8 Times Victims Killed Or Severely Wounded Their Attempted Murderers

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at 8 times victims turned the tables on their would-be murderers by either taking out or severely wounding their attackers.

Elderly Woman Kills Intruder

In what should have been a rather quiet night in 2023, a 67-year-old Florida woman was woken up by a strange rattle on her door handle. Thinking it was her husband returning from work, she opened the door - only to be greeted by 64-year-old Reginald Best, who barged in uninvited. Despite her repeated requests for him to leave, he refused and then raised his hands, revealing a weapon. Fearing for her life, she used her own gun to shoot him and called 911 soon after. Authorities later confirmed they had earlier received disturbing calls from Best and another neighbor. The Sheriff hailed the woman’s decisive action, stating that she had the right to defend herself. For Best though, this encounter proved fatal.

Store Employee Shoots Armed Robber

Armed and presumably ready to kill, a 28-year-old robber walked into a Happy Day Food Market in southwest Philadelphia. With his face partially masked and gloves on, he pointed his gun at an employee and began taking cash from the register. That’s when an employee drew his own gun and fired multiple times. The robber died at the scene and no one else in the store was reported injured. The police ruled the shooting as self-defense. Due to previous robberies, the employee had reportedly obtained a gun license and received shooting training.

Texas Woman Shoots Home Invader

In 2024, a DeSoto, Texas woman, on her way back from a nearby Taco Bell, noticed a truck following her. When it pulled into her driveway, she ran inside, called 911 and grabbed a handgun. Moments later, as the armed man tried to break in through the rear garage door, she shot at him multiple times. Neighbors, startled by the chaos, also called 911. Police soon arrived and identified the armed man as 35-year-old Octavio Flores Mondragon. But that’s not all. Turns out, he had been shot in the chest and face, but was still alive. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Though the woman’s shots did not kill him, she thwarted what could have been a deadly attack.

Woman Shoots Intruder

What do you do when your life is threatened and you're backed in a corner? For one 55-year-old Alaskan woman, the answer was fierce self-defense. On a Friday night in 2021, an intruder broke into her house wielding an axe. The man, a 66-year-old who was reportedly intoxicated, had threatened to kill her. But things didn’t quite go as he planned as she had a gun which she used.. This intruder was eventually taken to the hospital where he underwent surgery for non-life-threatening injuries. No charges were filed against the woman. In the end, this woman didn’t just survive, she flipped the script on a night that could’ve ended in tragedy.

CVS Worker Stabs Serial Shoplifter

In 2023, 50-year-old homeless serial shoplifter, Charles Brito, stormed a midtown Manhattan CVS store where Scotty Enoe worked. Witnesses say Brito made threatening comments toward female employees, punched Enoe multiple times, and even bashed his head against a cooler. After being battered, Enoe pulled out his folding knife and struck back, leaving Brito with two stab wounds to the liver. The injuries were fatal, with the result that Enoe was charged with manslaughter. Enoe’s defense lawyer argued that he had the right to defend himself as he was violently assaulted. The jury agreed with that argument, finding Enoe not guilty of manslaughter in 2025.

Wife Overpowers Hitman

Fueled by adrenaline and a strong will to live, Susan Kuhnhausen survived a deadly attack in 2006. She had just gotten home from her shift as a nurse at an Oregon hospital when 59-year-old Edward Haffey ambushed her with a claw hammer, hitting her. Despite the blow, Susan used her defense skills to fight back. He caught up with her in the hallway and punched her in the face. But she managed to overpower him, eventually choking him. She then ran to a neighbor’s house and called 911. When police arrived, they found Haffey's lifeless body. In a shocking twist, investigations revealed that Susan’s husband, Michael Kuhnhausen hired Haffey to kill her. Michael was arrested and convicted while Susan became an advocate for victims’ rights.

Husband Shoots Serial Killer

In September 1986, Doug and Kris Wells of Montana lived through a nightmare that unmasked a serial killer - the Missoula Mauler. While at their home, their co-worker Wayne Nance struck Doug on the head. He then tied up both Doug and Kris, stabbed Doug in the chest and left him to die in the basement. Nance dragged Kris upstairs, intending to assault her. Undeterred by his injury, Doug managed to break free. He loaded one bullet in his rifle and lured Nance away from Kris. As the fight intensified, Doug fired, hitting Nance, who died the following day in the hospital. Investigations later linked Nance to multiple past murders.

Woman's Bravery Stops Serial Killer

What was supposed to be a casual meeting for Heather Saul turned into a fight for her life. In 2015, Neal Falls met Saul online and tracked down her address in West Virginia. Once inside her home, he held her at gunpoint and tried to strangle her. Fueled by raw survival instinct, Saul picked up a rake and fought back. When Falls set his gun down to seize the rake, she acted fast by grabbing the gun and firing behind her. The shot struck Falls in the head, killing him instantly. What police discovered in Fall’s car was an arsenal of weapons, linking him to several murders across multiple states. A list of potential victims was also found. They’re safe all thanks to Saul's fearlessness.

Who do you think is the most courageous among these victims? Let us know in the comment section.