Johns Hopkins student slays intruder with samurai sword

12:00 AM CDT on Wednesday, September 16, 2009

The Associated Press

BALTIMORE – A Johns Hopkins University student armed with a samurai sword killed a suspected burglar in a garage behind his off-campus home early Tuesday, hours after someone broke in and stole electronics.

Police held the student, a junior chemistry major who turns 21 on Sunday, for several hours, but no charges were filed. They said the student heard noises and confronted the intruder. When the suspect lunged at him, the student struck the man with the sword, police said.

The intruder's left hand was nearly severed, and he also suffered a severe cut to the upper body. The man, whom police described as a habitual offender, died at the scene.

It was not known if he was the person who stole two laptops and a Sony PlayStation from the house on Monday.

Johns Hopkins student slays intruder with samurai sword | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Headline | National News

 

This guy seemed a bit "trigger happy", the guy ran at him and he gave him the death blow, although it seems he lucked out here, in any other scenario a lot could happen.

 

That is a current debate. Here's info from Baltimore Sun reporters Brent Jones, Liz F. Kay and Jill Rosen September 16, 2009

Hours earlier, someone had broken into John Pontolillo's house and taken two laptops and a video-game console. Now it was past midnight, and he heard noises coming from the garage out back.

The Johns Hopkins University undergraduate didn't run. He didn't call the police. He grabbed his samurai sword.

With the 3- to 5-foot-long, razor-sharp weapon in hand, police say, Pontolillo crept toward the noise. He noticed a side door in the garage had been pried open. When a man inside lunged at him, police say, the confrontation was fatal.



"He was backed up against a corner and either out of fear or out of panic, he just struck the sword with force," said Baltimore Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. "It was probably with fear for his life."

Pontolillo, who rents the house in the 300 block of E. University Parkway in the Oakenshawe neighborhood, struck the intruder no more than twice, police say, nearly severing his left hand and inflicting what police termed a "spear laceration."

The intruder, Donald D. Rice of Baltimore, a 49-year-old repeat offender who had been released from jail only Saturday, died at the bloody scene.

Pontolillo, 20, of Wall, N.J., whose identity was confirmed by law enforcement sources, was released late Tuesday afternoon. Guglielmi said it would be up to the state's attorney's office to determine whether he will be charged in the incident.

In a statement Tuesday, Hopkins officials told students there had been more than a half-dozen burglaries in the area recently, and that police presence would be bolstered.

Diego Ardila, a Hopkins student who lived with Pontolillo in the three-story, five-bedroom house during the summer, said Pontolillo owned a samurai sword and generally kept it in his room. He described Pontolillo as somewhat outgoing, but said they didn't talk a lot.

"You don't expect to hear that someone you know killed a guy with a samurai sword," said Ardila, 19. "From what little I know of him, he wasn't some guy going out to kill."

It is legal to possess a sword in Baltimore, Guglielmi said, and "individuals have a right to defend their person and their property." He declined to comment on whether its use in this case was appropriate.

University of Maryland professor David Gray, who specializes in criminal law, said prosecutors must weigh whether Pontolillo felt his life was in danger or whether he became the aggressor.

In Maryland, Gray said, an individual is not expected to retreat from suspected danger in his own home. But it is unclear how the law applies to an enclosed backyard.

If the student felt he was in danger of severe bodily harm, then he was within his right to protect himself, Gray said: "It doesn't matter if he used a gun, a sword or a frying pan."

The sword police recovered from the scene, with a sharp blade and ribbon-wrapped hilt, is a replica of a historic samurai weapon. Though a real one would cost thousands of dollars, Guglielmi said, this one probably cost a few hundred.

The police spokesman said the student who wielded the weapon had no advanced sword training. "He wasn't a ninja," Guglielmi said. "He may have been moderately trained or on the intermediate level."

Hundreds of varieties of samurai swords are available online to collectors and hobbyists, martial arts enthusiasts and students of swordplay through stores such as Steve Dibble's Japanese Swords 4 Samurai site, based in Birmingham, Ala.

His swords range in price from about $50 for the model called the "Kill Bill," after the violent Quentin Tarantino films, to more than $2,000 for a handmade "Katana" forged of steel, a hilt wrapped in leather and silk, and decorative flourishes of silver.

Midrange swords, the type apparently used in the Baltimore incident, are those likeliest used at martial arts schools, he said, where students want a weapon sharp enough to cut.

To inflict lethal damage requires some skill, Dibble said.

"To be that confident with it that he would go grab it, he may have been into martial arts," he said. "You would have to hold it with two hands and be confident that you would really know what you were doing."

