The Tom Greer shooting happened on July 22, 2014, when 80-year-old Thomas Greer shot and killed 28-year-old Andrea Miller after she and an accomplice broke into his Long Beach home, beat him, and robbed his safe. Los Angeles County prosecutors declined to charge Greer, finding that he acted in lawful self-defense under California’s Castle Doctrine.1Los Angeles Times. No Charges for Long Beach Homeowner in Fatal Shooting of Burglar The case drew national attention after Greer told reporters that Miller had pleaded for her life, claiming to be pregnant, and that he “shot her anyway.”
What Happened Inside the Bixby Knolls Home
Greer lived on the 3900 block of Country Club Drive in the Bixby Knolls neighborhood of Long Beach, California. His house had been burglarized at least twice before, and he believed the same people were responsible each time.2Press-Telegram. Long Beach Homeowner Cleared in Death of Suspected Burglar Who Pleaded for Her Life
Shortly before 9 p.m. on July 22, 2014, Greer arrived home to find Andrea Miller and 26-year-old Gus Polly Adams inside. The two threw him to the ground. Miller beat him while Adams pried open a safe. Greer suffered a broken collarbone along with cuts and bruises, and the pair took $5,000 in cash.3NBC Los Angeles. Man Convicted in Burglary That Resulted in His Partner’s Shooting Death4Long Beach Post. Elderly Bixby Knolls Man Who Shot, Killed Home Intruder Will Not Face Criminal Charges Outside, Adams’ mother, 52-year-old Ruby Adams, blocked the front door with a child, acting as a lookout.
As Miller and Adams began to flee the home office, Greer went to his bedroom, retrieved a .22-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver, and fired three shots. Miller was struck once in the chest and once in the right knee as she ran. She collapsed near the garage, made it into the alley behind the house, and died there.4Long Beach Post. Elderly Bixby Knolls Man Who Shot, Killed Home Intruder Will Not Face Criminal Charges Greer then dragged Miller’s body back into his garage in what authorities described as an attempt to lure Adams back. Adams did return but took Greer’s gun and cellphone and fled down the alley to a car driven by his mother.1Los Angeles Times. No Charges for Long Beach Homeowner in Fatal Shooting of Burglar
The Pregnancy Claim
In television interviews afterward, Greer said Miller had cried out, “Don’t shoot me, I’m pregnant! I’m going to have a baby!” He told KNBC he “shot her anyway” and added, “I had to do what I had to do.”5CNN. LA Coroner: Burglar Killed by Homeowner Not Pregnant
On July 25, 2014, the coroner confirmed that Miller was not pregnant.6ABC30. Burglar Shot by Homeowner Was Not Pregnant Greer’s blunt on-camera remarks and the false claim pushed the case into the national conversation over the limits of self-defense in the home.
Why Greer Was Not Charged
On January 26, 2015, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office announced it would not file charges. Deputy District Attorney Janet Moore wrote that Greer “held a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily injury” and had “exercised his legal and legitimate right of self-defense when he shot and killed Andrea Miller.”1Los Angeles Times. No Charges for Long Beach Homeowner in Fatal Shooting of Burglar
The decision rested on California Penal Code Section 198.5, the state’s Castle Doctrine provision. Under that statute, a person who uses deadly force against someone who has unlawfully and forcibly entered their residence is legally presumed to have held a reasonable fear of imminent death or great bodily injury.7California Legislative Information. California Penal Code Section 198.5 Prosecutors pointed to the violent assault, the broken collarbone, and the ongoing robbery as evidence that Greer was a “vulnerable victim” who reasonably feared for his life.4Long Beach Post. Elderly Bixby Knolls Man Who Shot, Killed Home Intruder Will Not Face Criminal Charges
The shots struck Miller as she was fleeing, which raised a question about whether the threat was still “imminent” at the moment Greer fired. The DA’s office concluded that, given the violence Greer had just endured and the fact that the intrusion was still unfolding, the statutory presumption applied.
What Happened to the Accomplices
Prosecutors charged Gus Polly Adams with murder under a provocative act theory, arguing that by beating the 80-year-old homeowner he had provoked the deadly response that killed his partner. He also faced counts of first-degree residential robbery, first-degree residential burglary, grand theft of a firearm, and possession of a firearm by a felon, with special allegations of elder abuse and infliction of great bodily injury.4Long Beach Post. Elderly Bixby Knolls Man Who Shot, Killed Home Intruder Will Not Face Criminal Charges
On August 22, 2016, a jury convicted Adams of first-degree residential robbery and first-degree residential burglary and found the great bodily injury and elder abuse allegations true. The jury acquitted him of murder. He was sentenced on August 31, 2016, to 12 years in state prison.8LA County District Attorney’s Office. Man Sentenced to Prison for Long Beach Home Invasion Robbery
Ruby Adams, the lookout, pleaded no contest to one count of first-degree residential burglary and was sentenced to three years in state prison.8LA County District Attorney’s Office. Man Sentenced to Prison for Long Beach Home Invasion Robbery