Video shows man use machete to hack through door, get shot by tenant

[STARMAN]

POCATELLO, ID --
Newly released video shows the moment a man hacked his way into an apartment with a machete before being shot by the tenant.

On Feb. 22, 2014, police say Twain Thomas, 54, began threatening neighbors with a machete at a Pocatello, Idaho, apartment complex. Renter James Cvengros heard the commotion, set up a camera and opened his front door to see what was happening.




Cvengros then quickly closed and locked the door.

Seconds later, video shows Thomas using the machete to hack his way though the door. Cvengros gives several verbal warnings that he was armed with a gun and kept telling Thomas to leave. Thomas then made entry into the apartment, swung the machete again, and Cvengros opened fire.

Cvengros' actions were later ruled as self-defense.

"If he hadn't been shot at that time, then we would be looking at a murder case, not an attempted murder case," Cvengros told ABC affiliate KIFI-TV.

Thomas survived the shooting and was charged with several counts of aggravated assault and attempted murder. Thomas' attorneys argued he suffered from both PTSD and frontal-lobe damage to his brain. They say Thomas wasn't aware of what he was doing until after he was shot.

A judge found him guilty last Thursday.

Thomas could serve up to 15 years in prison plus will be forced to pay a $1,200 fine.

[Gopedxr7]

that is one crappy front door.

[NYDeer]

Yes, WTF Hollow core front door??

[STARMAN]

I thought the same thing. Looks more like cardboard than wood. No matter what, It's good they had a gun!

[Mad Russian]

Lousy shot!

[Ellar]

Best YouTube comment: "he sounds like spongebob without water"

[MSA77]

OMG! Fucking Castle Doctrine Supreme! Idaho is a Castle Doctrine State! How great to have that video, and a verbal warning that "I have a gun." That was awesome!!! Scumbag whining like a bitch!

[Barnslayer]

I like the exaggerated hand gestures. That kind of overacting usually had piano music and dialog cards.

[ChiefSailer]

What was that door made out of? I've seen cardboard boxes from amazon that are thicker.

[MSA77]

What was that door made out of? I've seen cardboard boxes from amazon that are thicker.

Yeah those piece of shit laminated crap hollow core doors. The guy could have kicked it lightly, but then we wouldn't get to see him get shot. I don't advocate violence for the sake of it, but when a scumbag bashes your door in with a Machete, the range is HOT! Meanwhile, over here, we would be arrested, even with the video!

[imrich]

Wow. I am so glad that NY has banned machetes. Now we won't have to ever worry about that happening again.

[NYDeer]

Who puts a deadbolt on hollow doors??? This should be a pro solid core or steel entry door commercial over pro 2A video.. That guy came they the door almost horrow movie like, really needs the goalie mask..

[MossbergMan]

Poor guy just wanted a role in the next Friday the 13 reboot...

[Pitbull428]

The video looks more like a shitty audition outtake from the Shining..

[MossbergMan]

homeowner was a few seconds too slow on his decision IMO. The POS was already stepping inside his apt before he acted. Why give him the opportunity to throw the machete inside?

[MSA77]

homeowner was a few seconds too slow on his decision IMO. The POS was already stepping inside his apt before he acted. Why give him the opportunity to throw the machete inside?

I agree, especially since he had a visual beforehand that the perp had a machete. Interestingly, he could have had legal troubles if he blasted the guy through the door. Even after the machete was clearly breaking the door, an asshat prosecutor could say that swinging the machete at the door was not enough to raise eminent fear of loss of life. Now I would have probably started way too early myself.

[NYDeer]

Yeah prob best to drop him once he's clearly inside the residence.. A lib prosecutor may argue maybe he would have realized he broke down the wrong door and was going to turn and leave once he saw who was locked inside..