When a law-abiding citizen buys a firearm, he may hope to never have to use it. In the case of Harvey Lembo, the time between buying a revolver and firing it on a home intruder was only hours.

The disabled 67-year-old Maine man who shot an alleged intruder trying to steal his prescription painkillers, is now being told by his landlord that he must either surrender his weapon or move out of his apartment.
His home has been invaded five times in six years, with growing frequency. Fed up after an August burglary, Lembo took his neighbor’s advice and bought a revolver on Aug. 31.

That night while in bed, Lembo heard his apartment being broken into. “I had the gun under my pillow,” he told WGME. “I reached out and I cocked it. And I got in my wheelchair.”

 “I screamed at him to stop,” says Lembo. “And I told him to go sit on the coffee table or I’d blow his brains out. I still had the gun in my hand. And I’m trying to dial 911 with the gun in my hand.”

Wildhaber, despite having a gun pointed at him, reportedly attempted to escape. That’s when Lembo fired.

“I shot him, yes,” said Lembo. “I shot just like that. Just barely missed the side of the wall. Got him in the shoulder. If he’d had sat there, nothing would have happened. But he wanted to leave. And I’ve had enough of it. I’ve had enough.”

The landlord of Lembo’s apartment complex does not allow guns on the premises and has told Lembo to EITHER RELINQUISH HIS FIREARM OR MOVE. Lembo has agreed to give up his gun on the condition that building’s security be improved.

 

 

Source: Disabled Man Shoots Burglar Hours After Purchasing Gun

Photo credit: Screenshot via WGME