The Platte County District Attorney's Office believes woman was justified in killing an intruder

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Platte County District Attorney's Office ruled the fatal shooting of a man at a Platte County home was justified.

The woman who shot Joshua Hinderliter on Sept. 18 will not face charges, according to a Friday news release from the Platte County District Attorney's Office.

Hinderliter was shot after entering the woman's house and running towards her.

“After carefully reviewing the circumstances surrounding this shooting, it is clear that this woman’s use of deadly force was justified,” Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd said in the news release. “The woman was home alone with her four-year-old child. A man stormed towards her and entered her house while she was there alone with her four-year-old child. It is fortunate that she was able to defend herself against her child and they were not injured in this terrible incident.

Hinderliter, who the woman knew, was at the woman's property in the 15000 block of Masonic Drive around 9 a.m.

According to Zahnd, the woman saw Hinderliter, whom she did not know, on her property.

Hinderliter was not wearing a shirt and was acting strangely, the press release said.

He attempted to ride a pony, knocked over the pony's water tank, and shocked himself when he grabbed an electric gate.

Hinderliter became angry, tore down the gate and threw it, the press release said.

The woman called her husband and he dialed 911.

The woman took a gun out of a locked gun cabinet and heard Hinderliter shaking the front door of the house.

She also heard the dog screaming and said she was afraid Hinderliter would try to kill the dog, the statement said.

He walked to the driveway and the woman opened the door, told him she had a gun and to leave.

Instead of walking, Hinderliter raised his arms above his head, spoke incoherently and ran toward the woman.

She shot him several times but he still came.

The woman went into the house and Hinderliter followed her.

She shot him several times before leaving her home and going to a neighbor's house, the release said.

Hinderliter's body was in the house.

“The law allows people to use deadly force to protect themselves or another person from death, serious bodily harm or a violent crime,” Zahnd said. “This woman reasonably believed that a man she did not know storming toward her and into her home might injure or kill her or her four-year-old child. While Mr. Hinderliter's death is regrettable, this woman had every right to defend her child.”

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