Brittany Cheek heard a commotion outside her Tarpon Springs, Fla., apartment at 4 a.m. on Saturday. Looking out, she saw someone striking her 52-year-old neighbor, Susan Bass. So, Cheek grabbed her handgun and opened the door.
WFLA-TV reports that the incident began when police responded to a 911 call reporting a strange man screaming and knocking on condo doors. Deputies found 18-year-old Daniel Morley on the second story, wearing only underwear. Morley fled and began pounding on Bass’s door, and when she opened it, he attacked.
Cheek then confronted Morley and the intruder immediately turned on her. Fearing for her toddler’s life, she fired, hitting the suspect in the leg. Other neighbors began battling Morley until deputies arrived, and the officers eventually subdued him. Morley was treated for a gunshot wound while Bass, Cheek and her child received treatment for minor injuries. Investigators believe Morley was under the influence of drugs or alcohol and he has been charged with several counts of assault and resisting arrest.
