A Fort Worth woman has found herself in the crosshairs of controversy and eviction after she fatally shot a teenage boy who attempted to break into her home. Aleah Wallace, who lived with her four daughters in her rental home, defended her actions, citing self-defense and the protection of her children as the driving force behind her decision to fire her legally owned weapon. "I just was protecting my daughters," Wallace stated clearly. The 14-year-old, Devin Baker, was killed during the early hours of December 14 when he was shot at the window of Wallace's 8-year-old daughter's bedroom, according to FOX 4 News.
The circumstances leading up to the tragic shooting reveal Wallace's growing concern for the safety of her family, with previous attempted break-ins reported at her residence. The fatal encounter occurred shortly after the police had left her property, where they had responded to Wallace's distress call, a detail confirmed by the woman during her recollection of the events. "I called them at 1:22 a.m. She talked for like 20 minutes. They did a report, took pictures of everything and then they left," Wallace said, per FOX 4 News.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the local authorities have refrained from filing charges against Wallace, and the case is poised for review by a grand jury. Despite acting in what she believed to be a necessary defense of her family, Wallace now faces eviction from her home, on the grounds of a firearm violation as per the property management's policies. "The apartments called and told me that I was not supposed to have a gun at all," Wallace said. In addition to this unforeseen turn of events, Wallace is contending with the gravity of taking the life of a young teen, expressing deep remorse while standing by her instinctive need to protect her kin. "I'm devastated that he was 14. I hate that. I literally do. And I'm so sorry," she stated, as per UNILAD.
Wallace's quandary over housing is further complicated by unclear regulations regarding gun possession in subsidized housing. While she resides in such an arrangement, no specific law that prohibits residents from owning firearms could be identified, nor were there any apparent notices on the property stating such restrictions. The local apartment manager referred Wallace to the corporate office, who in turn directed her back to on-site management, leaving her grappling with uncertainty at every turn. She voiced her trepidation about being evicted, wary that it could hinder her ability to secure new housing.
