Kevin Robinson

krobinson4@pnj.com

A State Attorney's Office investigation determined a Jay homeowner was justified in fatally shooting a familial acquaintance who broke into his house and threatened to kill him.

The morning of Dec. 12, Rufus Alexander Jordan and his girlfriend were awakened by Gary Savoy Phillips, 38, who was beating on the door of their Joyce Phillips Lane residence, a state investigation report said. Phillips' father had previously been married to the mother of Jordan's girlfriend.

Dead Jay home invader ID'd

Phillips reportedly kicked in the door screaming he would kill them and, "I've done told you I would burn this place," the report said. Phillips stayed at the home occasionally in the past, but during a recent visit had stolen a cell phone, money and several guns from the residence.

Jordan met Phillips by the front and pointed a shotgun at him. Phillips backed outside onto the front porch, then turned and reached into his front pocket in such a way that Jordan could not see what he was reaching for.

Jordan fired one shot at Phillips, hitting him in the left side of the torso. Phillip's fell to the ground, and Jordan went to render aid. He was attacked by Phillips' two pit bulls. Jordan went inside, got another shell and fired one more shot into the ground to scare the dogs away.

Officers arrived on scene and found Phillips dead.

In investigating the incident, state investigators determined Jordan had a reasonable fear of imminent death or great bodily harm to him or the home's other occupants. There were four children inside the residence at the time of the incident.

Phillips had been released from prison in April 2015 and had prior convictions for crimes involving violence and use of firearms, the report said. Although no gun was found on Phillips' person, his prior theft of weapons gave Jordan reason to believe Phillips was armed.

By kicking in the door and making verbal threats, Phillips "created in Jordan a well-founded fear that violence was about to take place and Phillips had a fully-formed conscious intent to either commit aggravated battery or murder at the time," the report said.

The report, penned by Assistant State Attorney James Parker, concluded that all of of Jordan's actions were justifiable under Florida's Stand Your Ground Law, and that no criminal charges should be filed. The State Attorney's Office will take no further action in the matter.