Mantis Swords, an online outlet based in Westminster, specializes in sharp weapons. "Our swords are ready for cutting," owner Shawn Salafia said.

Salafia sells mats that people can soak in water so that when they dry, they'll be roughly the consistency of a person.

"You stick them on a stand, and you cut them," he said. "If someone laid their hand into it, you could probably cut into it pretty darn deep."

By Tuesday afternoon, two pools of blood remained on the ground a few feet away from the door to the garage, which is not connected to the home. A gate in a wooden fence surrounding the backyard was broken, allowing the scene to be viewed from the sidewalk.

Michael Hughes, who lives about a block away in the neighborhood, heard screams early Tuesday.

"I could hear the fear in the voice, and I could tell someone was scared," said Hughes, 43, who works for Johns Hopkins' Bloomberg School of Public Health.

He called police and then walked over to the crime scene.

"The body was near the garage," he said. "I watched them carry the sword out. The whole thing was surreal and totally bizarre."

Rice, of the 600 block of East 27th St. in Baltimore, had 29 prior convictions for crimes such as breaking and entering, Guglielmi said. He had been released Saturday from the Baltimore County Detention Center, where he had been held after his arrest by county police last year for stealing a car in the city. He was found guilty in December of unauthorized removal of property and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

The incident was the second this week in which a man was wounded trying to commit a robbery. An off-duty Baltimore police officer shot and critically wounded a man who had tried to rob him at gunpoint in his Northeast Baltimore home, according to police. He chased the man for two blocks before opening fire, police said.

Baltimore Sun reporter Justin Fenton contributed to this article.

Copyright © 2009, The Baltimore Sun

Sword-wielding Hopkins student kills intruder -- baltimoresun.com
WITH VIDEO LINK

 

I have no sympathy for those who commit crimes. Whether a sword or a gun, they know the risks. I defend the right to protect and defend one's property using whatever force necessary. Was the force used excessive.......nope.

 

From the description of the encounter he may well have swung at the guys hand. The fact that he took that off and inflicted a severe wound to the body would be consistent with a blow swung at someone "lunging" at the person swinging the sword.

 

"Lunging" at a man with a sword doesn't represent the "shiniest tool in the shed" does it! Two things make sense when confronted with a sword wielding home-owner; shoot if you have a pistol, or escape if you don't. Looks to me the repeat felon was dumb as a bag of hair.

 

Thats somehow not World War2 related.

@ Topic
Sad incident. In a similar situation I would call the police lock my bedroom and wait for the police. I think it not a good idea to search your house with a katana. Just imagine if this would have been some friends who wanted to play a hoax on him or some kids doing stupid stuff like kids tend to do.

Grüße
Philipp

 

Apparently you have never "tasted crime" and or had anything bad happen to you. Back in Jan 1996, a sorry excuse piece of amphibian s###, kidnapped and raped and threatened to slit the throat of my then, Fiance.

When something happens to you or someone your close to-you will sing a different song.

 

In the mean time Philipp, you die at the hands of a scumbag criminal. Your total loss there. I for one, WILL shoot to kill if I have to? I have no qualms about ridding society of a criminal.

I've told a few stories here many times that happened to me or to a person I greatly cared about (such as my now ex-fiance) explains why I feel the way I do about criminals and crimes they commit.

One which ill make very short, happened about 2 years ago in a city I used to live in. Mother gets called to pick up sick 15 yr old son at school. Takes him home drops him off so she can go to a Pharmacy to get Meds for her son. Unknowned to them, their home was being cased for burglarizing and God knows what else? While Mom is gone, said habitual criminal decides to break into the house even knowing that 15 yr old was there. Was he also thinking of killing the boy? only that freak-who is now "farming" knows.

He broke into the house, the Boy heard the commotion ran to his parents bedroom to get a loaded .357 that was kept under the parents bed, ran back to his room and closed the door. Meanwhile, Mom comes back home not knowing anything has happened out of the ordinary, enters HER home via the Garage-where this criminal had entered. The moment she enters HER Kitchen, she hears a strange noise coming from another room. She walks there to see what she thought her son was doing? only to be confronted by a 50-something yr old black guy who had just recently got released from prison for killing two elderly store owners-for about $10 bucks.

The Mom is startled, screams and ran unpstairs closely followed by this scumbag who also tried to stab her in the back with a butcher knife. The son heard his Mom scream opening his bedroom door to let her in, she got in and they closed the door as the creep tried to stab her again. The creep then proceeded to do a ""Jack NIcholson" Heres Johnny, and tried to bash his way through the door w/ said knife. He suceeded. As he entered the bedroom, the boy-pointing one of those almighty """evil""" things called a Pistol, at the burglar-fired once hitting him in the chest killing him instantly. Said burglar would still be alive had he NOT decided to burglarize that house to begin with. Was he also going to kill the boy, and his mom after raping her?? who knows?? Anyway, thanks to a new law that went into effect here in Texas as of Sept 2007, which allows a person to use whatever force necessary-including deadly force-in order to stop someone from killing them or stealing their property.

