek Condon, in her home. Her disabled adult son was also home at the time of the break-in.
Condon was wearing a military jacket and black ski mask. He pointed a flashlight and a gun at Jenneiahn, handcuffed her, then brought her to the living room. Police believe that she was struck in the head during this time, as there was blood on her bedroom floor and pillow. She reported being struck but could not remember when it happened.
After taking her to the living room, Condon handcuffed her to a wooden chair and asked where her valuables were stored while holding his gun to her head. She informed him that she did not have much but had two safes downstairs.
As Condon rifled through the rooms, he discovered that Jenneiahn's son was home and grew angry that she did not tell him.
While Condon was searching the home, the elderly woman dragged her chair to her bedroom and retrieved her 357 magnum.
When he returned, she fired two shots — striking him with both.
Condon returned fire, emptying his 9mm pistol into her abdomen, leg, chest, and arm. He later went to the kitchen and died.
Jenneiahn fell to the floor, still handcuffed, and remained there for 10 hours before her son came upstairs and gave her the phone to call for help.
Bingham County Prosecutor Ryan Jolley called the shooting "one of the most heroic acts of self-preservation I have ever heard of," according to a report from NBC News.
"This case presents an easy analysis of self-defense and justifiable homicide," Jolley wrote. "It also presents one of the most heroic acts of self-preservation I have ever heard of."
Idaho's self-defense law states, "No person in this state shall be placed in legal jeopardy of any kind whatsoever for protecting himself," so the shooting was ruled self-defense and Jenneiahn will not face any charges.
Jolley added, "Absent a clear attempt by Condon to retreat from the residence or surrender, which based on the evidence clearly did not occur, Christine was justified in taking any and all means necessary to defend herself and her son that night."
