Woman, 72, Shoots at Alleged Burglar at Southern California Home

Jun 12, 2013 10:59 AM EDT

A 72-year-old grandma fired on Sunday a gun shot at a burglar who tried to break into her home around mid-night in Southern California.

Jan Cooper, on Anaheim, said during a news conference at a sheriff’s substation that she is amazed by the anger in her voice after she fired the shot, according to a report in KTLA-TV Channel 5.

“I am a Christian woman and I’m very proud of it and I don’t curse but after I shot, rage took hold and I just blasted away,” she said. “And, in fact, afterwards my husband said, ‘I’ve never heard you talk like that!’”

Cooper recalled the intruder apologizing after she fired, telling her, “I’m sorry, ma’am. I’m leaving. Please don’t shoot.”

The suspect, 31-year-old Brandon Alexander Perez, was not hit and was arrested a short while later by responding deputies, who heard the gunshot, according to Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Cooper’s gun was legally purchased and properly registered, said Jim Amormino, spokesman for the sheriff’s department. “Even though that dog was barking, he still was desperate to get in. So who knows what may have happened if she didn’t fire that round.”

“I don’t mean to shoot anybody,” said Cooper. “But whatever’s necessary to literally stop them – he was not going to come into my home.”