HIS STORY

I, Brian Keys, was attacked by three individuals at my home on July 08, 2024, at approximately 10pm. The female attacker was furious with me and her mother, my girlfriend because she needed to borrow money, and we would not give it to her. All three attackers came to my house at 10pm supposedly to pick up her 15-year-old son but their plan was to jump me inside of my home. We were expecting the 15-year old’s mother to pick him up. We heard an extremely aggressive knock and banging at the door. The 15-year-old headed to open the door, but I stopped him and told him I would get it instead because of the aggressive knocking and concern for the safety of the occupants at my home to include my 10-year-old granddaughter. I thought it was best to play it safely. I quickly went to my bedroom, opened my lockbox and grabbed my 3.80 handgun and placed it in my back pocket and headed to answer the door. My girlfriend and her sister were on the back patio when I came down the stairs and the 15-year-old was near the front door but had not unlocked or opened the door. He was to my right when I unlocked and opened the door. When I opened the door, I was startled to see three individuals standing there in my face because we always kept out screen door locked. The screen door was broken and the still in the locked position. The 15-year old’s mother was standing there and to the right of her was her boyfriend (who was not welcome at our home) and his brother. They were pressed against the wall just to the right of the door as if trying not to be seen. The boyfriend had been informed a year ago that he was not welcome at my house and had not been here since so I was surprised not only to see him but to see his brother as well. I was sure that their intentions were not good. I told the mother that her son was right there, since she said she was coming to pick him up so he could babysit. While my head was turned towards the 15-year-old, I was punched in the face by the boyfriend and the mother immediately joined in and I was receiving multiple punches to my face and head. I began to step backwards further into my house to try to create some distance between myself and my attackers. I did not know if they had weapons, and I expected the boyfriend’s brother to charge through my door at any moment. I managed to retrieve my gun from my back pocket. With my gun in my right hand, I began swinging frantically. I was afraid that I might pass out from the continued punches as I moved further back into my house.  I managed to hit one attacker with the butt of my gun. I saw my girlfriend’s sister pull the female attacker off me and pull her across the room near the washer and dryer. The boyfriend charged straight towards me with his eyes glazed over like a crazed person trying to kill me. I brought my gun up and chambered a round thinking that would cause him to stop but that meant nothing, he kept charging. When I could retreat no further and my vision had cleared enough to be positive of my target, I discharged my gun twice. One round just in front of the boyfriend as a warning. I then fired the second shot aiming for his mid-section as to not fatally injure him. I immediately informed the 15-year-old to call 911 as I went to unload, clear and distance myself from my gun. Due to my action on that day, I have been charged with the following crimes: two counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, and one count each of willful injury resulting in serious injury, reckless use of a firearm resulting in serious injury, and assault causing bodily injury. I have been denied my Castle Doctrine rights to defend myself inside my home and also the Stand Your Ground rights which says I have no duty to retreat from an attack on myself, others or my property.