Fulton County, Georgia

From Atlanta’s 11Alive.com of June 14, 2005

Woman Fends Off Home Intruder

Police are investigating a complaint from a north Fulton County woman that a man she doesn't know broke into her home early Monday morning. The woman told police she was able to shoot at the man as he fled her residence.

Michelle Johnstone, 38, told police that her attacker threw her to the ground after entering her home, located in the 500 block of Alstonefield Drive.

"She was awake. She came downstairs in her home and that's where the struggle began, that's where she was confronted by the suspect," said Fulton police Lt. Dexter White, conveying to reporters what Johnstone was telling investigators.

She told police she was able to reach for a gun she keeps inside her home and shoot at the intruder as he fled. Police later confirmed that Johnston had fired her gun five times. At least two of the bullets went through a rear window.

There is no evidence she hit anyone.

A neighbor, who asked that she not be identified, said the noise woke her up. "I heard a loud bang, and I thought it was a shot that had come into my house, because it was that loud," she said.

According to police, Johnstone is the one who called 911. Another neighbor said when Johnstone was getting into an ambulance, her head was bloody and she was wearing only a towel.

Johnstone was treated at North Fulton Regional Hospital for cuts and bruises. A police detective drove her home at 1:30 pm.

No subsequent stories about this incident were found.