Missouri Homeowner Fires During Alleged Shovel Attack

A Missouri homeowner fired a shot during an alleged confrontation with a shovel-wielding neighbor inside his home, according to reporting based on court documents. The account describes a defensive gun use in Beaufort, an unincorporated community in Franklin County.

Bearing Arms reported October 20 that sheriff’s deputies were responding to a reported burglary the previous Thursday evening when dispatch advised that shots had been fired. Local reporting from KJLU described the homeowner’s account and the allegations recorded in court documents.

According to that account, the neighbor pushed through the back door during a dispute. The homeowner pushed him outside, but the man allegedly returned with a shovel, broke through the door and began swinging it. The homeowner retrieved a firearm and fired a shot between the suspect and the doorframe. The suspect then left and allegedly damaged the homeowner’s car with the shovel.

Bearing Arms identifies the accused neighbor as Ryan Madonna, 41, and reports charges of first-degree burglary, first-degree property damage and fourth-degree assault. Those are criminal allegations, not findings of guilt. The reporting reviewed does not establish a final judicial ruling on the homeowner’s use of force or a concealed-carry permit status.

The distinction matters when covering defensive gun use: a reported intervention, the allegations against a suspect and a final legal judgment are separate facts. This account also should not be read as advice to fire warning shots. Keep the focus on the documented sequence and subsequent court developments. Sign up for the WTF News newsletter for sourced reporting on armed citizens and gun ownership.