In the early 2000's I worked for a major gaming operator in the Las Vegas area (as an executive in the casino operations area.) One evening I was heading home (11 pm or so) and noticed headlights directly behind me. They were at an uncomfortably close distance. I was on may way out after a 12 hour shift. The vehicle made every turn I made. I eventually made a maze about it. Speeding through neighborhoods, blowing stop signs. I began to think it was probably a fluke or some teenagers playing a prank. I lost the strange headlights, or so I thought. I arrived at my home. Pulled into the driveway. Stretched, sighed and walked into the garage. As the aluminum door began to close I heard shuffling and finally a loud scrape. At that point a man in a ski mask and all black sweat clothes slid under the garage door. He had a huge shotgun pointed at my chest. He told me to get him all of "the money" and to pass him my car keys. All the while moving erratically like he was high on drugs or just extremely crazy. I was mortified and had so much adrenaline. He demanded entry into my home which contained my wife and two young children. I told him there was no chance for that. I said that he would have to kill me to get into my home. For some crazy reason I lunged straight at him and grabbed at the gun. We wrestled on the ground for what seemed like forever. I got lucky and I banged his elbow roughly on the concrete. He relinquished most of the gun. We continued to roll around on the cold, dusty floor of my garage. My wife raced out after hearing all of the commotion and began to scream like crazy. I told her to get our kids and run out of the back door to our neighbors. She was crying hysterically. She had her cellphone and was called 911 while crying hysterically and hyperventilating. In a split second the gun was pointed away from my chest and directly t his leg. We wrestled. It went off. The sound was defining. Not at all like in the movies. My ears were ringing. I could hear nothing. It explode into his leg and severed what I assume was a main artery. Blood exploded everywhere, and I mean everywhere. Think a sprinkler. His mask had somewhat come off and was hanging from his left ear. His nose was bleeding, he was gasping for air. He appeared to be only about 20 or so. He bled out right then and there in front of me and my wife on our lukewarm dusty garage floor. We watched him turn white. We saw his life gradually slip away. The police showed up later (I have no idea how long it took, the event was surreal.). It was a simple police report and crime scene processing. Our kids never saw nor heard a thing, as far as we know. That night changed my faith in humanity. I definitely realized how short and precious life is. My family was in gave danger that evening all because an idiot and my job. I did what any father/husband would have done. I was just lucky it worked in our favor. Years later, as a Division President I mandate my employees leave at unpredictable times and not take the same routes home. That guy had been casing me for some time. Apparently in his mind Casino Executives bring home money and store it at their homes. I have no regrets. I feel sorry for the girlfriend and 3 year old son I later found out he had, but not for him. I absolutely hate having gone through the experience, but realize the absurd things some will try to get ahead, and the survival instincts that stop them.