End of story is-that the mom and boy are still alive and said habitual criminal who had been in prison for murdering two people-was TODT. He would NOT be TODT, had he not decided to commit said crime(s)

 

I'm sorry to hear about your finance.

This was a university campus, students tend to pull pranks, room mates come home late, etc. He also had the precision to do some major damage, a softer blow could have gotten the message across. Like I said, a million things could go wrong, he was fortunate enough to be involved in a unique case.

I am not defending or sympathizing with the crook by any means. Perhaps the story isn't revealing everything, did the crook have a weapon with him? Did he hit the defendant?, etc.

And did have something similar happen to a late relative of mine. But again, this is a unique case and a million different things could have happened. It was a university campus, not Watts after all.

 

But it's a different thing to shoot at somebody who runs after you and wants to stab you than take your katana when you hear strange noises and search your house for criminals without calling the police. I mean every policeman will tell you and every 2nd grader learns that the first thing you do if you get to notice a crime is to call the police. Doing something else is simply wrong behaviour in a dangerous situation. That was the only thing I wanted to point out.

Oh and it's "tot".

Grüße
Philipp

 

Hi Meher, much appreciated. Ever since then, I have fully sided with criminals being executed. They already proved they can't function in a "normal" society, but were let out given another chance to be right and contribute-but they take the easier route and that is to steal for a living instead of getting a job making their own way and buying their own stuff.

Philipp, I didn't say tot, mein Deutsch ist veri schlecht-but at least I try. I said Todt-which means death in one form or another-unless that word too has been changed by the Germans?????? Or better yet-how about TOD or even Mord??????

Well, while your attempting to make said phone call-providing you can get to a phone safely to make that call??, said criminal is shooting you in the forehead or if he doesnt have a gun-is busy giving you a Colombian Necktie with a butcher knife.

Here in the USA, every 2nd grader knows better and also knows to fill that criminals arse full of lead. While your 2nd graders are busy playing with their phones, they are also getting killed in the process. You apparently do NOT understand jack-about crimes and how they are committed and by whom. I DO think I have a hell of a lot more experiance in these matters than you do.

General Urko, please answer me this: while you and your family is peacefully sitting in your home gleefully watching TV, and minding your own business, when all of a sudden-2,3,4 or more aspholes kick down your door entering your home and they procede to beat the hell out of everyone there while robbing them or maybe they don't feel like leaving any witnesses, so they shoot your daughter, rape your wife in front of you, then slash her throat-all the while, forcing you to watch the activities. Finally, when they are done with the others, they turn their attention to you, and probably blow you in half with a few blasts from a shotgun! All of this happens because your against gun ownership as well as the usage of guns as family protection. If you had a chance to stop those criminals and defend your family? would you do so? or would you tamely submit by allowing them to come into your home unchallenged just because you hate guns?

I on the other hand-IF I have the chance to grab one of my weapons-yes, I have several weapons-most of them are of WWII German Manufacture, all work, and none ar deacts-which are as useful only as clubs. While you take your deact Mauser Rifle from the wall to use as a club, three criminals are busy pumping you face, torso and cranium full of hot lead as well as gang raping your wife, daughter(s) and then killing them.

No Sir, I will not allow that to happen to my family if have any chance to deter these criminals by killing them. I had an incident here a few months back where I cought a stranger in my backyard looking through our storage shed as well as into the windows in the back of my house. This jerk had not reckoned that someone was home. When I saw it look into the window of the back door he saw me looking at him and took off for the fence, I went to get my house keys and my NASTY NAZI-marked AC-43 Walther P-38. Had I been able to get outside in time, I would have shot the bastard.

I dont go to work to make money to buy nice things only to let some turd come onto MY property and break into MY house and steal MY things.

 

1. I agree it is borderline topic, but chose to post it as it reflects on a weapon, which was used during WWII.
2. Sad indeed. Unfortunate for the student that killed the intruder as it may have long-term psychological effects on him, then again, maybe not. I do not criticize his judgment. It’s sad for the family that is scarred by the loss and pain of type of loss. My first thought on this is the criminal's parents failed him.
3. That is a personal opinion. Some of us choose do not sit, wait and hope.
4. Another matter of opinion. I wouldn't search my house either with such a blade, better suited for outside which is where the attack took place.
5. The student was defending his castle at midnight and notices the side door of the garage has been forced open. The intruder lunges at the student from the dark trapping the him in a corner. With no mention of lighting, the student does not know if the intruder is armed and does not know his tactics. The student fears for his life, self-preservation kicks in. People should be held accountable for their actions, even if the intruder was a teenager. The actions of the intruder were not a prank. A prankster would not have attacked the king. I can appreciate the hoax theory, but in my opinion, it does not apply to this loss.

