‘I couldn’t fail’: Man explains decision to stab alleged intruder after interrupting fight
By Aaron Hegarty
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OMAHA, Nebraska (KETV) — A Millard man says he stabbed an intruder who broke into his apartment early Monday morning, fearing for the safety of his wife and 9-year-old daughter.
“I used the force I felt was appropriate and no more,” he told KETV in an exclusive interview.
The incident happened at Bear Creek Apartments near 144th and Harrison. The Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office has not identified the alleged intruder, who remains hospitalized.
Aaron Glaze said he woke up around 5 a.m. to screaming and saw his neighbor on top of a woman from his balcony.
“He was hitting her, and either pulling her hair or shoving her violently,” Glaze said.
Sarpy County investigators said Glaze intervened in a disturbance, yelled at the man to stop and told him 911 had been called.
Glaze and his wife, Brittney, who he married last month, said the neighbor threw a necklace at them from the parking lot.
Soon after, the man began kicking the apartment door in.
“While I’m on the phone with dispatch, he’s kicking our door, and I’m telling dispatch he is,” Brittney Glaze told KETV. “And next thing you know, he’s in our door, and I look, and he’s (Aaron Glaze) pushing him (the intruder) out the door.”
In the same motion as the push, Glaze said stabbed the man with a knife he had grabbed from the counter a moment earlier.
“I still haven’t wrap my head around it because hurting people is not an ideal situation for anybody,” he said. He said they’ve prayed for the man.
He added: “I’m not trained. I don’t know what to do. I had God and fear.”
Glaze said his 9-year-old daughter was sleeping in a bedroom during the incident, only waking when the kicking began.
“She’s speaking with her school counselor, and they’re doing amazing work with her as well,” Glaze said. “I do love the Millard (school) district. They, they take care of our family.”
Glaze said he spent a day in handcuffs.
“I eventually understood why that was,” he said. “Because there’s one guy down, one guy up.”
He said his wife and daughter now live in fear that the neighbor or someone connected to him could return.
“Our biggest concern right now is just moving and moving expenses,” Glaze said.
The couple launched an online fundraiser to raise funds for a move.
Glaze said he’s not perfect and has a criminal history, but he said he and Brittney recently started a handyman business together. He said car troubles also have them short on money.
Reflecting on his actions, Glaze said he doesn’t regret what he did.
“I bounced around with the thought in my head, like, is this worth putting my family in jeopardy? And then a few hours later, my dad called me, and he’s like, son, I’m proud of you,” Glaze said.
He added: “I don’t think anybody will fault anybody for that. I just hope it doesn’t come to my family being in danger again.”
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