They call firearms “the great equalizer” and in this case it evened the score between a 4-foot 10-inch 72 year old woman and a strapping young mechanic with malicious intent. Frances Ward hired Richard Keese to fix her car, but she didn’t expect him to come back and attack her friend with a baseball bat.
Frances’ friend didn’t want to be identified, but when Keese forced his way into the home she grabbed a baseball bat to protect herself. Keese quickly disarmed the friend and began beating her with it.
Frances drew a revolver and opened fire on the intruder. She later said, “I was aiming for his forehead to kill him, because he was beating the daylights out of her with that ball bat and I wasn’t going to let that happen.”
When police arrived Keese was fleeing Frances’ home. He was apprehended and taken into custody. Frances didn’t hit him with the revolver, but the one warning shot was enough to neutralize the situation. Her friend was hospitalized and treated for non life-threatening wounds. Keese was charged with attempted murder, first-degree burglary and trespassing. No charges were filed against Frances. Police say she acted in self-defense.
Frances was unapologetic and proud of herself for shooting at him, as she should be. In the world of the well meaning gun grabbers her friend would have been beaten to death.
Silver Circle is OUT NOW on DVD and Blu-Ray and showing on Video on Demand platforms! Check it out on our watch online page and find out about local theater showings of the film and other special events on our event page.