Carl, what city was it?

 

Don't get me wrong on this. I don't blame the student for defending himself when he was attacked by the intruder but nontheless it was his duty to first call the police in this situation. Imagine if the intruder had wounded him then nobody would have helped him.
And Carl you have to be careful when gunning down people. For example a neighbour of my parents has Alzheimer and also straws through other peoples backyards from time to time. Self defence is one thing but shooting people out of speculation when you clearly have other options is imho not the right thing to do.
Additionally Carl I highly appreciate when foreign people learn my language so the basics for Miss Marple lovers:

tot=dead
Tod=death
Mord=murder
Mörder=murderer
Gärtner=gardener

Grüße
Philipp

 

Hi W.F/ That incident was in Corpus Christi, Texas. Not only did the District Attorney come out and publickly say that he fully supported the actions fo the Teen-but so did the Police Chief and a couple of Judges.

Hi Philipp, the student had full right to do so and also, being in his bedroom, he didn't have access to a phone to call the Police. This kid did what he had to do.

True, one can't just step outside and just shoot people but, when that person is in said homeowners property without said owners permission or knowledge-unless said thief is seen? like I saw him, and when said thief is looking into the windown of my house from my fenced in yard, you KNOW said thief is up to no good and, by that fairly new Texas Law, you have th eright to use whatever force is necessary, to protect your life and property-even if your property-like a Car-is parked in the street instead of in your driveway or garage.

Ths law is also fully backed by the Guvnuh of the STate of Texas, who publicly said that he would support any family or any persons right to defend themselves. As you know, if for some reason a person defended themselves and still landed in jail for doing so, the Guvnuh also said he would give them a full pardon.

Oh and thanks for the language help. Germans are a sneaky complicated people at times, why else do they have three words that imm aware of-that are just for the word: "The?" I know THE is used in different fashoins in the German language but, whats their deal with the word: "Captain?" You have Kapitan, Rittmeister, Hauptmann and used to have SS Hauptsturmfuhrer ;-))

 

My girlfriends best friend works as a psych doctor in Towson Detention Center, the very same one from which this turd was released Saturday. She being part of the psychiatric team there knew the SOB and told me that he had something like 29 priors including car jacking and some others....

I applaud the student and hope he does well in his future studies ( if not, he can always be a samurai insturctor ).


As for the burglar, I have no sympathy for him. May he rot in...

 

I'm with you Carl. Good post's.

 

I wouldn't say everyone who serves jail time shouldn't be given another chance. A recent example that comes to mind is "The Machine Gun Preacher", he had his run ins with the law but now uses his knowledge and "revelation" to help kidnapped and displaced children in Africa.

If someone invades your home you have every right to protect it, but does that mean you should go for the death blow right away? Especially for a situation where you live on a student campus in the middle of the night? Drunk college kids often mess around in backyards, if it comes to a point where you think you should attack the real question should be, how far would you go?

 

First off, it should be remembered that this was off-campus, and a rented house and garage in the 300 block of E. University Parkway. Also that this fellow (John Pontolillo) had been robbed the day before of computers and a game center. The police who talked to him after he reported that theft most likely told him to include a copy of their report with his insurance claim (You do have renters insurance don’t you?), since he had no description of the burglar all they could do was file the report.

Perhaps this time when he heard a noise in his garage he decided to investigate before calling the police, and took his sword with him for protection. I’d do the same if I didn’t have a something more lethal available. Then again, in some states the use of a handgun makes the "self-defense" option a bit dicey. While a sword (especially a replica), might not be in the same league.

His initial blow wasn’t a "death blow" by intent, but to fend off the guy who lunged at him. Severing his left hand was the result, but perhaps not the intent. I personally live within about 8 blocks of my alma mater, and there are things that "go bump in the night" around here as well. I don’t go investigate them without my leather wrapped, 10" coil spring-handled, lead shot (12oz) in my right hand. (see attachment). I have struck "bothersome" persons in both the knees and shins with this little persuader, to good effect.

I have also been known to carry my .22 mag two shot derringer in my left hand as well. If you have never seen what a .22 mag with a hollowpoint can do, believe me it isn’t a delicate round compared to the normal .22.