Opening door was wrong thing to do says home invasion victim - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

Opening door was wrong thing to do says home invasion victim

(Fred Megerth was listening to the Gonzaga game when a frantic
Nicholas Lawson pushed his way inside Megerth's home)

SPOKANE, Wash. - An 80-year-old man whose basketball game was interrupted Sunday evening by a gunman said Monday that opening his door for the man was "probably the wrong thing to do."

The ordeal started Sunday around 7 p.m. as Fred Megerth sat on his couch listening to the Gonzaga Basketball game.

Megerth said he heard frantic knocking at his front door and someone asking to come inside. When he opened the door, a man, now identified as 21-year-old Nicholas Lawson, pushed his way inside saying he was being chased.

Lawson, armed with a gun, then asked Megerth to call 911.

At that point, Megerth said Lawson was going room to room looking out windows and crawling on the floor.

"I think he was pretty high on something," said Megerth.
 
Throughout the entire ordeal Megerth said the thing what worried him the most was that a gun battle would break out between Lawson and his supposed pursuers. Fortunately, no one, besides police, came looking for him.

Police arrived at the scene moments later and Megerth was able to leave his home through a back door.

Lawson stayed inside for about 20 minutes before coming out with his hands up and the gun tucked in his waistband, according to police.

Lawson was arrested and charged with carrying a gun in a manner that could cause harm.

While Lawson never threatened or pointed the gun at Megerth, Megerth said he's never in his 80 years been around a man with a gun and will be happy if it never happens again.