A dutiful son says he did what he had to do to protect his 72-year-old mother from a home invasion and assault at their home in rural northern Minnesota.

At around 6 a.m. Saturday, the intruder, 34 year-old Benjamin Beaudoin, knocked on the door of Ethel Himes’ home, located off of U.S. Highway 53, just south of the Canadian border.

Covered in blood after he was beaten during a robbery attempt earlier in the morning, Beaudoin asked Himes for help and then stormed into the home, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Beaudoin pushed Himes to the floor, choked her and started slamming her head on the floor.

That’s when Brad Himes, 48, intervened.

“I’m the son who did what had to be done,” he told the Star Tribune.

Himes shouted at Beaudoin and then ran to his bedroom to retrieve his handgun. Beaudoin followed and then lunged at the armed Himes.

Himes shot Beaudoin who was transported to the hospital where he later died.

Follow Chuck on Twitter