NASHVILLE, TN — A woman in East Nashville was forced to defend herself Monday evening after her ex-boyfriend allegedly attempted to break into her home despite having an active order of protection against him.
As reported by WKRN, Metro Nashville police officers were dispatched to the 600 block of South 7th Street around 6:14 p.m. after a neighbor called 911 to report a shooting. According to authorities, the neighbor witnessed the woman shoot a man who was attempting to force entry into her residence.
Investigators later confirmed that the woman had an order of protection in place against the man, who has not been publicly identified. Despite this legal measure, he reportedly tried to break into her home, prompting her to use a firearm to stop the threat. The man was found on the porch suffering from a gunshot wound to his leg. He was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with injuries described as minor.
Police stated that the ex-boyfriend will be booked on outstanding warrants once he is released from the hospital. A self-defense claim is under investigation. No further information has been released at this time.
This incident underscores an important reality: while protective orders are valuable legal tools, they are ultimately just pieces of paper and cannot physically stop someone intent on doing harm. In this case, the woman’s access to a firearm made all the difference in protecting her life when the protective order alone could not. Anyone relying on legal protections should also consider personal safety planning and, if legally permissible, responsible firearm ownership and training.
