A pastor, who was charged with killing a 14-year-old burglar after he hid inside the closet and attacked him, was declared not guilty by an Oklahoma County district attorney.
Tom Vineyard, pastor of Windsor Hills Baptist Church, was found not guilty after the court found his use of weapon 'completely legitimate'.
According to the report by Washington Times, the 48-year-old pastor had gone Christmas shopping when he received a notification that a motion sensor was triggered in his house.
By the time Vineyard arrived home, the burglar, 14-year-old Keontre Reese, had already hid himself inside a bedroom closet and was about to attack the pastor.
Vineyard fired his gun in self-defense, stated prosecutor David Prater in the report.
The pastor had permit to carry and fire his weapon.
"Mr. Vineyard became involved in a physical altercation with Reese, inside of the residence," said in the statement. "While defending himself during the altercation, Mr. Vineyard shot and killed Reese."
Vineyard is a known advocate of gun rights throughout the city. In the report, he even filed a complaint against Oklahoma City Police Chief Bill Citty when he supported a stricter registration process for guns in the city.
Windsor Hills Baptist Church is also known to provide free gun training sessions for its members for self-defense.