Noblesville, Indiana – Two men from out of state, who were dressed as DoorDash delivery drivers, attempted a burglary in Noblesville, Indiana, on April 6, 2023, but one ended up shot dead in the botched home invasion.
Grayson Rhue, 18, from Roswell, Georgia, was shot and killed by a resident after he and Ruai Ngundeng Pal, 22, attempted to break into a home on Raccoon Court in Noblesville near the Morse Reservoir. Pal was arrested in Franklin, Tennessee, and faces multiple felony charges, including murder, burglary with a deadly weapon, and armed robbery.
New details have emerged from court documents revealing that about two weeks before the home invasion, a man similar in description to Pal was spotted trying to enter a bedroom window in the very same home where the shooting would later occur. Police were called to the residence on Raccoon Court on March 22nd, 2023, at approximately 3:12 a.m., after a man was seen trying to enter the bedroom window and ran after being seen by one of the occupants in the home.
Police found a rented Chevrolet Malibu that was connected to Pal stuck on a fence less than one mile from Raccoon Court about an hour later. Pal was charged with leaving the scene of a property damage accident after he first claimed that his rental car had been stolen and then later admitted that he crashed.
On April 6, police were called back to the Raccoon Court home shortly before 10:20 p.m. after a caller reported that her son had just shot at two suspects who had forced their way into the home.
Court documents detail witness testimony and footage from surveillance cameras have confirmed that Pal and Rhue came to the Raccoon Court residence wearing DoorDash clothes, the former wearing a DoorDash mask and hat. The police reported that the place was inhabited by three house sitters who, when seeing the two men, told them that they had not made an order. The surveillance footage showed Rhue pushing his way into the house and telling the man that opened the door to stay quiet.
One of the two robbers was killed and the other was arrested last week. He is charged with murder for the death of his accomplice, as well as with burglary and armed robbery.
— Defensive Gun Use Tracker (@DailyDGU) April 25, 2023
The occupants inside the home said the men were armed and pointed a gun at one of them. In response, one of the other occupants retrieved his own gun and fired at the intruders. Court documents reveal that seven shots could be heard from inside the residence before Rhue is seen running out the front door and dropping the DoorDash bag. Rhue was found by police two houses down from where the shooting occurred, lying at the end of a driveway and dead from his multiple gunshot wounds.
Police found a Walther handgun along with the dropped DoorDash bag. None of the home occupants owned a Walther handgun. A check by police revealed the gun was stolen in Georgia. Investigators ended up learning that Rhue had been staying at a Noblesville hotel. Pal is also seen in hotel security footage with Rhue. Police also tracked the duo’s movements prior to the shooting to the Noblesville Home Depot, where they can be seen buying a crowbar.
The tragic events in Noblesville, Indiana, highlight the importance of being able to defend oneself and loved ones in the face of potential danger.
The fact that the would-be burglars used deception and were armed underscores the need for law-abiding citizens to have increased access to effective self-defense tools and training. In this case, the homeowner’s quick thinking and access to a firearm prevented a potentially deadly outcome.
While it is important to respect the law and regulations regarding firearms, the ability to defend oneself and loved ones is a fundamental right that should not be compromised. In situations where the police are not immediately available, having a firearm can mean the difference between life and death. However, it is crucial that individuals who choose to exercise this right do so responsibly and with proper training to ensure their own safety and that of those around them.
Overall, incidents such as the Noblesville home invasion highlight the need for individuals to be prepared for the unexpected and to take the necessary steps to protect themselves and their families. By ensuring that law-abiding citizens have access to effective self-defense tools and training, we can help prevent tragedies like this from happening in the future.