85-Year-Old Mom With .357 Magnum Kills Intruder to Save Her Disabled Son

An 85-year-old Idaho mother was attacked by an intruder in her home but was able to outsmart him, retrieve her .357 Magnum revolver, and shoot him dead to save her disabled son.

The New York Post reported that the attack occurred March 13, 2024. On April 10, 2024, Bingham County Prosecutor Ryan Jolley announced findings that the mother’s actions were clearly in defense of herself and her son.

Jolley identified the elderly mother as Christine Jenneiahn, adding, “This case presents an easy analysis of self-defense and justifiable homicide…It also presents one of the most heroic acts of self-preservation I have ever heard of.”

Jenneiahn was awoken at 2:00 a.m. by the intruder, Derek Condon, standing over her and pointing a 9mm pistol at her. He hit her, causing her to bleed, then took her into her living room, handcuffed her to a chair, and demanded valuables.

The mother did not mention that her disabled son was in the home, hoping that might keep him safe. She then told Condon there were safes downstairs where he could find valuables. When he went downstairs to look she dragged herself–chair and all–to where she kept her revolver, retrieved it, and waited for Condon to come back upstairs.

He returned in a rage because he had discovered her disabled son was in the home.

Seeing her moment, Jenneiahn grabbed the revolver and shot Condon twice. He returned fire, shooting in her arm, leg, chest, and abdomen. However, Condon’s wounds caught up with him after that and he struggled to the kitchen, where he died.

Jolley indicated Jenneiahn then “collapsed to the floor,” where she lay for ten hours before her son came to her and gave her a phone so she could call 911.

East Idaho News reported that Jenneiahn was hospitalized for her injuries and then released.

AWR Hawkins is an award-winning Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and the writer/curator of Down Range with AWR Hawkins, a weekly newsletter focused on all things Second Amendment, also for Breitbart News. He is the political analyst for Armed American Radio, and a pro-staffer for Pulsar Night Vision. He was a Visiting Fellow at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal in 2010 and holds a Ph.D. in Military History, with a focus on the Vietnam War (brown water navy), U.S. Navy since Inception, the Civil War, and Early Modern Europe. Beef is his favorite vegetable. Follow him on Instagram: @awr_hawkins. You can sign up to get Down Range at breitbart.com/downrange. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.