An elderly couple were enjoying a bright, sunny Sunday afternoon in their quiet Baxter Springs neighborhood. The last thing they expected to see was an intruder entering their home and approaching, knife in hand.
However, as Baxter Springs Police Chief Mike Kliewer told the Leavenworth Times, that’s exactly what happened. The suspect, 43-year-old Chebonnie E. Saggert, broke into the couple’s home brandishing a knife and then began threatening and assaulting them. After a brief struggle, one of the residents grabbed a firearm and shot the suspect, and Saggert was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators believe this incident will fall under the state’s “Stand Your Ground” law, in which the use of deadly force is justified for self-defense. Officers also report there is no connection between the homeowners and Saggert, but police have had previous run-ins with the suspect and say it is possible he knew the residence was occupied by an elderly couple.
